Tavoitteeksi

Tavoitteeksi is a Finnish word formed as the translative case of tavoite, meaning goal or objective. It indicates designation as a goal or a change of state into a goal, roughly translating to “into a goal” or “as a goal.” The form is commonly used in formal writing, planning documents, policy statements, and project management.

In practice, tavoitekseksi is most often found with verbs that express making or defining something as a goal. Typical constructions include asettaa (to set as), määritellä (to define as), and tulla (to become). For example, Yrityksen tavoitteeksi asetettiin viiden prosentin kasvu vuodelle 2025. Another example is Hankkeen tavoitteeksi on määritelty parempi julkinen saatavuus. The form can also appear in adjectival phrases such as tavoitteeksi asetetut toimenpiteet, meaning “the measures set as goals.”

Finnish also has the essive case, tavoitteena, which expresses a state or role more as a description rather than a change of state. For instance, Tavoitteena on kasvu means “The goal is growth.” The translative tavoitekseksi emphasizes a process of becoming or designation, while tavoitteena emphasizes the present role or status.

Usage notes: tavoitekseksi is common in planning, governance, and strategic contexts. It is typically part of a predicate and often accompanies nouns such as kasvu, kehitys, saatavuus, or palvelut. The choice between translative -ksi and essive -na (tavoitteeksi vs tavoitteena) can subtly alter emphasis between change into a goal and existing goal status.