The Translative Case – ksi – Translatiivi
The translative case is usually used to express a change or transition. Its marker is –ksi, and can be seen in phrases like “Valmistuin opettajaksi” (I graduated as a teacher) and “Hän tuli raskaaksi” (she got pregnant).
- The Use of the Translative Case
- When a change of state happens
- When a transition happens
- When expressing purpose
- When translating languages
- When expressing the time of a future event
- In certain words
- With certain verb rections
- With certain participle constructions
- The Formation of the Translative Case
- Words ending in a single vowel
- Words ending in an -e
- Words ending in -nen
- Words ending in -i
- New words ending in -i
- Old words ending in -i
- Old words ending in -si
- Words ending in a consonant
- Words ending in -as
- Words ending in -is
- Words ending in -os/-us
- Words ending in -ton
- Words ending in -in
- Words ending in –ut
- Words ending in -tar
- Non-Finnish words ending in a consonant
- Consonant Gradation in the Translative Case
1. The Use of the Translative Case (-ksi)
1.1. When a change of state happens
By this, I mean that something changes from one state to another: say, from water to wine, or from warm to cold. The verb muuttua “to change, to turn into” is the most typical for this type of sentence.
Finnish | English |
---|---|
Ilma muuttui kylmäksi. | The weather turned cold. |
Aika kävi pitkäksi. | Time dragged on (“the time became long”). |
Maalaa se punaiseksi! | Paint it red! |
Se muuttui vedeksi. | It turned into water. |
Sivut muuttuivat kirjaksi. | The pages turned into a book. |
Hän kasvoi pitkäksi. | He grew tall. |
Minä tulen aika nopeasti sairaaksi. | I get sick pretty quickly. |
1.2. When a transition happens
This is fairly close to 1.1, but deals mostly with people and is often harder for students to grasp. Ice turning into water is a clear change, but so is a person becoming unemployed, pregnant or an engineer. Those are maybe more transitions than changes. Some verbs that are typical for this type of sentence are “päästä”, “opiskella”, “valmistua” and “joutua”. You can find some example sentences of these below. Learn more about translative rections in general here.
Finnish | English |
---|---|
Pääsin ylioppilaaksi vuonna 2004. | I became a graduate in the year 2004. |
Hän opiskelee toimittajaksi. | She studies to become a journalist. |
Roope tuli Bodomin uudeksi kitaristiksi. | Roope became Bodom’s new guitarist. |
Hän valmistui insinööriksi. | He graduated as an engineer. |
Hän joutui vangiksi. | He was imprisoned (he became a prisoner). |
Hän joutui työttömäksi. | He became unemployed. |
Hän tuli raskaaksi. | She became pregnant. |
1.3. When expressing purpose
The translative is also used to express the intended role or purpose of something new that has been made.
Finnish | English |
---|---|
Rakennetaan aita suojaksi hirviä vastaan! | Let’s build a fence as protection against elks. |
Kirja on tarkoitettu käytettäväksi opetuksessa. | The book is meant to be used in education. |
Säännöt on tehty rikottaviksi. | Rules are made to be broken. |
Laite on kehitetty apuvälineeksi. | The device has been developed as an aid. |
1.4. When translating languages
Just like all the examples above, the act of translating also deals with a change, between languages this time! The target language will be put in the translative case.
Finnish | English |
---|---|
Minä käännän sen suomeksi. | I will translate it to Finnish. |
Sano se suomeksi! | Say it in Finnish! |
Kuinka sanotaan viroksi “kirja”? | How do you say “kirja” in Estonian? |
Käänsin satukirjan englannista suomeksi. | I translated a fairytale book from English to Finnish. |
1.5. When expressing the time of a future event
When we’re expressing the time by which something will happen or is due to happen, the translative is also used. These expressions of time are usually cases where we know in advance when, and for how long, something is going to happen.
Finnish | English |
---|---|
Minä menen kesäksi Suomeen. | I’m going to Finland for the summer. |
Matkustatteko te kotiin jouluksi? | Are you going home for Christmas? |
Matkustan Lappiin viikoksi. | I’m traveling to Lapland for a week. |
Menen Suomeen kolmeksi viikoksi. | I’m going to Finland for three weeks. |
Hän lähti kaupungille pariksi tunniksi. | He went into town for a couple of hours. |
Vien sen kotiin viikonlopuksi. | I’m taking it home for the weekend. |
1.6. In certain words
There are some words that inherently have the translative attached to them, either as a fossilized element, or to express an abstract use of the translative case. This also includes phrase constructions like “tietääkseni” and “muistaakseni”.
Finnish | English | Finnish | English |
---|---|---|---|
anteeksi | I’m sorry. | lisäksi | in addition |
lopuksi | in the end | esimerkiksi | for example |
miksi | why | tarpeeksi | enough |
aluksi | in the beginning | terveydeksi | bless you |
ensiksi | first, firstly | toiseksi | second, secondly |
onneksi | luckily |
1.7. With certain verb rections
As mentioned in 1.1. and 1.2. there are certain verbs that have a rection that requires the translative case. You can read more about translative verb rections here.
