Iskuttaa

Iskuttaa is a Finnish verb meaning to strike, hit, or pound something with a hand, tool, or instrument; to attack; or to produce a strong impact or effect. It covers physical actions such as hitting a surface or driving a ball with force, and also figurative uses where an idea, event, or rhythm “hits” someone or makes a strong impression. The verb can describe both manual actions and mechanical impacts, as well as musical or dramatic effects where a sound or tempo is delivered with force.

Etymology: The word is formed from the noun isku, meaning a strike or hit, with the suffix -uttaa, which creates a verb conveying “to cause to strike” or “to deliver a strike.” This -uttaa pattern is common in Finnish for deriving verbs from nouns that express a concrete action or effect.

Usage and conjugation: Iskuttaa is a transitive verb and typically takes a direct object in the partitive or accusative case, depending on context. It is used across registers, including everyday speech, sports commentary, and journalism. As an -uttaa verb, its conjugation follows the standard patterns for that group, with various tense and mood forms formed like other Finnish -uttaa verbs. Learners should consult a conjugation table for precise forms in different contexts.

See also: isku (the noun for a strike), lyödä (to hit), iskun-related phrases.

Examples: Hän iskutti palloa voimalla. Rumpuryhmä iskutti tahtia yleisön mukaan. These illustrate both literal and rhythmic uses of iskuttaa in common speech.