Puhuttuttaa

Puhuttuttaa is a Finnish verb in its infinitive form meaning to cause someone to speak or to provoke a response by prompting speech. It is a causative form derived from the verb puhua (to speak) with the suffix -ttuttaa, and is used transitively: something or someone causes another person to speak, answer, or voice an opinion.

In typical usage, the triggering factor is the subject of the sentence, and the person who is prompted to speak appears as the object. Examples include: “Kysymys puhuttutti hänet vastaamaan” (The question prompted him to answer) and “Keskustelu puhuttutti kuulijoita” (The discussion provoked a response from the listeners). The sense can also be extended to emotional or cognitive prompting, where a topic or situation moves someone to think, react, or reflect.

Puhuttuttaa is therefore used to describe both literal prompting to speak and broader effects that lead someone to express thoughts or feelings. Related terms include puhuttelu (an address or prompting, especially in conversation) and puhunta, as well as the base verb puhua (to speak). The word is common in journalism, everyday conversation, and literary language when describing how stimuli elicit speech or reaction.