kuin

Kuin is a common word in Finnish that functions primarily as a conjunction used to introduce comparisons. It is used to connect the thing being compared with the element that sets the standard for the comparison, and it roughly corresponds to the English words "than" or the pattern "as ... as" in many contexts. In Finnish, ku into is not a standalone adjective or verb; it is a grammatical connector within comparative clauses.

In practice, ku in many sentences links adjectives, adverbs, or phrases describing a property or quantity. Examples include isompi kuin hän (bigger than him), nopeampi kuin auto (faster than a car), and vanhempi kuin minä (older than me). When expressing equality rather than inequality, Finnish typically uses phrases such as yhtä ... kuin or niin ... kuin, as in hän on yhtä fiksu kuin hänen veljensä (he is as smart as his brother).

Kuin can also be used with numerals and quantities to structure comparisons of amount, cost, or frequency, for example kolme kertaa suurempi kuin arveltiin (three times larger than expected). While ku in is central to comparison, it should not be confused with kun, another common Finnish word that means “when” or is used in time-related clauses. Understanding ku in’s role in comparative syntax helps in both everyday language and formal writing, where precise gradation and emphasis are often expressed through its use.