Valittav

Valittav is a term used in Finnish morphology to describe the stem that forms the -ttava participle from the verb valita, meaning “to choose.” In standard usage, the full adjective is valittava, which means “selectable” or “that can be chosen.” The bare stem valittav- is not typically used as an independent word in everyday Finnish; it is primarily a descriptor found in linguistic descriptions and in grammar tables.

Formation and meaning: The suffix -ttava is a productive derivational ending in Finnish that produces adjectives indicating potentiality or capability. When attached to the verb stem valita, it yields valittava, an adjective that agrees with nouns in number and case (e.g., valittava vaihtoehto = a selectable option; valittavat vaihtoehdot = selectable options). The stem form valittav- is the basis shown in grammars and dictionaries to illustrate how the suffix is added and how inflection works.

Usage: Valittava and its inflected forms are common in contexts where options, choices, or selectable items are discussed, such as user interfaces, forms, and instructions. The construction is productive not only for valita but for many other verbs that take the -ttava suffix to express possibility or capability.

Notes: The term valittav is distinct from other Finnish forms derived from different roots, and it should not be confused with words that share a similar appearance but come from different verbs or roots. In practical language use, speakers most often encounter valittava rather than the bare stem valittav, except in linguistic analysis or instructional grammar.

See also: Finnish morphology, -ttava participle, valita (to choose), selectable.