kohdekieleksi

Kohdekieleksi is a Finnish term used in translation theory and localization to denote the target language—the language into which a text is translated. The word is formed from kohdekieli (target language) with the translative suffix -ksi, which in Finnish marks a change into something. Thus kohdekieleksi literally means “into the target language” and is used to describe the output language in translation work.

In practice, kohdekieleksi appears in instructions, briefs, and software interfaces to indicate the language that should be produced. Phrases such as käännä kohdekieleksi (translate into the target language) or määritä kohdekieli (define the target language) are common in translation memories, computer-assisted translation tools, and localization workflows. It is also used in machine translation prompts to specify the desired output language.

Relation to other terms: kohdekieli is the target language itself; lähdekieli is the source language from which the text is translated. Together, they frame the basic parameters of a translation task and are central in discussions of translation studies and localization practices.

See also: translation studies, localization, machine translation, source language, target language, terminologia.