Questions & Answers about Minun ruokavalioni on nyt laktoositon.
How does the word laktoositon get its meaning of lactose-free?
It uses the suffix -ton, which means without or -less. You attach it to the stem of a noun. Here, you just add -ton directly to laktoosi to get laktoositon (lactose-free).
Why is the suffix -ton used here instead of -tön?
This is due to vowel harmony. The word laktoosi contains the vowels a and o, which are back vowels. Therefore, the suffix must also use the back vowel o, making it -ton. If a word only had front vowels like ä, ö, or y, you would use -tön instead.
Why does the sentence use both minun and the ending -ni on ruokavalioni?
In standard written Finnish, when indicating possession like my, you use the genitive pronoun minun and also add the possessive suffix -ni to the noun. In casual spoken Finnish, you will often hear just mun ruokavalio without the suffix, but this sentence shows the strict standard grammar.
What are the parts of the compound word ruokavalio?
It is made of the words ruoka (food) and valio (elite, prime, or selection). Together they form the standard Finnish word for diet.