ylimmän

Ylimmän is a Finnish grammatical form that functions as the genitive singular of the adjective ylin, meaning topmost or uppermost. It appears in noun phrases to indicate belonging to or relation with the most upper item in a set, rather than describing the noun directly in isolation. In everyday language, ylimmän is typically found in contexts that discuss locations, levels, or positions in a hierarchy or sequence.

Usage and examples

Ylimmän is used to connect a head noun to another noun in the genitive, forming phrases such as ylimmän kerroksen ikkuna, meaning the window of the top floor, or ylimmän rivin pelaajat, meaning the players of the top row. These constructions are common in architectural descriptions, seating or seating plans, and organizational or spatial layouts. The form helps specify which specific top item is being referred to when multiple are present.

Relation to other forms

The adjective ylin has other inflected forms for different cases and numbers, while ylimmän is specifically the genitive singular form. Finnish adjectives decline to match the case and number of the noun they modify, so similar genitive forms may appear in other related phrases depending on the surrounding grammar.

Etymology and style

Ylin originates from a root meaning “over” or “above,” and ylimmän is the standard genitive singular form used in formal and written Finnish. The usage tends to be more common in descriptive prose, technical writing, and contexts where precise reference to the uppermost item is required.

See also

Finnish grammar, adjective inflection, genitive case, top floor, uppermost.