Kultaiseksi

Kultaiseksi is the translative form of the Finnish adjective kultainen, meaning golden or gold-coloured. In Finnish grammar, the translative case, marked by the ending -ksi, expresses a change of state or becoming something. Therefore kultaiseksi is used in predicative constructions to say that something has turned into gold or into a golden colour.

In practice, kultaiseksi describes a process of transformation rather than a static description. It is most common in descriptive or literary contexts, such as natural phenomena, objects affected by light, or figurative changes. The form is gender-neutral and agreement follows the noun it describes when used in a sentence.

Examples:

- Taivas muuttui kultaiseksi auringonlaskun jälkeen. (The sky became golden after the sunset.)

- Pöytä kahden vuosisadan jäljiltä näyttää kultaiselta, mutta ajan myötä se on muuttunut kultaiseksi. (This sentence illustrates the idea of change to gold-toned appearances; note: the second example is for illustration of usage and tone.)

Related words include kultainen (golden), which is the base adjective, and other translative forms formed with -ksi for different adjectives. Kultaiseksi differs from phrases using kin to describe color in static terms, since it emphasizes a transition to a golden state rather than a current colour.

Etymology and usage notes:

- Root: kulta (gold) + -ainen (adjective suffix) → kultainen (golden).

- Translative suffix -ksi marks a change of state, common with adjectives describing colour, material, or condition.

- Predicative use often follows verbs like tulla (to become), muuttua (to change), or jäädä (to grow into).

See also: Finnish translative case, Finnish adjectives, Finnish color terminology.