Suunnistaa

Suunnistaa is a Finnish verb meaning to find one’s way, to orient oneself, or to navigate in a physical environment. It can refer to determining a travel course, often with the help of a map or compass, or to guiding someone along a path. The term is used in everyday language as well as in the sport of orienteering, whose Finnish name is suunnistus.

Used in everyday life, suunnistaa describes navigating in real terrain: for example, “Me suunnistimme kartan avulla kaupungin keskustaan” or “Hän suunnistaa maastossa kartan ja kompassin avulla.” The verb can also be used metaphorically, for instance when planning or steering a project or journey.

In sport, suunnistus refers to orienteering, a competition where participants try to reach checkpoints in unfamiliar terrain with a map and compass. The activity emphasizes route choice, pace, and map interpretation and is practiced in forests and urban areas around the world.

Etymology and related terms: The word comes from suunta, meaning direction, with the -istaa suffix forming a verb meaning to direct toward a direction. Related nouns include suunta (direction) and suuntainen (directional).

Conjugation: suunnistaa follows regular Finnish verb conjugation; it appears in present, past and other tenses like other verbs. See also suunta, suunnistus, orienteering.