Likaiseksi

Likaiseksi is a Finnish word-form derived from the adjective likainen, meaning dirty. The suffix -ksi marks a translative meaning, indicating a change of state or turning something into the described quality. In practice, likaiseksi is used with verbs of becoming or causing a state, such as tulla likaiseksi or tehdä jostakin likainen, to express that something becomes dirty as a result of an action or event.

Morphologically, likaiseksi is formed from likainen by adding the translative suffix -ksi. It functions as a predicative or complement in sentences where a subject undergoes a transformation into a dirty state. Its use is most straightforward with intransitive verbs that denote change, but it can also appear in causative constructions that emphasize the resulting condition.

In terms of usage, likaiseksi is more common in written Finnish, descriptive prose, or formal contexts. It is less frequent in casual spoken language, where speakers might prefer alternatives such as telling the dirt state with specific verbs or phrases (for example, becoming dirty through activity). It can also carry a figurative sense, describing a state of moral or reputational uncleanness as a result of actions.

Example: Keittiö muuttui likaiseksi, kun lapset leikkivät savitöillä. This sentence illustrates the core sense: a change of state into dirtiness resulting from an event.