Tuntua

Tuntua is a Finnish verb meaning to feel, sense, or seem. It covers physical sensations, emotional states, and impressions. In everyday use it can describe how something feels physically, how someone feels emotionally, or how a situation appears to a person. Common constructions include expressions like “minusta tuntuu” (it feels to me / I think), “se tuntuu hyvältä” (it feels good), and “tuntuu siltä, että” (it seems as if).

Grammatical notes and forms: The infinitive is tuntua. The present tense forms include tuntuu (it feels / it seems) and tuntuvat (they feel / they seem). The past tense is tuntui (it felt), with tuntivat for the plural. The perfect participle is tuntunut (felt). In negative statements you use ei tunnu (it does not feel / it does not seem). When expressing sensations with adjectives, Finnish often uses the adessive form of the adjective after tuntuu, as in “käsi tuntuu kylmältä” (the hand feels cold) or “se tuntuu hyvältä” (it feels good).

Usage notes: Tuntua is highly idiomatic and marks subjective perception rather than objective fact. It frequently appears in reported opinions and introspection, especially with the introductory clause “minusta tuntuu” or in clauses beginning with “tuntuu siltä, että.” It is a staple verb in both spoken and written Finnish and interacts with a range of adjectives and noun phrases to convey personal experience.

Etymology and status: Tuntua is a native Finnish verb with extensive use in Finnic languages’ common expression patterns. It is a core element of Finnish perception and impression language, with numerous fixed phrases and variations across styles.