Thursday, March 25, 2021

Verb of the week: ottaa

 week 12, 2021 

ottaa = to take

This is a really important verb, but it has so many uses in Finnish. In the most basic sense it means "to take (in one's hand)", meaning the object is literally within in reach. Such as...

Otatko kahvina? Otan. = Will you take/have some coffee? I will. 

It is NOT used for the following cases, to take someone somewhere / to take a day off:

to take the kid to school - viedä lapsi kouluun

to take a day off - pitää vapaapäivä 


It IS USED however for the following... 

ottaa nokoset  = to take a nap 

ottaa vapaata = to take some free time/time off 

ottaa päähän/aivoon = “take to head/brain” = to be pissed/ frustrated

ottaa rennosti = to take it easy


And it has lots of other uses such as...

ottaa yhteen: to engage, to fight, to cross swords

Poliisi ja mielenosoittajat ottivat yhteen. - The police and demonstrators clashed.

ottaa yhteyttä: to get in contact

Otan yhteyttä hänen kanssa ensi viikolla. - I will get in contact with him next week. 

ottaa kantaa: to take a stance, or a position

Poliitikkojen pitää ottaa kantaa hoidon priorisointiin. - Politicians should take a stand about care prioritisation. 

ottaa huomioon: to take note of, to take into account

Mitä yli 70-vuotiaan pitää ottaa huomioon koronavirustilanteessa? - What things must over 70s take notice of during the coronavirus?

ottaa käyttöön: to put into use

Työnhakusivusto otti käyttöön sukupuolineutraalit ammattinimikkeet. - Work search web page started using general neutral job titles.

ottaa lääke: to take medicine 

Mihin aikaan päivästä otan lääkkeen? - What time of the day do I take the medicine?


Bonus: it is used in my favourite Finnish saying:

“syödä mieluummin kuin selkäänsä ottaa” - rather eat than get a beating (rather eat than take it in the back)

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