pääosassa

Pääosassa is a Finnish term meaning “in the leading role” or “in the lead part.” It is the inessive form of the noun pääosa, which denotes the main part or the lead role in a film, theatre production, or television series. The expression is commonly used to describe the position of an actor or the status of a character within a production.

In use, pääosassa can function as a predicative complement or as part of a larger clause. For example: Hän on pääosassa elokuvassa X (He is in the lead role in the movie X) or Elokuvan pääosassa on näyttelijä R. Virtanen (The lead role in the film is played by actor R. Virtanen). The phrase also appears in adjectival forms such as pääosan esittäjä (the actor who portrays the lead role). It contrasts with sivuosassa or sivuroolissa, terms used for supporting roles.

Grammatically, pääosa is a compound noun formed from pää (main, head) and osa (part). Its forms include pääosat (plural), pääosan (genitive), and pääosassa (inessive, “in the lead role”). The related concept päähenkilö refers to the lead character rather than the actor playing the role.

See also: pääosa, päähenkilö, sivurooli, sivuosassa.