minäform

Minäform, also written minä-muoto, is the term used in Finnish grammar to refer to the first-person singular form of a verb. The form is used when the speaker refers to themselves or states their actions or condition. In Finnish, verbs are conjugated for person and number; the 1st person singular present tense typically ends with -n, as in minä kirjoitan (I write) or minä olen (I am). The 1st person singular past tense often ends with -in, as in minä kirjoitin (I wrote). In negation, the auxiliary en precedes the verb: minä en kirjoita (I do not write).

Minäform is also employed beyond strict grammar to indicate foregrounded narration in prose or dialogue. It is common in autobiographical writing and in diaries, where the author speaks in the first person. In Finnish discourse, the standalone pronoun may be omitted if the verb form makes the subject clear, but including minä adds emphasis or a personal stance.

Cross-linguistic notes: The concept exists in other languages as the first-person form in grammar; the Finnish term taas emphasizes how person is encoded in the verb rather than by a separate pronoun. The use of the minä-form reflects subjectivity and speaker perspective in discourse. In translation, choosing to render or omit the pronoun can affect emphasis and nuance.