muodot

Muodot is the plural of muoto, a Finnish noun with several related meanings. It generally refers to form, shape or structure of something, but the term covers more than physical contours. In everyday language, muodot can denote the visible appearance or design language of an object, artwork, or product. In mathematics and geometry, muodot refer to shapes such as circles, squares, and more complex figures.

In linguistics and grammar, muoto describes a word's inflectional form or syntactic function. When discussing Finnish grammar, the term taivutusmuodot (conjugational forms) or morfologiset muodot refer to the different endings and case forms a word may take. In writing and rhetoric, muoto can also denote the form or structure of a text, such as the form of a poem or article.

In design and arts, muoto relates to the formal qualities of an artwork—the arrangement of lines, masses and proportions that give an object its character. The concept is closely linked to muotoilu, design and form-giving practices, and to visual language (muotokieli).

Note the distinction to muoti, the Finnish word for fashion; muodot (forms) are about shape and structure, whereas muoti (fashion) refers to styling trends. The overlap occurs in some contexts, but they remain distinct terms.