Random Finnish Lesson: Jo-words

What's the thing with all the words with jo? is a question I hear a lot from my students.

Some of the jo-words are nice and never change:

jo - already
joo - yes
joka - every (Yes, joka also means something else!)
jos - if
joskus - sometime, sometimes
jopa - even
joten - so
jotta - so that

These are some common nouns, pronouns adjectives and verbs that also start with jo:

jojo - a yoyo
johtaja - a manager
johto - a chord
jokainen - everyone
joka - which, that, who
joki - a river
jokin - something
joku - someone (a person)
jonkinlainen - some kind
joulu - christmas
joustava - flexible
jossitella - to hypothesize
joutua - to be forced somewhere

Indeed, sorry about joku, jokin and joka. I'd say that the best way to practice is to read and listen to something that you like and pay attention to the jo-words. Learn expressions that are useful for you and don't worry about the crazy ones like joiksikuiksi. If you like to study with a text book, for example Suomen mestari 2 has exercises on joku and jokin.

Joku, jokin and joka in eleven cases, singular and plural:

JOKU (singular)	JOTKUT (plural)	JOKIN (singular)	JOTKIN (plural)	JOKA (singular)	JOTKA (plural)
jonka	joidenkuiden	jonkin	joidenkin	jonka	joiden
jota	joitakuita	jotakin	joitakin	jota	joita
jossakussa	joissakuissa	jossakin	joissakin	jossa	joissa
jostakusta	joistakuista	jostakin	joistakin	josta	joista
johonkuhun	joihinkuihin	johonkin	joihinkin	johon	joihin
jollakulla	joillakuilla	jollakin	joillakin	jolla	joilla
joltakulta	joiltakuilta	joltakin	joiltakin	jolta	joilta
jollekulle	joillekuille	jollekin	joillekin	jolle	joille
jonakuna	joinakuina	jonakin	joinakin	jona	joina
joksikuksi	joiksikuiksi	joksikin	joiksikin	joksi	joiksi

There are also some alternative forms, so do check Wikisanakirja, if you want to know more.

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About the author of this blog:

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti. I am a professional Finnish teacher who gives private online lessons and simplifies books into easy Finnish. You can contact me through www.privatefinnishlessons.com. You can subscribe to this blog from the right-hand banner.