aineeksi

Aineeksi is a Finnish grammatical form that functions as the translative case of the noun aine, meaning substance or material. It conveys a sense of change into a substance or serving as a substance, roughly translating to “into a substance” or “as a substance.” The form is used in contexts where something is becoming or being used as a material or substance.

In Finnish, the translative suffix -eksi (spelled -eksi after stems ending in an e.g., yielding aineeksi) marks a change of state or role. Thus aineeksi signals that the subject is transformed into a substance or is being treated as a substance. The form is most common in formal, technical, or scientific language, and it often appears with verbs that express transformation or usage, such as muuttaa (to change into) or käyttää (to use as).

Usage and nuance: aineeksi contrasts with the nominative aine (substance) when the emphasis is on the substance itself versus its function or resulting state. It is typically found in written texts such as chemistry, biology, manufacturing, and education, where precise descriptions of processes and materials are needed. The translative form helps indicate process, result, or function rather than merely naming a substance.

Related forms include the plural aineiksi (as substances) and other translatives in Finnish grammar. See also Finnish grammar sections on the translative case and the noun aine for broader context.