sanomalla

Sanomalla is a Finnish adverbial participle meaning “by saying” or “in saying.” It is formed from the verb sanoa (to say) by adding the adverbial participle suffix -malla, yielding the sense of doing something by means of saying it. The form is used to express means or manner of an action and can introduce subordinate phrases describing how something is achieved.

In usage, sanomalla is part of the -malla/-mallä family, which includes other instrumental or means-based forms such as kirjoittamalla (by writing) and tekemällä (by doing). These forms are common in written Finnish and in formal spoken Finnish, where they can connect a participial phrase to the main clause and indicate how the action takes place. For example: “Hän ratkaisi ongelman sanomalla vain sen, mitä tiesi” (He solved the problem by saying only what he knew) and “Sanomalla totuuden, hän sai yleisön luottamuksen” (By telling the truth, he gained the audience’s trust). Sanomalla can also introduce phrases like “sanomalla että” (“by saying that”), used to report what was said.

Etymology and form: sanomalla is derived from sanoa with the suffix -malla to form an adverbial participle, aligning with other Finnish instrumental participles that describe how actions are performed.

See also: sanoa, sanoma, adverbial participles in Finnish, -malla forms.