kuuluiessaan

Kuuluiessaan is a Finnish word that functions as a temporal conjunction, often translated as "while listening," "upon hearing," or "when hearing." It is derived from the verb "kuulua," meaning "to be heard" or "to belong," and the second infinitive passive form of the verb "kuulla," which means "to hear." The "-ssaan" ending indicates a possessive suffix, usually referring to the third person plural, implying "while they were hearing" or "when they heard."

This grammatical construction is used to describe an action or state that occurs simultaneously with or immediately following the act of hearing something. For example, "Huomasin jotain outoa kuuluuessaan" could be translated as "I noticed something strange while listening." It connects two clauses, where the first clause describes the act of hearing and the second clause describes the consequence or simultaneous event.

The nuance of "kuuluiessaan" lies in its passive form, suggesting that the subject might be passively receiving sound or information. It can also imply that the hearing is a condition for the subsequent action. While often translated with "while," it can also convey a sense of "upon" or "as a result of" hearing. Understanding its passive and temporal nature is key to correctly interpreting its usage in Finnish sentences. It is a common and useful grammatical tool for expressing simultaneous or consequential actions related to auditory perception.