Tuoksumme

Tuoksumme is a term that appears in some Finnish-language discussions and niche glossaries to describe a unit or sum associated with a period of time, often used in informal exchanges of services and time-based compensation. The word is not widely recorded in major dictionaries, and its precise meaning can vary by context. In time-banking or mutual-aid networks, tuoksumme may refer to the value assigned to a volunteered hour, effectively converting hours of help into a negotiable sum that can be exchanged for other services. In casual usage, it can denote the total time spent at an event or activity, expressed as a single figure that participants agree upon.

Etymology is uncertain; the construction resembles compounds seen in Finnish, combining elements related to 'tuokio' (an occasion or moment) and 'summa' (sum, total). Because tuoksumme is not standardized, definitions differ between communities, and some speakers may not recognize the term at all.

Usage and reception: Tuoksumme tends to appear in informal, community-driven contexts rather than formal writing. Advocates emphasize flexibility and reciprocity, while critics caution that lack of standard definition can cause misunderstandings when negotiating value for time or services.

See also: time banking, compensation for services, unit of time, neologism.