jälkeen

Jälkeen is a Finnish postposition meaning "after" or "following." It marks a temporal or sequential point relative to which another event occurs later.

Grammar: It follows a noun phrase in the genitive. In time expressions this usually takes the form of a numeral in genitive plus a time unit in genitive: kahden tunnin jälkeen (after two hours), kolmen viikon jälkeen (after three weeks), kymmenen jälkeen (after ten). The phrase sen jälkeen means "after that," and compounds like tämän jälkeen are common in discourse.

Scope and usage: Jälkeen denotes succession and is common in both speech and writing. It contrasts with ennen, meaning "before." In narrative it introduces a subsequent event or period: Kävin kaupassa, ja kahden tunnin jälkeen palasin (I went to the store, and after two hours I returned).

Other forms: Jälkeenpäin means "in hindsight" or "retrospectively" and is used when reflecting on past events.

Origin: Jälkeen derives from jälki, meaning "trace" or "mark," with a postpositional development. It is part of the Finnish system of postpositions that express temporal and sequential relations.