virtalähteenä

Virtalähteenä is a Finnish linguistic term meaning “as a power source.” It is formed from the noun virtalähde, meaning power source, with the translative suffix -nä, which in Finnish signals a role or state. Thus virtalähteenä translates to “as a power source” and is used to describe the function of a device or component within a system.

In usage, virtalähteenä explains what role something plays rather than what it is. It is commonly found in technical writing and electronics descriptions, where phrases like laite toimii virtalähteenä (the device acts as a power source) or akkua käytetään virtalähteenä (a battery is used as a power source) appear. The form is a grammatical tool rather than a specific hardware category, and it does not designate a particular device by itself.

Power sources that can fulfill the role described by virtalähteenä include batteries (akku), external power supplies (virtalähde), generators (generaattori), and connections to the electrical grid or renewable sources. The phrase is also used in product documentation to indicate that a component serves as the power source for a system or module, for example in specifications stating that a device can be used as a power source.

Grammatically, virtalähteenä is the translative case form of virtalähde; it signals a change of state or function. It is one of several Finnish constructions for expressing function or role, alongside other cases and forms that describe purpose or capability.