Vieraantumisena

Vieraantumisena is a Finnish word that functions as a grammatical form of the noun vieraantuminen. The suffix -na turns the noun into an adverbial form meaning “as alienation” or “in a state of alienation.” It is commonly used in literary contexts to describe a character’s detachment from society.

The word derives from the verb vieraantua (to alienate oneself, to become estranged) combined with the nominalizing suffix -minen, which produces the noun vieraantuminen. The adverbial suffix -na indicates that the following clause should be understood in terms of that abstract state. Thus, vieraantumisena literally translates to “in the capacity of alienation.”

In Finnish grammar, this form belongs to the partitive or adverbial case. It is not a separate dictionary entry but occurs in inflection paradigms, including vieraantuminen, vieraantunut, vieraantumisessa (in alienation), and vieraantumisena (as alienation). Typical usage: “Hän menetti itsensä vieraantumisena.” Here the word frames the loss of identity as the act of alienation itself.

The concept of alienation has been explored extensively in Finnish literature, especially in the 19th‑century national awakening period. Authors evoke vieraantumisena to capture the psychological distance of individuals in changing societies. The word appears in poems by Aleksis Kivi and essays by Juhani Aho, underscoring cultural preoccupations with belonging and estrangement.

Related terms include vieraantunut (estranged), vieraantumiskunta (society of estranged individuals), and the verb form vieraantua. Although terse, the word encapsulates complex feelings of isolation and the mechanics of identity loss within Finnish linguistic tradition.