Nimettyksi

Nimettyksi is a Finnish grammatical form used to express becoming or being named to a particular role or status. It is the translative form derived from the idea of naming a person to a title, typically built on the past passive participle nimitetty and the suffix -ksi, yielding nimitetyksi. In essence, nimitetyksi marks the state of having been named to something or being designated as a specific position.

In standard Finnish, the sense of “to be named as” is most often realized with the construction using nimitetty in combination with a role in the translative case, for example with tuli or on: Hänestä tuli nimitetyksi johtajaksi (He became named director) or Hänet on nimitetty toimitusjohtajaksi (He has been named chief executive officer). The verb nimitettiin can also be used in past tense: Hänet nimitettiin johtajaksi. The core idea is the assignment of a title or function rather than a descriptive attribute.

Nimettyksi, and its closely related form nimitetyksi, are most common in formal or administrative language. Some learners may encounter nimettyksi in texts from dialects or less formal registers, but the standard form for the intended meaning is usually nimitetyksi. In plural references, the form becomes nimetyiksi when multiple people are named to roles, as in Heidät nimettiin johtajiksi.

See also: translative case, Finnish participles, naming and appointment constructions.