ymmärtää
/ˈymːærtæːˣ/
To understand in Finnish is written as ymmärtää. Wiktionary also lists osata and tajuta.
Meaning: to grasp the meaning of (verb)
Ways to say it
| Finnish | IPA |
|---|---|
| ymmärtää | /ˈymːærtæːˣ/ |
| osata | /ˈosɑtɑˣ/ |
| tajuta | /ˈtɑjutɑˣ/ |
| käsittää | /ˈkæsitːæːˣ/ |
| älytä | /ˈælytæˣ/ |
The primary way to express grasping the meaning of something is through the verb ymmärtää.
Which one should you use?
Finnish distinguishes between grasping a concept and possessing a skill. While English uses 'understand' for both, you should use ymmärtää for grasping a concept and osata for knowing how to perform a skill. Additionally, tajuta is used when the understanding involves a sudden realization or a 'click' in the mind, whereas ymmärtää is more general.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the verb ymmärtää, the first-person singular present tense ('I understand') is ymmärrän and the past tense ('I understood') is ymmärsin.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈymːærtæːˣ/
Did you know?
- The verb ymmärtää is etymologically rooted in the word ympäri, meaning 'around'. It suggests that to understand something is to 'go around' or 'surround' it with your mind.
Examples in context
- En voi ymmärtää sinua.I can't understand you.This sentence is useful for expressing an inability to understand someone using ymmärtää.Tatoeba #3108444 by Kalle63, translation #1120333 by CK
- Se on helppo ymmärtää.That's easy to understand.This sentence is useful for describing something that is easy to understand using ymmärtää.Tatoeba #11535198 by Johannes_S, translation #10366958 by DJ_Saidez
- Sitä on vaikea ymmärtää.It's hard to understand.This sentence is useful for describing something that is hard to understand using ymmärtää.Tatoeba #4183277 by Orava, translation #3819007 by CK
- Ymmärrättekö, mitä olen selittänyt?Do you understand what I have explained?
- Tajusin täysin pointtisi.I fully understood your point.
- Hän tajuaa ohjeet.He/she understands the instructions.
- Tajusin vihdoin!I finally understood!
- Tajuatko, mitä minä tarkoitan?Do you understand what I mean?
- Porasit täysin pointtini.You fully understood my point.
- 56 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Mikko are discussing a difficult task at work.
- SofiaMikko, haluatko että selitän tämän uudestaan?Mikko, do you want me to explain this again?
- MikkoEi kiitos, alan jo ymmärtää tämän asian.No thanks, I am starting to understand this matter.
- SofiaOnko tämä kohta nyt selvä?Is this part clear now?
- MikkoKyllä, nyt ymmärtää mitä pitää tehdä.Yes, now I understand what needs to be done.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “understand” translations and entries ymmärtää, osata, tajuta, käsittää, älytä, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries käsittää, osata, tajuta, ymmärtää, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
