peruskeinona

Peruskeinona is a Finnish phrase that functions as the essive form of the noun peruskeino, meaning “as a basic means” or “as a primary instrument.” It is used in everyday and formal Finnish to describe a method or instrument that is considered fundamental for achieving a goal. Because peruskeinona is not a separate concept or proper noun, it appears as part of a sentence and is capitalized only when it starts a sentence.

Etymology and grammar: peruskeino combines perus- (basic) with keino (means, instrument). The suffix -na marks the essive case, indicating a state or role, so peruskeinona translates roughly to “in the capacity of a basic means.” The form is versatile and can describe approaches in policy, education, business, or administration.

Usage: In Finnish prose, peruskeinona is used to emphasize foundational methods as opposed to advanced tools or novel strategies. It often appears in discussions about priorities, resource allocation, or strategic planning, where authors contrast basic measures with more experimental options. For example, a policy discussion might state that “peruskeinona pidetään ennaltaehkäiseviä toimia,” meaning “as a basic means, preventive actions are regarded.”

See also: Finnish grammar, essive case, peruskeino, keino.

Note: Peruskeinona is typically not capitalized unless at the beginning of a sentence. It is a grammatical form rather than a standalone term with a distinct technical meaning.