varsinaiseksi

Varsinaiseksi is the translative form of the Finnish adjective varsinainen, meaning genuine, real, proper, or official. It expresses a change of state or designation, roughly “into becoming the real/official X” or “as the true X.” In practice, it is used with a noun to indicate that someone or something has been named or regarded as that thing. For example, a person can be made varsinaiseksi johtajaksi (the real/official leader).

In Finnish grammar, the suffix -ksi marks the translative case, used to express becoming or designation. Therefore varsinaiseksi is formed by combining the stem of varsinainen with the translative suffix. The corresponding plural form is varsinaisiksi, used when the noun it modifies is plural (for example, varsinaisiksi johtajiksi).

Usage notes: varsinaiseksi tends to appear in formal, official, or historical texts and in legal or administrative language. In everyday speech, speakers often substitute more common terms such as todellinen (genuine) or virallinen (official) depending on the nuance they wish to convey.

See also: varsinainen, translative case in Finnish, -ksi suffix, Finnish grammar.