Säättää

Säättää is a Finnish verb with two broad uses that share the idea of setting, fixing, or determining something. In everyday language it means to adjust or regulate a device, system, or parameter, such as tuning a thermostat, setting software options, or calibrating equipment. The related noun säätö refers to an adjustment or regulation, and it is commonly used in expressions about making such changes.

In legal and administrative contexts säättää means to enact or establish by law or decree. A law or regulation is described as säädetty when it has been enacted, and acts of Parliament or government may regulate or govern through säädökset and lainsäädäntö. The present passive form säätetään denotes that something is enacted or regulated, and the past passive säätettiin indicates it has been enacted.

Usage and nuance

- Everyday use emphasizes practical adjustment and setting: you regulate a device, change settings, or tune parameters.

- Legal-use emphasizes formal establishment of rules, statutes, or regulations by political authorities.

Related terms

- Säätö: an adjustment or regulation, the concrete act of setting something.

- Säädös: a regulation or decree.

- Lainsäädäntö: legislation or the body of laws.

- Säädäntö forms appear in various compounds reflecting the broader concept of rule-making or rule-setting.

Overall, säättää is a versatile Finnish verb crossing practical adjustment and formal law-making, with its precise meaning determined by context.