etunimenä

Etunimenä is a Finnish term describing the essive-case form of etunimi, meaning "as a given name" or "in the capacity of a first name." It expresses the role or function of a name in a clause. The form is built from etu- (front, in front) and nimi (name), and the essive suffix -nä/-nä marks a temporary state or role in Finnish grammar.

Usage and examples: Etunimenä is used when stating that a name is used as someone's first name. A common sentence is: "Hänen etunimensä on Mikko." This construction appears in official records, biographical notes, and conversations that specify a person’s given name. The form emphasizes the function of the name rather than merely identifying the name itself. In everyday language, speakers typically state the name directly (e.g., "Mikko") or with possessive forms, but etunimenä appears in more formal or descriptive contexts.

Relation to other forms: The essive form etunimenä is part of Finnish noun-case system, where the essive expresses a temporary state or role. A related form is etunimeksi, the translative case, which conveys that something is designated to become or be used as a given name. This distinction mirrors similar pairings in Finnish between essive and translative cases, though etunimenä is the standard way to say "as a given name" in a sentence about usage or identity.

See also: etunimi, sukunimi, nimenä, nimeksi.