Ruoaksi

Ruoaksi is a Finnish translative form of the noun ruoka, meaning food. It is used to express transformation into food or designation as food, and it often appears in contexts describing preparation, processing, or intended use for consumption. The form is formed by adding the translative suffix -ksi to the stem of ruoka.

In grammar, ruoaksi indicates a change of state or a role taken by something in relation to eating. It contrasts with other cases of ruoka, such as the essive form ruokana, which can denote a temporary role or state as food. For example, while ruokana might describe something as being in the role of food in a given moment, ruoaksi emphasizes the process of becoming or being prepared as food.

Common uses include cooking instructions, recipes, and descriptive phrases about food preparation. For instance, marjat keitettiin ruoaksi means that the berries were boiled and prepared as food, typically resulting in a dish such as jam or sauce. Ruoaksi can also appear in phrases such as valmistettu ruoaksi or käytetty ruoaksi to indicate that an ingredient or item has been prepared for consumption.

Ruoaksi is part of Finnish grammar related to the language’s case system and its way of expressing changing states or functions. It is most widely encountered in culinary and descriptive writing, and together with related forms like ruokana, it helps convey how substances are intended to be used as food.

See also: Finnish grammar, translative case, ruoka.