Huolehtia

Huolehtia is a Finnish verb meaning to take care of or to look after something or someone. It is also used in the sense of being concerned with or paying attention to a matter. The verb is commonly used in everyday language to describe activities such as caregiving, management, and responsibility, as well as the wider sense of worrying about a situation.

Etymology and nuance: huolehtia derives from the noun huoli, meaning care or concern. The distinction from related concepts is important: huolehtia emphasizes acting to manage or safeguard something, while huolestua means to become worried or anxious about something. In addition, huolehtia often expresses practical responsibility, whereas synonyms like välittää focus more on personal interest or sentiment.

Usage and grammar: huolehtia is a transitive verb that typically takes an object indicating what is being cared for, often in the genitive or with a related noun phrase. Examples include min ä huolehdin lapsistani (I take care of my children) and hän huolehtii terveydestään (he takes care of his health). The imperative form is huolehdi (care for), and the negative imperative is älä huolehdi (don’t worry). The present tense forms are huolehdin, huolehdit, huolehtii, huolehdimme, huolehditte, huolehtivat.

Related terms: huolestua (to become worried), huolenpito (caregiving or maintenance), huoli (care or worry), and the noun form huolehtiminen (the act of taking care). These help differentiate practical caregiving from emotional concern.

See also: language notes, usage examples, and related verbs such as välittää and huolenpito.