Ways to say it
| Finnish | IPA |
|---|---|
| omistaa | /ˈomistɑːˣ/ |
| omata | /ˈomɑtɑˣ/ |
omistaa means to own or possess and is used for real or legal ownership, such as owning a house or a business. English uses have much more casually, so omistaa is narrower than the English word.
Which one should you use?
omata is another verb meaning to own or possess. For everyday having, including qualities and physical sensations such as having a cold, Finnish usually uses the verb olla, to be, in a special construction rather than a verb meaning to possess.
How does it change in a sentence?
omistaa is the basic form. In the present tense it becomes omistan, I own and omistat, you own.
How do you pronounce it?
omistaa is pronounced /ˈomistɑːˣ/, with the stress on the first syllable and a long final vowel.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use omistaa for every English have. It sounds like legal ownership, so for having a cold or having a quality Finnish uses olla instead.
Did you know?
- If you want to say you are hungry, you do not 'have' hunger, but rather you say that hunger 'is' (olla) on you.
- Using omistaa for a casual object like a pen can make it sound as if you are discussing a legal deed or a formal contract.
- The word omistaa is a factitive verb, meaning it is specifically constructed to describe the act of making something one's own.
Examples in context
- Tärkeätä on omistaa harrastus.The important thing is to have your own hobby.omistaa here means to have a hobby of your own.Tatoeba #3096968 by Kalle63, translation #275798 by CM
- Unelmani on omistaa poika, joka ottaa yritykseni hoitaakseen, kun menen eläkkeelle.It's my dream to have a son who'll take over my business when I retire.omistaa is used for having a son in the sense of having one of your own.Tatoeba #3075750 by Kalle63, translation #1140085 by CK
- Minä omistan talon ja maatilan.I have/own/possess a house and a farm.omistan is the first person present form, I own.
- Hauskaa päivää!Have a great day!
- Mulla on koira.I have a dog.
- Onko teillä varaus?Do you have a reservation?
- Hänellä on kaksi sisarta.He has two sisters.
Example conversation
Emma and Juho are talking about their homes.
- EmmaHaluaisin omistaa oman asunnon kaupungissa.I would like to own my own apartment in the city.
- JuhoMinä omistan pienen mökin metsässä.I own a small cottage in the forest.
- EmmaOnko kiva omistaa paikka luonnon keskellä?Is it nice to own a place in the middle of nature?
- JuhoKyllä, se on paras asia, minkä voin omistaa.Yes, it is the best thing I can own.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “have” translations and entries omistaa, omata, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries omata, omistaa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
