kolmena

Kolmena is a grammatical form in Finnish that derives from the numeral kolme (three). It is used with time-related nouns to express a span or distribution across three units, typically in more formal or idiomatic contexts. The form is most commonly encountered with the adessive case on the time noun, indicating a duration or period that covers three units, such as days or months.

In use, kolmena often appears in phrases that translate roughly to “over three days” or “during three days,” and it can be found in literary, historical, or ceremonial language. It contrasts with other inflected forms of kolme, where the case or number dictates the exact meaning and grammatical role in the sentence. Because Finnish grammar relies on case endings to convey relationships between words, kolmena is one specialized tool for conveying a distributive or temporal sense with a number.

Limitations and notes: kolmena is not universally required or productive with all time nouns, and its appropriateness depends on register and style. It is more likely to be found in written Finnish than in everyday spoken language, where more common constructions may be preferred. For learners, recognizing kolmena as the distributive/adessive form of kolme helps in understanding why certain time expressions feel more formal or literary.

See also: Finnish language, numerals, grammatical cases, time expressions.