kaivamalla

Kaivamalla is a Finnish word that functions as the adverbial participle form of the verb kaivaa, meaning "to dig." It denotes the means or method by which an action is performed and translates roughly as "by digging." The form is created by adding the suffix -malla to the verb stem kaiva-, producing kaivamalla. It is not a finite verb on its own but a non-finite form used to connect ideas and express how something is done.

In usage, kaivamalla can refer to physical digging, such as excavating soil or uncovering something buried. It is also used figuratively to indicate digging into information, history, or reasons, for example by describing how someone discovers details by digging into sources or background facts. The construction is common in both written and spoken Finnish and can appear in a variety of tenses and clause structures when combined with auxiliary verbs or other parts of speech.

Grammatically, kaivamalla belongs to a broader set of Finnish adverbial participles formed with the suffix -malla/-mällä, which express means, method, or manner. These forms are a feature of Finnish non-finite verb morphology and help convey nuances of how actions are performed without using a separate finite verb. The term epitomizes the link between physical action and metaphorical inquiry often found in Finnish prose and instruction.

See also Finnish grammar, adverbial participles, kaivaa.