pöydälle

Pöydälle is the allative form of the Finnish noun pöytä, used to indicate motion toward or onto the surface of a table. In Finnish grammar, the suffix -lle marks direction to a place, often implying that something is being moved or placed onto the referenced surface. Therefore pöydälle translates roughly as “onto the table” or “to the table.”

Usage and examples: It is used with verbs of motion or placing, such as asettaa, laittaa, or tuoda. Examples: Aseta kahvi pöydälle. Laita kirja pöydälle. Mennään pöydälle syömään. These illustrate placing an object on the table or moving toward the table.

Relation to pöydällä: Pöydälle contrasts with pöydällä, which is the inessive meaning “on the table” as a static location. Pöydälle expresses movement toward the table or onto its surface, while pöydällä describes where something already is.

Notes on form and usage: The form is produced by adding the allative suffix -lle to pöytä. It follows standard Finnish case morphology and is used with a variety of verbs of motion and placement. While primarily literal, it can also appear in figurative or idiomatic expressions where “going to the table” denotes approaching a task or discussion, depending on context.