en siedä sitä
Lemma: en siedä sitä
Translation: I can't stand it; I can't tolerate it; I can't bear it (phrase)
Etymology: This phrase consists of three parts: 'en' (negative first person singular form of 'ei'), 'siedä' (first person singular negative form of the verb 'sietää' meaning 'to tolerate'), and 'sitä' (partitive case of the pronoun 'se' meaning 'it'). The verb 'sietää' has Germanic roots related to words meaning endurance or tolerance.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'siedä' as 'seed-uh' - imagine something so irritating it's like having an annoying seed stuck in your shoe that you can't stand.
- Associate 'en siedä' with the English 'I can't seat it' - as in something so uncomfortable you can't sit with it.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This is a common expression used by Finns to express strong dislike or intolerance toward something or someone. Finns tend to be direct in expressing negative feelings, and this phrase is a good example of that cultural tendency.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'En siedä sitä' means 'I can't stand it' while 'en tiedä sitä' means 'I don't know it'. They sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
En tiedä sitä vastausta.
I don't know that answer.
Notes: The verbs 'sietää' (to tolerate) and 'tietää' (to know) differ by just one consonant but have completely different meanings.
Mnemonic: Remember: 'siedä' has an 's' for 'stand/stomach' (can't stomach it), while 'tiedä' has a 't' for 'thinking' (don't know).