Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Finnish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Minäkin juon kahvia.
What does the word minäkin mean exactly?
minä means I, and the suffix -kin means also or too. When combined, minäkin translates as I also or I too.
Is it necessary to include minä in the sentence? Could we just say Juon kahvia?
No, it’s not strictly necessary. Finnish verbs show the subject in their endings, so Juon kahvia already means (I) drink coffee. Including minä adds emphasis or contrast—“I, too, drink coffee”—but omitting it is perfectly natural in everyday speech.
Why is kahvia in the partitive case instead of kahvi?
Finnish uses the partitive for:
- Unspecified or incomplete amounts (i.e. “some coffee”).
- Actions that are ongoing or not completed.
Here, kahvia = some coffee. If you said juon kahvin, it would imply you drink up the entire cup (perfective aspect).
How is the verb juoda conjugated for I?
Juoda (type II verb) in the present tense, first person singular:
- Drop -da → juo-
- Add -n → juon
So juon = I drink.
What’s the difference between Minäkin juon kahvia and Juonkin kahvia?
- Minäkin juon kahvia: emphasizes that I also do it.
- Juonkin kahvia: emphasizes the action “drinking coffee” as something you do, perhaps surprisingly. The suffix -kin here attaches to the verb, so it’s more like I do drink coffee, too.
Can -kin attach to other words? Are there any placement rules?
Yes. -kin is an enclitic and can attach to almost any word to mean “also/too.” Examples:
• hänkin – “he/she too”
• taloissakin – “in the houses too”
• myös vs. kin: myös is a separate word (“also”), while -kin clings to a word. Placement affects emphasis: you attach -kin to the word you want to stress.
How would you literally translate Minäkin juon kahvia into English?
I also drink coffee (or I’m also drinking coffee).