Näen

Näen is the first-person singular present indicative form of the Finnish verb nähdä, meaning “to see.” It is used to describe perceiving with the eyes and, in a broader sense, to express understanding, realization, or noticing something. The infinitive is nähdä, and the verb belongs to the common native Finnish verb class.

Conjugation and forms on present tense. The present tense forms for näkemiä? No. The standard present endings are built on the stem näe-: minä näen, sinä näet, hän näkee, me näemme, te näette, he näkevät. The past tense of nähdä is irregular: minä näin, sinä näit, hän näki, me näimme, te näitte, he näkivät. The perfect tense uses the auxiliary olla: olen nähnyt (I have seen). Participles include nähnyt (past participle) and näkevä (present active participle). The verb forms a typical Finnish conjugation pattern and is widely used across dialects.

Usage and examples. Näen can be used in literal statements, for example, “Näen taivaan” (I see the sky) or “Näen itse asian.” It also appears in clauses that express perception or realization, such as “Näen, että hän on oikeassa” (I see that he is right). Negation uses en näe: “En näe mitään.” The form kann be used metaphorically, as in recognizing or realizing something, not only visual perception.

Etymology and cognates. Näen derives from the native Finnish verb nähdä. The root shows cognates in other Finnic languages, notably Estonian näha. The exact historical reconstruction is debated, but the word is widely regarded as a long-standing element of Finnish vocabulary.

See also. nähdä, näkö, näkyvä, näkökyky.