What is "translative case"

n. (context grammar English) a form of declension that indicates a change in the state of a noun; the Estonian and Finnish languages have such a case

The translative case ( abbreviated ) is a grammatical case that indicates a change in state of a noun, with the general sense of "becoming X" or "change to X".

In the Finnish language, it is the counterpart of the essive case, with the basic meaning of a change of state. It is also used for expressing "in (a language)", "considering it is a (status)" and "by (a time)". Its ending is -ksi:

• pitkä "long", venyi pitkäksi "(it) stretched long"
• englanti "English", englanniksi "in English"
• pentu "cub", Se on pennuksi iso "For a cub, it is big"
• musta aukko "black hole", (muuttui/muuntautui) mustaksi aukoksi "(turned into) a black hole"
• kello kuusi "(at) six o' clock", kello kuudeksi "by six o' clock"

Examples in Estonian:

• pikk "long", venis pikaks "(it) stretched long"
• must auk "black hole", (muutus/muundus) mustaks auguks "(turned into) a black hole"
• kell kuus "(at) six o' clock", kella kuueks "by six o' clock"

In Hungarian, the ending is -vá / -vé after a vowel; it assimilates to the final consonsant otherwise:

• só "salt", Lót felesége sóvá változott "Lot's wife turned into salt"
• fiú "boy; son" fiává fogad "adopt as one's son"
• bolond "fool" bolonddá tett engem "He made a fool out of me."