jotkut

Jotkut is a Finnish indefinite pronoun and determiner meaning “some” or “a certain number of.” It refers to an indeterminate subset of a larger group and is common in everyday Finnish as well as in formal writing. It is used when the speaker does not specify exactly which members are involved.

Jotkut is used with plural nouns. For example: “Jotkut ihmiset pitävät kahvista” means “Some people like coffee,” and “Jotkut opiskelijat ovat myöhässä” means “Some students are late.” It can function as the subject or the object of a sentence, depending on context.

Jotkut is part of a family of indefinite forms that includes “joku” (someone/anyone) and “jokin” (something/anything). The form jotkut specifically signals a non-specific subset of people and is typically followed by a plural noun, with the rest of the noun phrase inflected as required by Finnish grammar. It contrasts with “kaikki” (everyone) or phrases expressing totality or negation.

In usage, jotkut conveys partial inclusion without naming the individuals, letting the statement refer to a representative but unspecified portion of a group. The term is versatile for both spoken and written Finnish and is widely understood across dialects.