Tenttää

Tenttää is a colloquial Finnish verb used to refer to taking an examination or test. It is derived from the noun tentti (exam) with the typical informal verb formation found in Finnish. In standard language, one would say suorittaa tentti or osallistua tenttiin; tenttää carries a lighter, casual tone and is common in spoken language among students. The nuance can include emphasis on the act of sitting an exam rather than the result, and it is often used in phrases like “tentti huomenna” in casual speech. The gerund form tenttaaminen and the agent noun tenttaaja are sometimes used to refer to the activity or a person who takes exams, respectively. The term is widely understood in Finland but remains informal and is less appropriate in formal or academic writing. Regional and generational variation exists, with younger speakers more likely to use tenttää, while older generations may prefer standard equivalents. Attested in online forums, social media, and everyday speech, tenttää reflects the flexible and playful nature of Finnish slang, where formal nouns and verbs are repurposed into casual speech.