Epäröidä

Epäröidä is a Finnish verb meaning to hesitate, to be hesitant, or to have doubts or misgivings about doing something. It describes a temporary reluctance or uncertainty that often precedes a decision or action.

Etymology and grammar: The word is formed with the negating prefix epä- plus äröidä, a root related to fear or hesitation. In usage, epäröidä is typically followed by an infinitive clause, as in epäröidä tehdä jotakin (to hesitate to do something). It is a standard Finnish verb and follows the regular conjugation patterns of -dä verbs, and it can appear in various tenses and moods like other finite verbs.

Usage and examples: Common constructions include epäröidä aloittaa uudelleen (to hesitate to start again) or epäröidä vastata (to hesitate to answer). Example sentences: Minä epäröin lähteä ulos. Hän epäröi vastata kysymykseen. He epäröivät myöntää tehneensä virheen. The verb can express mild doubt or stronger reluctance, depending on context and accompanying expressions.

Related forms and nuance: The noun form epäröinti denotes the act or state of hesitating. Epäröinti is often used to describe more deliberate or prolonged doubt, whereas epäröidä emphasizes the act of hesitating in a specific situation. Synonyms include pohtia, epäillä, and epävarmuus, though epäröidä carries a sense of temporary hesitation about taking a particular action.