suureeksi

Suureeksi is a Finnish adjective form used in the translative case. It is the translative (suffix -ksi) of the adjective suuru meaning large or great. In Finnish, the translative marks a change of state or outcome, typically after verbs of becoming such as kasvaa (to grow) or tulla (to become). Therefore, suureksi conveys “to become large” or “to become great,” rather than merely describing a fixed property.

Usage and meaning: suureksi appears in predicates that express a transformation or new state. A common construction is with the verb kasvaa: Lapsi kasvaa suureksi (The child grows up / becomes large). The form can also appear in more formal or literary contexts to indicate a significant change in status or magnitude.

Comparison and nuance: In everyday Finnish, speakers often use isoksi when referring to physical size, while suureksi is more likely to be used when the change implies magnitude, importance, or a conceptual greatness. The translative form is part of a broader system in Finnish that expresses becoming or change of state through case endings, rather than fixed adjectives.

Etymology and related forms: Suureksi is derived from suuri with the translative suffix -ksi. Related translatives include isoksi from iso and hyvaksi from hyvä, which similarly denote becoming into a new state.

See also: Finnish grammar, translative case, adjectives, becoming constructions.