Rokottaa

Rokottaa is a Finnish verb with two primary senses. It can mean to rock or cradle someone, especially a baby, by swaying gently to help them fall asleep. It can also mean to perform rock music, i.e., to play rock in a band or musical context. The meaning is determined by the surrounding words and context.

Etymology and usage context. The verb is linked to the rock music term rokkimusiikki and to the English word rock, adapted into Finnish usage with the productive verb-forming suffix -ottaa. In childcare contexts, rokottaa describes the soothing motion used by caregivers or parents. In music contexts, rokottaa describes the act of performing rock music, commonly used in journalism and informal speech to refer to a band or musician playing rock songs.

Grammatical notes. Rokottaa is conjugated as a regular Finnish verb. In the past tense, forms like rokotti are used; in the present, rokottaa or related forms appear depending on subject and sentence structure. The object in the rock-music sense is typically rokkimusiikkia or rock-muja, while the baby-sleep sense takes vauvaa or lasta as the object.

See also. Rokkimusiikki, rokkaus (a related term describing the rocking motion), and related terms in Finnish music vocabulary.

This article provides a concise overview of rokottaa, covering its main meanings, usage areas, and basic linguistic notes.