maalaistalossa

Maalaistalossa is the Finnish locative form meaning "in a farmhouse" and is used to describe a dwelling located on a farm or in a rural country house. The term also evokes the rural environment and farming life.

The base noun is maalaistalo, meaning farmhouse. The suffix -ssa marks location, yielding maalaistalossa "in a farmhouse." It is used in descriptions of rural housing, real estate, literature, and everyday speech to distinguish urban homes from agricultural ones.

Traditional maalaistalot are typically wooden and two stories tall, often painted red with white trim, and arranged around a courtyard with outbuildings such as a barn (navetta) and a granary (aitta). Many also feature a sauna integrated into the property.

Historically central to Finnish rural life, maalaistalot shaped family life and livelihoods. In the 20th century, modernization reduced small-scale farming, leading many maalaistalo to be preserved as cultural heritage, converted to guesthouses or private residences, or maintained as farm museums.

In culture, the concept evokes rural heritage in photography, literature, and tourism, illustrating the Finnish agrarian landscape and the traditional way of life associated with farmhouses.