lainalaisten

Lainalaisten is a Finnish inflected form that typically appears as the genitive plural of a base word such as lainalainen. The element lainalainen can be analyzed as a compound of laina or laki with the suffix -lainen, which yields meanings related to belonging, origin or subjection. Consequently, lainalaisten is used to express possession or association for a plural referent: for example, "lainalaisten oikeudet" would mean "the rights of those subject to the law" or, depending on the base, "the rights of the borrowers."

Etymology and formation

The form combines a stem (commonly laina "loan" or laki "law") with the relational/demonymic suffix -lainen and the Finnish genitive plural ending -en. Because of this structure, the exact interpretation depends on context and the identity of the stem: laina-lainen tends toward meanings connected to borrowing or loan-holders, while laki-lainen or lainalainen can indicate legal subjection or relation to statutes.

Usage and translation

Lainalaisten is infrequent as a standalone lemma in dictionaries; it usually appears within phrases indicating possession or attributes of a group. Common translations into English include "of the loan-holders," "of the borrowers," or "of those subject to the law," depending on context. Ambiguity is resolved by surrounding words and the broader discourse.

Grammar note

As a genitive plural, lainalaisten typically marks ownership or association and is followed by the noun that it modifies in Finnish syntax.