1.8. With certain participle constructions
The translative also appears in some verb constructions using the participles. Some examples of this are “tulla tehdyksi” (something gets done), “saada tehdyksi” (I complete something) and “saada tehtäväkseen” (receive as a job). These are pretty terrible translations, I know. You can read more about past passive participle on our separate page.
2. The Formation of the Translative Case
The translative ending is –ksi. In the singular, it is added to the weak stem of the word (the same stem to which you add the –n for the genitive). In the plural, it is added to the plural stem (the stem to which you add the –ssa for the plural inessive).
2.1. Words ending in a single vowel (-a/-ä, -u/-y, -o/-ö): add -ksi
This is also true for some words ending in –i, but they generally have a different rule. See below!
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
kala | kalaksi | tyyny | tyynyksi |
talo | taloksi | seinä | seinäksi |
työ | työksi | melu | meluksi |
2.2. Words ending in -e: add an extra -e- before the -ksi
Words ending in -e get a second -e- in any case except the partitive. Words ending in -e belong to wordtype B, which means their basic form will be weak (e.g. parveke, koe) and their translative strong (e.g. parvekkeeksi, kokeeksi).
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
huone | huoneeksi | perhe | perheeksi |
kappale | kappaleeksi | kirje | kirjeeksi |
lentokone | lentokoneeksi | taide | taiteeksi |
parveke | parvekkeeksi | koe | kokeeksi |
2.3. Words ending in -nen: replace the -nen with -se before the -ksi
This is the same change that -nen words go through when used in any case except the partitive.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
nainen | naiseksi | hevonen | hevoseksi |
suomalainen | suomalaiseksi | eteinen | eteiseksi |
iloinen | iloiseksi | ihminen | ihmiseksi |
sininen | siniseksi | toinen | toiseksi |
2.4. Words ending in -i
You can read more about the difference between the different kinds of words ending in -i here.
2.4.1. New words ending in -i: add -ksi/-ksi
New words are often loanwords. Usually they’re recognisable because they resemble words in other languages, like pankki for “bank”, or paperi for “paper”. Loanwords are easier than Finnish words because they don’t undergo as many changes when you add endings.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
banaani | banaaniksi | paperi | paperiksi |
kahvi | kahviksi | pankki | pankiksi |
posti | postiksi | maali | maaliksi |
tili | tiliksi | adverbi | adverbiksi |
2.4.2. Old words ending in -i: replace -i- with -e- and add -ksi
Old words are very often nature words. After all, nature has been around for so long that Finns have had names for nature words since the very beginning. Some words’ age can be confusing, for example äiti (mother) is actually a fairly new Finnish word, even though mothers have been around since the beginning of time!
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
suomi | suomeksi | ovi | oveksi |
järvi | järveksi | kivi | kiveksi |
suuri | suureksi | nimi | nimeksi |
pieni | pieneksi | lehti | lehdeksi |
2.4.3. Old words ending in -si: replace -si- with -de- and add -ksi
More old words, but this time with -si at their end. This group has its own additional change: the -si will turn into -de-.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
uusi | uudeksi | vuosi | vuodeksi |
käsi | kädeksi | kuukausi | kuukaudeksi |
vesi | vedeksi | reisi | reideksi |
Find out more about the inflection of the different types of words ending in –i!
2.5. Words ending in a consonant
2.5.1. Words ending in -as: replace -as with -aa- + -ksi
Words ending in -as (or –äs, depending on vowel harmony rules) belong to wordtype B, so they will have the weak grade in their basic form (e.g. rakas, opas) and the strong grade in the translative (e.g. rakkaaksi, oppaaksi). Read more about words ending in -as here.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
rakas | rakkaaksi | rikas | rikkaaksi |
taivas | taivaaksi | lipas | lippaaksi |
opas | oppaaksi | itsekäs | itsekkääksi |
2.5.2. Words ending in -is: two groups
For words ending in -is, we have two groups: words like kallis that get -ii- when inflected, and words like roskis that get -ikse- when inflected.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
kallis | kalliiksi | roskis | roskikseksi |
kaunis | kauniiksi | kirppis | kirppikseksi |
kauris | kauriiksi | fiilis | fiilikseksi |
ruis | rukiiksi | futis | futikseksi |
2.5.3. Words ending in -us/-os: two groups
Words ending in -os will get -okse- when inflected. Words ending in -us can belong to two groups: some get -ukse-, others get -ude- before the -ksi. You will want to check out this article to get the specifics.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
mahdollisuus | mahdollisuudeksi | vastaus | vastaukseksi |
rakkaus | rakkaudeksi | kysymys | kysymykseksi |
ystävyys | ystävyydeksi | keskus | keskukseksi |
pimeys | pimeydeksi | tarjous | tarjoukseksi |
Some general guidelines:
- If the word is based on a verb (such as opettaa > opetus), it will generally get –ukse-.
