Soveltamaan

Soveltamaan is the -maan form (the third infinitive) of the Finnish verb soveltaa, meaning to apply, to adapt, or to be applicable. The form expresses the act of applying something—such as a rule, method, or principle—to a particular situation. It is used as a non-finite verb form in sentences to indicate purpose, intention, or conditional contexts, often in formal or technical writing.

In practice it appears mainly in academic, legal, or methodological texts where authors discuss how theoretical concepts can be translated into practice. Its meaning overlaps with the noun soveltaminen (the application) and with the adjective soveltuva (applicable, suitable). The finite verb is soveltaa, used in ordinary clauses: "Soveltaa periaatetta käytäntöön." The form soveltamaan is thus a specialized infinitival variant that enables succinct expressions like "tämän mallin soveltamaan" (to apply this model).

The word is part of a broader Finnish system of infinitives formed with -maan/-mään, which includes other forms like -mää, -va, -tusta. The concept of applicability in Finnish is often discussed with terms such as soveltuvuus (applicability) and soveltaminen (application).

Examples in translation-friendly contexts include policy review, scientific methodology, and education. The term should be understood as a technical form tied to the act of applying or adapting.