Tarkkailee

Tarkkailee is a Finnish verb meaning to observe, monitor, or keep a close watch on something or someone. It denotes deliberate, ongoing attention to a subject, often with the aim of gathering information, ensuring safety, or detecting changes. The word is used in everyday language as well as professional contexts such as healthcare, security, research, and media.

Grammatically, tarkkailee is the present indicative third-person singular form of tarkkailla. The infinitive is tarkkailla; past tense is tarkkaili; passive present is tarkkaillaan. The verb takes objects in the accusative, for example “tarkkailla tilannetta” or “tarkkailla videomateriaalia.” Related nouns include tarkkailu (monitoring, surveillance) and tarkkailija (observer). An adjective form is tarkkaileva, meaning observant or vigilant.

Usage notes: In Finnish, tarkkailla often implies careful, systematic watching rather than casual glancing. It can describe monitoring of people, devices, or situations. The term is commonly contrasted with valvonta (supervision, policing) or seuraaminen (following). Examples: “Poliisit tarkkailevat aluetta” or “Potilasta tarkkaillaan teho-osastolla.” In technology, systems may “tarkkailla” conditions and trigger alerts, such as monitoring sensors or network activity.

See also: tarkkailu, tarkkailija.