tarkoitetakaan

Tarkoitetakaan is a Finnish verb form derived from the verb tarkoittaa, meaning to mean, intend, or signify. It is built from the present passive form tarkoitetaan (it is meant, or is intended) with the enclitic particle -kaan/-kään added to convey emphasis, contrast, or a nuanced degree of certainty. The base form without the particle is simplesmente tarkoitetaan; adding -kaan/-kään yields tarkoitetakaan, which carries added emphasis and a slightly rhetorical tone.

Grammatical notes: The -kaan/-kään particle functions as a modal, emphatic element in Finnish and can attach to finite verb forms in various tenses. When attached to the present passive, it yields tarkoitetakaan and signals that the speaker wants to underline the statement, often in contrast to an expectation or another option. The nuance can range from “even that is meant” to “indeed that is what is meant,” depending on context and intonation.

Usage: Tarkoitetakaan is most commonly encountered in spoken Finnish and in written texts that aim for a punchier, a more emphatic style. It often appears in sentences where the speaker contrasts what is being said with what might have been assumed, or where the speaker wants to stress that a particular meaning or intention holds true despite appearances. The form can appear in questions, assertions, or responses, and its exact shade of meaning is guided by context and emphasis.

In sum, tarkoitetakaan is a specialized emphatic form of the passive meaning “it is meant,” used to strengthen or contrast a statement, rather than to convey basic factual meaning alone.