tykätä
/ˈtykætæˣ/
To like in Finnish is expressed as tykätä.
The verb is used to express finding something pleasant or enjoying something.
Which one should you use?
While tykätä is a common way to say 'to like', the word kuin is used for comparisons to indicate resemblance or similarity, meaning 'like' or 'as'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Tykätä is an informal verb. For a more formal or standard way to express liking something or someone, use the verb pitää. Among younger generations, the casual term digata is also commonly used.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtykætæˣ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the accusative case (the direct object) with tykätä.
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where you 'like' an object, the verb tykätä requires the object to be in the elative case, meaning you literally like 'out of' something.
- Although 'to like' is often translated as tykätä, its actual origin is the Swedish word 'tycka', which originally meant 'to think' or 'to deem'.
- The more formal verb pitää also means 'to keep' or 'to hold', blending the idea of liking something with the act of holding onto it.
Examples in context
- Et taida tykätä minusta, vai kuinka?You don't like me, do you?This sentence uses tykätä to express a lack of liking someone.Tatoeba #3849433 by Silja, translation #3358349 by CK
- Haluun tykätä ihmisistä, mut ne on vaan niin vitun tyhmiä.I want to like people, but they're just so fucking stupid.This sentence uses tykätä to express a desire to like people.Tatoeba #2670689 by Silja, translation #2278172 by DiePain
- Taidat tykätä pizzasta?You like pizza, don't you?This sentence uses tykätä to express liking a specific food.Tatoeba #3990834 by Silja, translation #2288194 by CK
- Minä pidän tällaisesta vaatteesta.I like this type of clothing.
- Pidän jäätelöstä, kuten moni muukin.I like ice cream, like many others.
- Hänelle miellyy taide.He/she likes art.
- Mä tykkään tästä biisistä.I like this song.
- Me digataan tätä uutta sarjaa.We like this new series.
- Tämä maku on kuin mansikka.This flavor is like strawberry.
- Pidän tästäI like this
- En tykkää siitäI don't like that
- Rakastan tätä ruokaaI love this food
- Inhoan sitäI hate it
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tykätä, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tykätä, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
