elementiksi

Elementiksi is the translative case form of the Finnish noun elementti, meaning “an element” or “the element.” In Finnish grammar, the translative case, marked by the suffix -ksi, expresses change of state or role. Therefore elementiksi is used to convey that something becomes, or is used as, an element in a broader context.

Formation and usage: elementiksi is formed by adding the translative suffix -ksi to the stem elementti, producing a form that can follow verbs of change such as muuttua (to become) or tulla (to become). For example, Vesi muuttui elementiksi means “Water became an element.” The translative form is also used to describe functions or roles within a system, roughly translating to “as an element” or “into an element,” depending on the context.

Semantic notes: elementiksi is primarily a grammatical tool rather than a concept with a fixed, standalone meaning. Its use is common in literary, philosophical, or technical writing when the author wants to discuss something’s new state or its role within a larger structure. In everyday speech, Finnish tends to favor more natural phrasing, and translatives like elementiksi appear more often in written text or formal discourse.

See also: elementti; translatiivinen taivutus; Finnish grammar.