jälkiään

Jälkiään is a Finnish word that translates to "its tracks" or "its traces" in English. It is the partitive plural of the word "jälki," meaning "track," "trace," "mark," or "footprint." The word "jälkiään" is often used in contexts where something is leaving behind evidence of its passage or existence, even if subtle.

This can refer to physical evidence left by an animal or person, such as footprints in the snow or mud. For instance, one might say "hirvi jätti jälkiään metsään" which means "the moose left its tracks in the forest." It can also be used metaphorically. For example, a significant event or a person's actions might leave "jälkiään" on history or on someone's life, implying a lasting impact or influence.

The grammatical form "jälkiään" specifically denotes the tracks or traces belonging to a singular subject (indicated by the possessive suffix "-än"). This contrasts with other forms of the word "jälki" which might refer to multiple tracks or tracks belonging to a different subject. Understanding the context is crucial to accurately interpreting the meaning of "jälkiään."