puhelimella

Puhelimella is the adessive singular form of the Finnish noun puhelin (phone). It marks the instrument used to perform an action, or the medium through which something is done. In everyday language it is commonly translated as “on the phone” or “with a phone,” depending on context.

Formally, the adessive suffix -lla/-llä attaches to the stem puhelim-, which is formed from puhelin with the final -n dropped before adding the suffix. For example: Puhuin puhelimella, meaning “I spoke on the phone.” Another example is Soitin hänelle puhelimella, “I called him on the phone.”

Usage notes: Puhelimella primarily signals instrumentality (using the phone to perform an action) or the means of communication. In some contexts, Finnish also uses puhelimitse to mean “by phone,” particularly when emphasizing the communication channel rather than the physical device. The choice between puhelimella and puhelimitse can affect nuance: puhelimella foregrounds the device or act of using it, while puhelimitse emphasizes the act of communicating via telephone.

Related forms and scope: Puhelimella belongs to the broader system of Finnish adessive cases that express location or means with -lla/-llä. It is used with many concrete objects to indicate how an action is carried out, not only with phones but with tools and instruments in general.