Tarkoitus

Tarkoitus is a Finnish noun meaning purpose, aim, or intention. It refers to the reason or end that someone has in mind when performing an action. In English, the closest translations are purpose or intention. The word is formed from the root related to the verb tarkottaa/tarkoittaa (to mean or to intend) with the nominal suffix -us, and it is closely related to other Finnish terms for goals or aims, such as tavoite and päämäärä.

The singular form is tarkoitus; the plural is tarkoitukset. Possessive forms are used to indicate possession, for example tarkoitukseni (my intention) or tarkoituksesi (your intention). In grammatical constructions, tarkoitus often functions as the main subject or complement in clauses, and it can be used with prepositional phrases such as “tämän projektin tarkoitus on…” (the purpose of this project is…).

Usage and nuance: tarkoitus denotes an intended end or plan behind actions, as opposed to tarkoittaa, which conveys meaning or signification. For example, “Mikä on tämän tilaisuuden tarkoitus?” asks for the purpose of an occasion, while “Tämän kirjan tarkoitus on opettaa perusasioita” states the book’s intended aim. In everyday language, tarkoitus is common in statements about plans, motivations, or organizational goals.

See also synonyms include tavoite (objective) and päämäärä (goal), while motiivi refers to underlying motive. The term is widely used in everyday Finnish, education, business, and formal writing to express intended ends.