Transportation

KulkuvĂ€lineet - Transportation 🚌 #

2025-11-30

Transportation Methods #

The adessive case -lla/-llĂ€ is used to express means of transportation, meaning “by [vehicle].”

Common Vehicles #

FinnishEnglish
autollaby car
polkupyörÀllÀby bicycle
junallaby train
lentokoneellaby airplane
taksillaby taxi
bussillaby bus
metrollaby metro
laivallaby ship/boat
ratikallaby tram
moottoripyörÀllÀby motorcycle
skoott erillaby scooter
veneellÀby boat

Walking #

Special case: For walking, use kÀvellen (by walking/on foot) instead of the -lla/-llÀ pattern.

  • MinĂ€ menen kĂ€vellen. (I go by walking/on foot.)
  • Tulen kotiin kĂ€vellen. (I come home on foot.)
  • LĂ€hden kauppaan kĂ€vellen. (I leave for the store on foot.)

Verbs of Movement #

VerbEnglish
mennÀto go
ajaato drive
matkustaato travel
lÀhteÀto leave
saapuato arrive
tullato come
kulkeato travel/commute

Examples #

Going Somewhere #

  • Menen töihin autolla. (I go to work by car.)
  • HĂ€n matkustaa Tampereelle junalla. (He/she travels to Tampere by train.)
  • Lapset tulevat kotiin kĂ€vellen. (The children come home on foot.)
  • LĂ€hden lentokentĂ€lle taksilla. (I leave for the airport by taxi.)

Driving/Riding #

  • Ajan polkupyörĂ€llĂ€. (I ride a bicycle.)
  • HĂ€n ajaa moottoripyörĂ€llĂ€. (He/she rides a motorcycle.)
  • Matkustamme laivalla. (We travel by ship.)

Asking Questions #

  • Miten sinĂ€ menet töihin? (How do you go to work?)
  • Tuletko bussilla vai autolla? (Are you coming by bus or by car?)
  • Kuljetko junalla? (Do you travel by train?)

Directions of Movement #

To a Place (-lle/-lla) #

CaseExampleMeaning
Illative (into)Menen kauppaan.I go to the store.
Allative (onto)Menen pysÀkille.I go to the bus stop.

At a Place (-lla/-llÀ/-ssa/-ssÀ) #

CaseExampleMeaning
Adessive (on)Olen pysĂ€killĂ€.I’m at the bus stop.
Inessive (in)Olen kaupassa.I’m at the store.

From a Place (-lta/-ltÀ/-sta/-stÀ) #

CaseExampleMeaning
Ablative (from on)Tulen pysÀkiltÀ.I come from the bus stop.
Elative (from in)Tulen kaupasta.I come from the store.

Other Uses of -lla/-llÀ #

The adessive case (-lla/-llÀ) is also used for:

On a Street #

  • Asun Mannerheimintielle. (I live on Mannerheimintie.)
  • Olen kadulla. (I’m on the street.)

Using an Instrument #

  • Soitan pianolla. (I play the piano.)
  • Kirjoitan kynĂ€llĂ€. (I write with a pen.)