toimille

Toimille is a term used in Finnish grammar to denote the allative plural form of the noun toimi. The base noun toimi carries meanings such as function, action, job, or task, and the allative suffix -lle marks direction toward or for something. When applied in the plural, toimille signals direction toward or allocation to multiple actions or functions.

In linguistic descriptions, toimille is discussed as part of the Finnish case system and its plural inflection patterns. The allative case overall answers questions related to direction or recipient in Finnish, and toimille specifically extends that sense to the plural form of the abstract noun toimi. Because toimi is not as commonly used in everyday speech as more concrete nouns, the allative plural toimille appears more frequently in grammar references, scholarly works, or historical texts than in casual conversation.

The singular counterpart of this form is toimelle, meaning “to the action” or “for the action.” The plural toimille thus parallels the singular in function but applies to multiple actions or functions. For learners and researchers, toimille serves as an example of how Finnish inflection can produce distinct plural allative forms for abstract nouns.

See also: Finnish inflection, allative case, toimi, Finnish case system.