kaltaisista

Kaltaisista is a Finnish inflected form used to indicate “from those like” or “of those of that kind.” It is the plural elative form of kaltaiset, the noun/adjective meaning “the like” or “such ones.” The stem kalta- expresses similarity, and adding the plural elative suffix -ista/-istä yields kaltaisista, which is used when referring to a group from which something originates or to which something belongs. In typical constructions, kaltaisista combines with a following noun in the genitive to specify the group, for example kaltaisista ihmisistä “from people like those” or kaltaisista ratkaisuista “from solutions of that kind.”

Usage and nuance: Kaltaisista emphasizes a connection to a reference group that serves as a standard or example. It signals categorization and similarity rather than a specific individual. The form is common in both written and spoken Finnish when discussing categories, examples, opinions, or data drawn from such groups. It functions as a determiner-like element that foregrounds the characteristics shared by the group.

Examples: Kaltaisista esimerkeistä opitaan parhaiten. Kaltaisista ihmisistä keskusteltiin pitkään. Tutkimus perustuu kaltaisista ratkaisuista saatuihin tietoihin. These illustrate how kaltaisista can introduce a source, a category, or a basis for discussion or conclusions.

Forms: Kaltaiset (nominative plural), kaltaisten (genitive plural), kaltaisia (partitive plural), kaltaisista (elative plural). The word derives from kalta- meaning “like,” and is related to terms such as kaltaisuus “likeness.”