Osuus

Osuus is a Finnish term meaning a part, share, or stake in something. It denotes a portion of resources, profits, or decision-making rights that a person or entity holds in relation to a larger whole. The word is used in everyday language as well as in formal contexts such as business, finance, and law. Etymologically, it builds on osa, meaning a part, with the abstracting suffix -uus, giving a sense of a share or portion.

In the context of a cooperative, the term refers to a member’s capital subscription and the associated rights and obligations. An osuuskunnan jäsen usually contributes an osuus, often called an osuusmaksu, and this capital stake may determine the member’s share of profits and, in many organizations, influences voting or patronage refunds. The exact rules vary between cooperatives, but the concept centers on distributing benefits in proportion to members’ use or stake rather than to the size of their financial contribution alone.

Outside cooperatives, osuus is used more generally to describe a stake in a company, project, or partnership, or a proportional entitlement to a resource or income. It can denote a portion of profits, losses, or ownership rights, and may appear in contexts such as real estate, partnerships, or communal activities.

Legal and practical aspects vary by context and organization. In many Finnish contexts, an osuus is not freely tradable on public markets in the way stock is, and transfer of an osuuden or osuusmaksu often requires adherence to the rules set by the relevant organization or contract.