kahdeksana

Kahdeksana is a Finnish numeral form derived from kahdeksan (eight) that is used to express position in time or order in a sequence. It is not a standalone noun but a case or adverbial form of the numeral that appears in particular grammatical contexts, often in combination with time words or postpositions to indicate a specific point.

In Finnish, kahdeksana is contrasted with kahdeksas, which is the standard ordinal form used before a noun to mean “the eighth” (for example, the eighth day). Kahdeksana functions to mark the point of reference rather than functioning as a plain noun-modifier. The form is common in formal or written language when indicating a time point or position within a sequence, such as in dated expressions or narrative timelines, though everyday speech may use alternative constructions to convey the same meaning.

Etymologically, kahdeksana is formed from kahdeksan plus a suffix recognized in Finnish numeral morphology that yields adverbial or essive-like usages. The form fits into a broader pattern whereby numerals can take different endings to indicate time, date, or sequential position. While more precise usage can vary by dialect and context, kahdeksana properly indicates “on the eighth” as a temporal or ordinal reference within a sentence. See also Finnish numerals and ordinal forms for related structures.