valinnallaan

Valinnallaan is a Finnish adverbial expression meaning “by one’s own choosing” or “of one’s own choosing.” It denotes that an action or decision is made according to the subject’s personal preference, free of external pressure or coercion. The form is built from the noun valinta (choice) and a suffix pattern that expresses possession and modality, resulting in a phrase that emphasizes personal agency. It is more common in formal or literary Finnish than in casual speech.

Usage and nuance

Valinnallaan foregrounds autonomy and voluntariness. It is often used in contexts that contrast internal motivation with external influence, or to describe outcomes that follow from a person’s own decision. The expression can accompany verbs or clauses to highlight that the subject’s actions align with their own preferences or judgments, rather than being mandated or dictated by others.

Grammatical notes

Valinnallaan functions as an adverbial marker of the agent’s choosing. In sentences it typically relates to the subject performing an action or endorsing a course of action that reflects personal choice. The construction is idiomatic and may have slightly different nuances depending on context and formality.

Related terms

Valinta (choice) is the base noun. Other related forms concern decision-making and autonomy in Finnish, such as phrases describing decisions made freely or independently.

See also

Valinta, deciding, autonomy, consent, free will.