lapsiamme

Lapsiamme is a Finnish phrase that literally translates to “our child.” It is formed from lapsi meaning child and the first-person plural possessive suffix -mme. In standard modern Finnish, the most common nominative form for this meaning is lapsemme. The form lapsiamme is not part of the everyday dictionary entry and is not widely used in contemporary speech; it may appear in certain dialectal, historical, or linguistic contexts where alternative inflection patterns are discussed.

The phrase is of interest primarily to the study of Finnish morphology and syntax. It illustrates how possessive suffixes attach to a noun stem to indicate possession and how different cases can influence the surrounding form of the word. Because Finnish has a rich system of case endings and possessive suffixes, similar constructions can vary in written and spoken language depending on the grammatical role of the noun in a sentence.

Usage notes. For typical conversation and writing, speakers favor lapsemme (our child) in the nominative when referring to their child, and adjust articles, verbs, and adjectives around that form. Lapsiamme, when encountered, is usually seen in linguistic discussion, historical texts, or dialectal examples rather than as a common everyday form.

See also: Finnish language, Finnish possessive suffixes, Finnish grammar.