translative

Translative is a grammatical category found in some languages, notably Finnic languages such as Finnish and Estonian, used to mark a change of state, condition, or role. It typically indicates that something becomes something else, or is projected into a new status, rather than describing its current habitual state.

In Finnish, translative is expressed with the suffix -ksi (often realized as -ksi after a stem with consonant changes). It is commonly used with verbs of becoming, such as tulla (to become). For example, Hän tuli opettajaksi means “He became a teacher.” The translative in Finnish conveys a transition into the new role or state, frequently after a verb like tulla or saada.

In Estonian, the translative is formed with the suffix -aks or -üks, depending on vowel harmony, and is used similarly with verbs of becoming or obtaining. A typical example is Ta sai õpetajaks, meaning “She/He became a teacher.” As in Finnish, the Estonian translative marks a change into a new state or function.

The translative contrasts with other cases that express current states, such as the essive in Finnish and Estonian (often translated as “as” or “in the capacity of”), which marks a temporary or situational state rather than a transformation. Across languages, the translative is part of a broader system for coding transitions into new roles, states, or identities, rather than permanent attributes.

In summary, translative is a morphosyntactic tool used in Finnish and Estonian to express "becoming" or "changing into" a new state or role, typically shown by a dedicated suffix like -ksi in Finnish or -aks/-üks in Estonian.