viljoiksi

Viljoiksi is a Finnish linguistic term referring to the translative plural form of vilja, the word for grain or cereal. In Finnish grammar, the translative case marks a change of state or transformation, so viljoiksi literally means “into grains” or “as grains.” The form is specialized and relatively uncommon in everyday speech, appearing mainly in literary, religious, or historical texts that employ strong agrarian imagery.

Etymology and form: Vilja denotes grain, and the translative suffix -ksi is used to express becoming or transformation. The plural form viljoiksi signals a change of state for multiple grains or for a mass conceived as consisting of grains. This construction is typical of archaic or elevated language, where imagery of harvest and grain is prominent.

Usage: Viljoiksi may be encountered in poetry, folklore, or academic discussions of Finnish morphology. It is not a common choice in modern, everyday conversation. When translating or explaining the concept, viljoiksi is often rendered as “into grains” or “as grains,” emphasizing a transformation rather than a mere quantity.

Cultural and linguistic context: The imagery of grain has long been central to agrarian Finnish culture and literature, and viljoiksi reflects that symbolic vernacular. Its relative rarity in contemporary prose does not diminish its role in illustrating how Finnish expresses changes of state through grammatical case and number.

See also: Vilja; Finnish translative case; Finnish grammar; Kalevala-style oration and imagery.

References: Finnish language reference works and grammar resources that discuss translative forms and noun pluralization, such as standard Finnish grammar descriptions.