Learn Finnish: Pöytäjärjestys on selkeä nimikortteja lukuun ottamatta. - The seating arrangement is clear except for the place cards.

The phrase lukuun ottamatta is a postposition meaning 'except for'. When placed after a noun, it typically governs the partitive case. This is why the noun nimikortti (place card) appears in the partitive plural as nimikortteja.

What is the literal breakdown of the phrase lukuun ottamatta?

It literally translates to 'without taking into the count'. It combines lukuun (the illative case of luku, meaning 'into the number' or 'into the count') with ottamatta, which is the abessive form ('without doing') of the third infinitive of the verb ottaa (to take).

Can lukuun ottamatta be placed in front of the noun instead of after it?

Yes, but this changes the grammatical rules. If you use it as a preposition before the noun, it generally requires the elative case instead of the partitive. In that case, the phrase would become lukuun ottamatta nimikorteista.

Why does pöytäjärjestys translate to 'seating arrangement' when pöytä means table?

The compound word pöytäjärjestys consists of pöytä (table) and järjestys (order or arrangement). While English speakers talk about organizing the 'seats', Finnish speakers refer to organizing the 'tables' for formal events.