nimisõnaks

Nimisõnaks is the translative singular form of the Estonian noun nimisõna, meaning “noun.” The translative case in Estonian signals a change of state or role, roughly “into a noun” or “as a noun.” In linguistic contexts it is used to describe something becoming or being treated as a noun.

Usage and formation. The form nimisõnaks is created by taking the base nimisõna and adding the translative suffix -ks. It is primarily encountered in explanations of grammar or in examples illustrating how a word can take on the status of a noun. The translative case is typically used with verbs of becoming, such as saama (to become), to express a transition into that role: for example, Sõna sai nimisõnaks — “The word became a noun.” It can also appear in constructions that discuss converting other words or expressions into nouns, e.g., muuda selle sõna nimisõnaks — “convert that word into a noun.”

Notes. Nimisõnaks is a specialized grammatical form and is not common in everyday speech outside educational or descriptive linguistic material. Its primary function is to illustrate the process of turning a word into a noun within Estonian grammar.

See also. Nimísõna (noun), translatiiv (translative case), Estonian grammar.