urheilijaa

Urheilijaa is the partitive singular form of the Finnish noun urheilija, meaning “an athlete” or “an athlete (indefinite).” It is not a separate word with a different meaning; rather, it is a grammatical form used in sentences where the object is in the partitive case.

In Finnish, the partitive singular is typically used for indefinite objects, objects of negation, or when the action is ongoing or not fully completed. The nominative form of the word is urheilija. Other common forms include the genitive urheilijan and the partitive plural urheilijoita, with corresponding uses in sentences like “Tapasin kolme urheilijaa” (I met three athletes) where urheilijaa is the partitive singular after the numeral kolme.

Common usage examples include:

- Haluaisin nähdä urheilijaa. (I would like to see an athlete.)

- En nähnyt urheilijaa tänään. (I did not see an athlete today.)

- Tapasin kolme urheilijaa. (I met three athletes.)

Etymology and role: the word urheilija is formed from urheilu (sport) plus the agent suffix -ija, and urheilijaa is the required partitive singular form for certain grammatical contexts. This form is typical for many Finnish nouns ending in -ija and is essential for constructing correct objects in sentences involving indefinite references or negation.

See also: urheilija, urheilu, Finnish noun cases and the partitive mood.