ammattina

Ammattina is a Finnish term that means “as a profession” or “in the capacity of one’s profession.” It is formed from the noun ammatti (profession) with the adessive suffix -na (or -nä), producing ammattina, which is used to describe the field or role in which someone works. The expression is common in biographical and descriptive writing when stating what someone does for a living.

Usage and meaning: Ammattina signals the primary occupation rather than a hobby or temporary activity. It provides a concise way to identify a person’s vocational field and is often used in formal or journalistic contexts. In sentences, ammattina can accompany a subject to indicate their occupation, typically paired with a noun naming the profession or with a clause that clarifies the context.

Grammatical notes: The form is an adessive-like expression that answers questions such as “in what capacity?” or “by profession.” It is commonly used with verbs like toimia (to work as) or olla (to be) to link a person to their profession.

Examples:

- Hän toimii opettajana ammattinaan. (He works as a teacher by profession.)

- Hän on kääntäjä ammattinaan. (He is a translator by profession.)

Context and usage: Ammattina is primarily a Finnish-language device for biographical or formal narration. In everyday speech, speakers might opt for simpler constructions such as “hän on opettaja” (he is a teacher) or “hän työskentelee opettajana” (he works as a teacher). The term helps convey professional identity succinctly without elaborating on duties or credentials.