Käsivaralla

Käsivaralla is a Finnish adessive form of the noun käsivarsi, meaning forearm. The term literally translates to “on the forearm” or “with the forearm” and is used to describe actions performed using the forearm as an instrument or as a point of contact or support. It is a general, everyday-language construction rather than a specialized term.

Form and meaning

The basic form käsivaralla expresses the means or manner of an action, indicating that the forearm is involved in the activity. When the actor’s forearm is specified, the possessive form is often used, as in käsivarallaan (“with his/her forearm”). The bare form can denote the forearm’s involvement without naming the possessor.

Usage

Käsivaralla appears in descriptions of physical actions, postures, or interactions where the forearm plays a role. Examples include resting a forearm on a surface or performing a task using the forearm as a tool or point of support. For example: Hän nojasi pöytään käsivarallaan. He rested his forearm on the table. Another example could describe pressing a button with the forearm, such as Paina nappia käsivaralla, meaning to press a button with the forearm.

Relation to other forms

Käsivararsi is the base noun meaning “forearm.” The adessive form käsivaralla is one of several grammatical forms that Finnish uses to indicate location, means, or accompaniment. Related phrases may appear with different case endings to express various nuances of movement or contact.

In summary, käsivaralla is a functional, neutral grammatical construction in Finnish used to specify that the forearm is involved in an action or serves as a point of contact or support.