kotimaansa

Kotimaansa is a Finnish noun phrase meaning 'one’s homeland' or 'the homeland of someone.' It is formed from kotimaa ('homeland') plus the third-person possessive suffix -nsa/-nsä, yielding a form that indicates ownership by a third person. The exact possessor is determined by context or accompanying pronouns, so kotimaansa can be understood as 'his homeland,' 'her homeland,' or, with explicit context, 'their homeland.'

In ordinary usage kotimaansa is less common than kotimaa, but it appears in literary, journalistic, and formal prose when a writer refers to the homeland belonging to a particular person, often in contexts of belonging, exile, or patriotism. It conveys a precise connection between a person and their homeland. By contrast, isänmaa is a more overtly patriotic or ceremonial term for 'fatherland' or 'homeland' and is used in nationalistic rhetoric or ceremonial language. Example: "Hän puhui kotimaansa tulevaisuudesta" ('He spoke about his homeland’s future'), "Keskustelu keskittyi hänen kotimaansa historiaan" ('The discussion focused on his homeland’s history').

Etymology: kotimaa combines koti ('home') and maa ('land'); the suffix -nsa marks third-person possessive. See also: Kotimaa; Isänmaa; Finnish grammar possessive suffixes; Finnish language.