Kukoistaakseen

Kukoistaakseen is a Finnish verb form derived from the verb kukoistaa, meaning to bloom or flourish. It is the third infinitive (kolmas infinitiivi) in Finnish grammar and is formed by adding the suffix -akseen to the variant of the verb stem used for the third infinitive. The literal translation of kukoistaakseen is “in order to bloom” or “to bloom” in order to achieve a purpose.

The function of kukoistaakseen is to express purpose or intention within a sentence. It is a finite, purpose-marking infinitive that can introduce a dependent clause or follow a main verb to indicate the aim of an action. This form is more common in literary or formal styles and is less frequent in everyday spoken Finnish, where simpler structures are typically used to convey purpose.

In usage, kukoistaakseen often appears in contexts describing aims or conditions linked to growth, development, or flourishing, whether literal (plants) or metaphorical (ideas, projects, lives). It can replace a separate clause introduced by jotta or jotta varten in more formal prose.

An example of usage: Hän kasteli kukkapenkkiä kukoistaakseen runsaan kukinnan. This sentence illustrates how the form signals the purpose of the action (to promote blooming). Another example in a different register could be found in literary text, where kukoistaakseen adds a concisely purpose-driven tone to the narrative.

Related concepts include the broader Finnish infinitive system and verbs of flowering or flourishing, such as kukoistaa and derived nouns like kukinta.