Odotettu

Odotettu is a Finnish adjective and past participle form of the verb odottaa, meaning to expect or to await. It describes something that has been anticipated or awaited and is commonly translated as “the expected” or “the awaited.” The word is widely used in everyday language, journalism, and formal writing to indicate that a person, event, outcome, or publication has been looked forward to.

Etymology and form: Odotettu derives from odottaa with the standard Finnish past participle suffix -ttu. As an adjective, it agrees with the noun it modifies in number and case, for example odotettu päivä (the expected day) or odotetut tulokset (the expected results). It can also appear predicatively in sentences such as Tulokset ovat odotettuja (The results are expected/anticipated).

Usage and nuance: Odotettu places emphasis on the anticipation having taken place or being resolved to some extent, often implying that something is now imminent or has reached a point of public interest. It contrasts with odottava, which describes someone who is waiting or is expectant, rather than something that has already been anticipated.

Examples:

- odotettu vieras (the awaited guest)

- odotettu julkaisu (the anticipated publication)

- tulokset ovat odotettuja (the results are expected/anticipated)

See also: odottaa, odotus, odotettavissa. Odotettu is a neutral, widely understood term in Finnish for expressing that something has been looked forward to and is now anticipated or due.