vähillä

Vähillä is a Finnish expression meaning “with little” or “with few,” used to describe a scarcity of resources, money, or other inputs. Grammatically, vähillä is the adessive plural form of the adjective vähäinen, which denotes scarcity or small amount. It is typically combined with a plural noun in the adessive case (for example varoilla, resursseilla) to indicate the means by which something is done.

Usage and nuance

The phrase signals that resources are limited but exists to describe a practical situation rather than a value judgment. It is common in everyday language, journalism, and policy discussions, especially when describing budgets, living conditions, or project constraints. It often carries a sense of frugality or lean conditions, rather than merely a small amount.

Common constructions

- Hanke on toteutettu vähillä varoilla. (The project has been carried out with little funds.)

- Hän on selvinnyt vähillä resursseilla. (He has managed with few resources.)

- Päivittäinen toiminta on pyörinyt vähillä varoilla. (Everyday operations have run with limited resources.)

Related terms

Vähäinen (adjective) and paljon-vähemmän contrasts (little vs. much). The adverb vielä and the phrase paljon tai vähän are often used alongside vähillä in broader discussions of quantity and sufficiency. In Finnish usage, sekä-kontrasts and context determine whether the focus is on scarcity, frugality, or mere quantity.

See also

Finnish grammar of adjectives and adessive constructions; economy and resource allocation terminology; phrases expressing scarcity in Finnish.