kirjaimittain

Kirjaimittain is a Finnish adverb that means both “letter by letter” and, in many contexts, “literally” in the sense of exact wording or strict accuracy. It describes how something is written, read, or stated, emphasizing precision over figurative meaning.

The term stems from kirjaimet, meaning letters, with the adverbial suffix -ttain to indicate manner. It is closely related to kirjaimellinen and kirjaimellisesti, which are commonly used to express literal interpretation, while kirjaimittain often highlights a process (transcribing step by step) or exact wording. In everyday language, sanasta sanaan is another common way to convey “word for word.”

Usage notes: Kirjaimittain is standard in both formal and informal Finnish. It can accompany actions such as reading, copying, or repeating text verbatim, or be used metaphorically to stress exactness. In figurative contexts, kirjaimellisesti or sanasta sanaan may be preferred to avoid ambiguity about literal meaning.

Examples:

- Kirjoita sana kirjaimittain. (Write the word letter by letter.)

- Hän noudatti ohjetta kirjaimellisesti, eli teki täsmälleen niin kuin ohjeessa lukee.

Relation to translation: In English, kirjaimittain often corresponds to “literally” or “word for word,” while sanasta sanaan corresponds to “word for word” in quotation. Finnish speakers may choose between these expressions based on whether they intend exactness of letters, exact wording, or a figurative sense.