Personal pronouns

This page details the Livvi personal pronouns, when to use them, and their cases.

The basics

In Livvi, we do not make a distinction on whether the person we’re talking about is male or female. As such no “he” or “she” difference exists, both are “häi” (as is the English singular “they”).

If you want to be very polite to someone you may address a single person with the plural form “työ” or “hyö”, but in modern times this may be seen as excessive in most situations. It’s appropriate if who you’re talking to or about is a highly respected superior.

The grammatical cases of personal pronouns

The bodies of personal pronouns are minä (minu-), sinä (sinu-), häi (häne-, hän-), myö (meijä-, mei-), työ (teijä-, tei), hyö (heijä-, hei).

The bodies “meijä-, teijä-, heijä-” are used in the genitive, accusative, essive and comitative. All other cases use the bodies “mei-, tei-, hei-”.

Nominative: Minä, sinä, häi. Myö, työ, hyö
Genitive: Minun, sinun, hänen. Meijän, teijän, heijän
Accusative: Minut, sinut, hänet. Meijät, teijät, heijät
Partitive: Minuu, sinuu, händy. Meidy, teidy, heidy

Inessive: Minus, sinus, hänes. Meis, teis, heis
Elative: Minus, sinus, hänes. Meis, teis, heis
Illative: Minuh, sinuh, häneh. Meih, teih, heih

Adessive: Minul, sinul, hänel. Meil, teil, heil
Ablative: Minul, sinul, hänel. Meil, teil, heil
Allative: Minule, sinule, hänele. Meile, teile, heile.

Essive: Minunnu, sinunnu, hänenny. Meinny, teinny, heinny
Translative: Minukse, sinukse, hänekse. Meikse, teikse, heikse

Abessive: Minuttah, sinuttah, hänettäh. Meittäh, teittäh, heittäh
Comitative: Minunke, sinunke, hänenke. Meijänke, teijänke, heijänke
Prolative: Minuči, sinuči, häneči. Meiči, teiči, heiči
Instructive: Not used for personal pronouns

Minun nimen on Salmin* Miška. A sinun? My name's Miška of Salmi. What about yours?

Minun nimen on X. Miška! Good day.

Kuibo voit tänäpäi? How are you doing today?

Hyvin voin. Kuibo työ? I’m doing well. How about You?

Kai on kohtalleh. No, minul pidäygi lähtie. All is good. Well, I have to get going.

Da, nägemizih. Kaikkie hyviä. Yeah, see you later. Farewell.

Proššai, nägemizih! Samoiten! Bye, and see you! Farewell to you too!

*In Livvi, it's common to introduce yourself as (first name or diminutive of first name) of (birthplace/place of residence of either you or your family). Surnames are used in official contexts, but rarely in friendly casual conversation.