ilmeeksi

Ilmeeksi is a grammatical form in Finnish. It is the translative case of the noun ilme, which means expression or facial expression. The translative suffix -ksi marks a change of state, designation, or role, so ilmeeksi literally means "into an expression" or "as an expression." It is used to describe something that becomes an expression or is used as an expression, often in descriptions of emotions, appearances, or designations in prose or linguistic analysis.

In Finnish grammar, translative forms commonly appear with verbs of becoming (such as tulla or muuttua) and in constructions that label something as a different state or function. Therefore ilmeeksi can be used in clauses describing a transition or designation in a descriptive or literary context. The form also occurs when a situation or character’s behavior is described as an expression of a particular mood or attitude.

The plural form is ilmeiksi. The word is related to other inflected forms of ilme and to the verb ilmetä, meaning to appear or become visible, sharing the same root and semantic field of appearance and expression.

Usage notes include that ilmeeksi tends to appear in more formal, descriptive, or analytic Finnish rather than in everyday casual speech. It is primarily a grammatical device for signaling change into a state described by ilme, rather than a common everyday phrase.

See also: Finnish translative case, suffix -ksi, ilme (expression).