toisillensa

Toisillensa is a Finnish word that translates to "to each other" or "one another." It is a reciprocal pronoun used in the Finnish language to indicate that an action is performed by two or more individuals mutually. For example, "Heittäkää palloa toisillensa" means "Throw the ball to each other." The word is formed from the genitive case of the demonstrative pronoun "toinen" (other) combined with the allative case suffix "-lle" (to) and the plural suffix "-nsa" (their/its, possessive suffix).

The usage of toisillensa is crucial for conveying reciprocity in Finnish sentences. It clarifies that the subject of the verb is acting upon and being acted upon by other members of the same group. Without this reciprocal pronoun, the sentence might imply a one-way action or an action directed towards an unspecified recipient. For instance, "He antavat lahjoja" could mean "They give gifts," but it doesn't specify to whom. Adding "toisillensa" makes it "He antavat lahjoja toisillensa," meaning "They give gifts to each other." This grammatical feature helps to avoid ambiguity and adds precision to the meaning. The word is commonly encountered in everyday conversation and written Finnish.