jalassa

Jalassa is a Finnish linguistic form meaning “on the foot” or “with the foot on,” and it is used to express location or state related to the feet. It is the inessive case of the noun jalka (foot) and appears in everyday language when describing footwear or the position of the feet.

Etymology and grammar: Jalassa is formed from the noun jalka combined with the inessive suffix -ssa, which marks location as “in/at/on.” In Finnish, the inessive is commonly used to indicate where something is located or what someone is wearing. The form is a standard part of Finnish inflection and has widespread use in both literal and semi-idiomatic contexts.

Usage: Jalassa is most often used to describe that someone is wearing something on their feet. Examples include “Hänellä on kengät jalassa” (She/He has shoes on) and “Hän meni ulos kengät jalassa” (She/He went outside with shoes on). It can also appear with other foot-related items, such as “sukka jalassa” (a sock on) or “sandaalit jalassa” (sandals on). In some phrases, jalassa reinforces the sense of continuous wear, as in “koko päivän jalassa” (on all day).

See also: jalka, kengät, Finnish grammar, inessive case.