- If the word is based on an adjective (such as pimeä > pimeys), it will get –ude-.
- If the word is based on a noun (such as ystävä > ystävyys), it will get –ude-.
- If the word ends in –uus/yys (double vowel), you will get –ude-.
2.5.4. Words ending in -ton: replace -ton with -ttoma- + -ksi
Read more about words ending in -ton here.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
työtön | työttömäksi | koditon | kodittomaksi |
rahaton | rahattomaksi | rasvaton | rasvattomaksi |
maidoton | maidottomaksi | alkoholiton | alkoholittomaksi |
2.5.5. Words ending in -in: replace -in with -ime- + -ksi
Read more about words ending in -in here.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
puhelin | puhelimeksi | keitin | keittimeksi |
avain | avaimeksi | kiharrin | kihartimeksi |
puhallin | puhaltimeksi | suoritin | suorittimeksi |
2.5.6. Words ending in -ut: two groups
Words that end in -ut/yt can belong to two wordtypes. The smallest group of the two contains words such as olut, kevyt and lyhyt. For these words, you will replace the final -t with an –e- before the translative’s ending.
The much larger group is made up of NUT-participles such as väsynyt and tottunut. For the words, you will replace the -ut/yt with -ee- before the translative’s case ending.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
kevyt | kevyeksi | väsynyt | väsyneeksi |
olut | olueksi | ollut | olleeksi |
ohut | ohueksi | mennyt | menneeksi |
2.5.7. Words ending in -tar
Words endin in -tar are rare, but at least tytär (daughter) is a common word. In the -ksi form, these words get -ttare- in place of the basic form’s -tar.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
tytär | tyttäreksi | kuningatar | kuningattareksi |
herttuatar | herttuattareksi | jumalatar | jumalattareksi |
2.5.8. Non-Finnish words ending in a consonant
Loanwords and foreign names (e.g. Jonathan, Facebook) which end in a consonant will have an extra -i- added before the translative’s -ksi.
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
---|---|---|---|
Jonathan | Jonathaniksi | Facebookiksi | |
William | Williamiksi | Windows | Windowsiksi |
Marian | Marianiksi | Steam | Steamiksi |
Mohamed | Mohamediksi | McDonalds | McDonaldsiksi |
3. Consonant Gradation in the Translative Case
Wordtype A | |||
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
tyttö | tytöksi | pankki | pankiksi |
puku | puvuksi | pöytä | pöydäksi |
hattu | hatuksi | kauppa | kaupaksi |
silta | sillaksi | kampa | kammaksi |
hiekka | hiekaksi | apu | avuksi |
I have a separate article on wordtype A.
Wordtype B | |||
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | Translative | Nominative | Translative |
savuke | savukkeeksi | opas | oppaaksi |
keitin | keittimeksi | tavoite | tavoitteeksi |
rakas | rakkaaksi | hammas | hampaaksi |
soitin | soittimeksi | puhallin | puhaltimeksi |
allas | altaaksi | työtön | työttömäksi |
I have a separate article on wordtype B.
Korpela’s Handbook of Finnish explores some interesting nuances and less common uses of the translative. I’ve copied some excerpts below:
[unexpected (temporary) state]
[new state – purpose]
…used about something new that is made, expressing its intended role or property. Examples:
[+olla: suitable for some position]
When used with the verb olla, the translative can be used in the meaning being suitable, adequate, or fit for some position. The person or other entity that is so characterized is expressed by a word in the elative (-stA case). Usually the sentence is negative or presents doubtful question. Examples:
[purpose: concrete or abstract]
[in regard to being…]
In an expression like Hän teki sen hyvin aloittelijaksi (He did it well for a beginner), the translative corresponds to the English preposition “for” in the sense “in regard to being…”. In such usage, the translative can also associated with an adjective or a noun, e.g. terve ikäisekseen (healthy for his age), liian vanha uutiseksi (too old for news).
[relative superlatives]
An expression like “third best” can be described as relative superlative: it does not refer to the best but to the best among a set from which the two best have been omitted. In Finnish, we say kolmanneksi paras means “third best” (i.e., “best”=superlative, but only relative to the others except first and second best). This construction uses the translative of ordinal numerals, such as kolmas:kolmannen.
Very interesting! Thanks!
Your articles continue to enrich and help my understanding of Finnish, I am very grateful for the contents of your website!
Thank you 🙂
Mitä teen työkseni?
In this sentence, how come we get kseni? is that ksi+ni? is there any rules used in this concept? Hopefully can hear from you soon!
Correct deduction, yeah! That is the translative plus a possessive suffix. I’ve mentioned it here: https://uusikielemme.fi/finnish-grammar/syntax/how-to-say-for-in-finnish-prepositions#ty%C3%B6kseni