Isikuks

Isikuks is a word form in Estonian derived from the noun isik, which means “person” or “identity.” It is the translative case form, used to express a change of state, role, or condition, and is commonly translated into English as “as a person” or “into a person.” In everyday usage, isikuks appears in sentences that denote becoming or assuming a status, such as a person taking on a certain identity or role.

Morphology and usage

In Estonian grammar, the translative case marks a transition to a new state. The form is attached to the stem of isik to yield isikuks, signaling a shift toward the sense of being or acting as a person. The typical English rendering depends on context and may involve phrases like “to become a person,” “as a person,” or “in the capacity of a person.” Isikuks is therefore both a grammatical form and a vehicle for conveying changes in identity or social role within a sentence.

Semantic use

Beyond its grammatical function, isikuks appears in discourse on personhood, identity, and social roles. In philosophical, sociological, or legal texts written in Estonian, the term helps frame discussions about what it means to be a person, how identities are constructed, and how individuals assume different roles in various contexts—personal, professional, or civic.

See also

Isik (Estonian for person/identity), Estonian grammar, translative case, Estonian language morphology, personhood.

Note: This article describes the Estonian grammatical form isikuks and its typical linguistic and semantic uses.