tarvikke

Tarvike is a Finnish noun meaning a supply, tool, or accessory used for a specific purpose. The standard singular form is tarvike, while the plural is tarvikkeet, used to refer to supplies or parts needed for a project. In some contexts tarvikke can appear as a less common variant spelling of the singular, but tarvike is the more typical form in modern Finnish.

Usage and nuance: Tarvike emphasizes an individual item that is necessary or helpful for a task. It can refer to small tools, consumables, spare parts, or fittings. In everyday language you might encounter phrases such as puutarhan tarvikkeet or elektroniikkatarvikkeet, where the word denotes items used to support a broader activity. Tarvike contrasts with varuste, which generally denotes broader equipment or gear used for a complete activity or operation.

Relation to related terms: Tarvike and tarvikkeet are often grouped under the broader category of supplies or implements. Varusteet tends to refer to the more organized set of equipment or gear, such as ski varusteet (ski equipment) or työvarusteet (work gear). In technical or commercial contexts, tarvikkeet may include consumables and spare parts, whereas devices or machines are described with specific names like laite or kone.

Etymology: The word derives from the Finnish verb tarvita, meaning “to need,” with a nominalizing suffix that indicates a thing serving a purpose. This mirrors how many languages form words for needed items or implements.