Leikattua

Leikattua is a Finnish linguistic term referring to the partitive form of the past passive participle of the verb leikata, meaning to cut. The past passive participle functions as an adjective-like modifier and can describe nouns, while the partitive case marks indefiniteness or partial quantity in Finnish grammar.

Morphology and usage: The base verb is leikata; the past passive participle is leikattu. In the partitive, the singular form becomes leikattua, and plural forms exist as leikattuja. The form typically appears with mass or indefinite nouns in the partitive, or with plural nouns in the partitive, to indicate that the item has been cut into pieces or prepared by cutting.

In practice, leikattua is common in culinary, medical, and descriptive texts. It conveys that the item has already undergone cutting, without specifying the exact amount. For example: Lisää pannulle leikattua lihaa. (Add cut meat to the pan.) Tarvitaan leikattua kananrintaa reseptiin. (You need chicken breast that has been cut for the recipe.) In non-food contexts, it may describe cut tissue or other materials: Leikattua kudosta tutkittiin. (The cut tissue was examined.)

Notes: Leikattu can also function as an attributive adjective in definite contexts, whereas leikattua emphasizes indefiniteness or a portion in the noun phrase. The form is primarily a grammatical tool for expressing that a thing has been cut and is being referred to in an indefinite amount or portion. See also: leikata, leikkaus.