Perusluvussa

Perusluvussa is a Finnish linguistic term that refers to the base or dictionary form of a word, from which its inflected forms are derived. It designates the form used as the lemma in dictionaries and language-learning materials, serving as the reference point for conjugation, declension, and other morphological changes.

In practice, perusluvussa depends on the word class. For nouns, the perusluvussa is typically the nominative singular form. For verbs, it is normally the infinitive. For adjectives and other parts of speech, the base form used as entry form is likewise treated as the perusluvussa in many grammars. The exact labeling can vary between sources, and some authors use perusluvussa and perusmuoto (base form) more or less interchangeably to denote the dictionary form.

The concept is mainly used in grammar descriptions, language teaching, and lexicography. It helps learners understand how other forms relate to a single, stable form. When encountering a word in a dictionary or grammar, the perusluvussa is the form you would use as the starting point for generating all other inflected forms.

Related terms include perusmuoto, lemma, and taivutus. While the terminology can differ across textbooks and linguistic traditions, the underlying idea is consistent: the perusluvussa is the word’s fundamental form that anchors its inflectional paradigm.