päästää
Lemma: päästää
Translation: to let go; to release; to let out; to emit; to discharge; to allow (verb)
Etymology: Derived from the Finnish word 'pää' (head) and the causative suffix '-ttää'. The original meaning relates to 'causing to get to the head/end' or 'making something reach its destination'. This reflects the core meaning of allowing something to move from one state or place to another. The verb is related to the intransitive verb 'päästä' (to get to, to reach, to be allowed).
Mnemonics
- Think of 'päästää' as 'pass-to' - you're allowing something to pass to somewhere.
- The 'pää' part means 'head' - imagine letting something reach its head or destination.
- The double 'ää' sound is like a sigh of relief when something is released: 'pääästää'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
This verb is commonly used in everyday Finnish in various contexts, from physical actions of releasing something to more abstract meanings like allowing someone to do something. It's an essential verb for expressing permission and physical release actions.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Päästää' is transitive (requires an object) meaning 'to let/allow something', while 'päästä' is intransitive meaning 'to get to/reach'.
This word:
Päästän sinut sisään.
I'll let you in.
Confused word:
Pääsen sisään.
I get in.
Notes: Remember that 'päästää' involves allowing someone/something else to do something, while 'päästä' is about yourself getting somewhere or achieving something.
Mnemonic: 'Päästää' has an extra 'ä' - think of it as having extra action (letting someone else do something).
Explanation: While they sound somewhat similar, 'päästää' means 'to let go/release' while 'pestä' means 'to wash'.
This word:
Päästä kissa ulos.
Let the cat out.
Confused word:
Pesen kissaa.
I'm washing the cat.
Notes: These verbs belong to completely different semantic fields - one is about releasing/allowing, the other about cleaning.
Mnemonic: 'Pestä' has 'e' which can remind you of 'clean', while 'päästää' has 'ää' which can remind you of opening a door wide ('aaaah').