Kuolemassa

Kuolemassa is a Finnish term that denotes being in the state of dying or in the process of death. It is the inessive form of the noun kuolema and is used predicatively with the verb olla to describe someone or something that is actively dying. A common construction is Hän on kuolemassa, meaning “He is dying.” In medical and formal contexts, kuolemassa signals an ongoing transition toward death rather than a completed death.

Etymology and form: The word combines kuolema (death) with the inessive suffix -ssa, which marks a state or condition, similar to “in death” or “in the process of dying.” It is primarily a stanje expression and is distinct from other related forms such as kuoleva (dying, as a present participle) and kuolemmaisillaan (on the brink of death).

Usage and nuance: Kuolemassa emphasizes an ongoing dying process. It is often used in clinical or solemn contexts. By contrast, kuolemaisillaan emphasizes that death is imminent. In everyday speech, speakers may opt for more common phrases or more direct language depending on sensitivity and context.

Translations and equivalents: English equivalents include dying, in the process of dying, or near death. The expression conveys a formal or medical nuance and is typically not used to describe animals in casual talk without care for tone.

See also: kuolema, kuoleva, palliatiivinen hoito, end of life care. The term is primarily a linguistic and clinical description of a state rather than a judgment about value or meaning.