tuomana

Tuomana is a Finnish term used to indicate acting in the capacity of a judge. In Finnish grammar, it is associated with the essive case, which expresses a temporary state or role, similar to saying “in the role of” or “as” in English. The concept is part of the broader system of essive forms that attach to a noun to denote a standing or function someone holds in a given moment.

In everyday Finnish, the more common expression for “as a judge” is tuomarina, formed from the noun tuomari (judge) with the essive suffix -na. Tuomana, while recognized in reference works as a legitimate essive form in certain contexts, is less widely used in contemporary standard language. It may appear in historical texts, poetic usage, or stylistic writing, where older or regional forms are preserved or preferred.

The distinction between tuomana and tuomarina illustrates Finnish grammar’s flexibility in expressing roles and identities. Both forms convey the same core idea—being in the role of a judge—but tuomarina is typically preferred in modern prose, government, and formal contexts, while tuomana may be encountered in specialized, archaic, or regional expressions.

See also: tuomarina, tuomari, tuomio, essive case.