tanssilla

Tanssilla is a Finnish term that functions primarily as the adessive form of the noun tanssi, meaning a dance. In everyday language, tanssilla is used to indicate location or occasion, typically translating to “at the dance” or “on the dance floor.” It can refer to being present at a dance event or to the general setting where dancing takes place.

Linguistically, tanssi belongs to the group of Finnish words that form location expressions with the suffix -lla/-llä. The adessive form tanssilla marks where something is happening or where someone is located, often in relation to a social event such as a dance night, a party, or a formal dance. The construction is common in colloquial Finnish and appears in spoken and written texts describing social activities.

Usage of tanssilla is flexible and context-dependent. Examples include: Olimme tanssilla koko illan. (We were at the dance all evening.) Hän vietti illan tanssilla. (He/she spent the evening at the dance.) In these sentences, the word signals the venue or occasion rather than a specific physical place like a hall. It can also be used more broadly to refer to the atmosphere or scene connected to dancing.

As a proper noun, Tanssilla may be used as the name of a dance venue, event, or organization, capitalized to distinguish it from the common noun usage. In such cases, it denotes a specific place or program rather than the general meaning “at the dance.”

See also: tanssi (dance), tanssihalli (dance hall), tanssipaikka (dance venue).