ulkopaikoissa

Ulkopaikoissa is a Finnish locative expression meaning “in outdoor places” or “outside,” used to refer to locations and activities that occur outside buildings or enclosures. It is formed from the components ulko- (outside) and paikka (place) and takes the plural inessive suffix -issa, giving a literal sense of being in multiple outdoor locations. The expression is most often used when the outside context is emphasized.

The term is primarily found in formal or descriptive Finnish, such as instructions, educational materials, planning documents, or field reports. It helps specify that an action or phenomenon takes place in outdoor environments rather than indoors, and it can be used when discussing several outdoor locations at once.

Usage examples illustrate its nuance. For instance, “Koulun liikuntatunnit voidaan järjestää ulkopaikoissa, kuten koulun pihalla ja lähimetsässä.” or “Tutkimus tehtiin ulkopaikoissa, joissa havainnoitiin kasvi- ja eläinlajistoa eri vuodenaikoina.” In everyday speech, more common words like ulkona or ulkoilla may be used, but ulkopaikoissa provides a precise reference to multiple outdoor locations.

Related terms include ulkona (outside, outdoors) and sisätiloissa (indoors), which contrast with the outdoor-focused nuance of ulkopaikoissa. The expression is most natural in contexts that require a clear distinction of outdoor locations, such as fieldwork, outdoor education, or planning discussions.