kirjastoihin

Kirjastoihin is the illative plural form of the Finnish noun kirjasto, meaning “to libraries” or “into libraries.” It is used to express movement toward multiple libraries and typically functions with verbs of motion.

Formation and usage: The illative plural suffix for this noun is -ihin, so kirjasto becomes kirjastoihin in the sense of going toward several libraries. It is appropriate when the destination is libraries and the action involves moving toward them, for example: Menen kirjastoihin joka viikko. The illative indicates direction or destination rather than location.

Distinction from related forms: The illative plural kirjastoihin contrasts with kirjastoissa, which is the inessive (in libraries) and denotes location rather than movement. Thus, Menen kirjastoihin means I go to libraries, while Käyn kirjastoissa means I visit libraries or am in libraries.

Context and nuance: In everyday Finnish, kirjastoihin is common in phrases about visiting libraries, borrowing books, studying, or using library services. It may refer to going to any of several libraries or to libraries collectively as a category.

Related concepts: The term illustrates Finnish case and number agreement in motion verbs. Other related forms include the illative singular kirjastoon (to the library) and the inessive kirjastossa (in the library). Understanding the distinction between illative and inessive helps clarify whether a sentence describes movement toward a place or being inside it.

See also: Finnish grammar, illative case, noun declension, motion verbs.