Vältää

Vältä is the singular imperative form of the Finnish verb välttää, meaning to avoid or refrain from. It is used to give a direct instruction or warning to someone, telling them to steer clear of a certain action or situation.

Usage of välttää is common in safety, health, and everyday guidance. It typically introduces a target of avoidance after the verb, often in the partitive case. Examples include Vältä turhia riskejä (Avoid unnecessary risks) and Vältä liiallista sokerin käyttöä (Avoid excessive use of sugar). The imperative is widely found in written guidelines, warning signs, and instructional contexts, as well as in everyday speech.

Grammar notes: välttää is a transitive verb that takes an object indicating what should be avoided. In imperative sentences, Vältä is used with the object directly after it, forming concise cautions or commandments. The language often pairs Vältä with adverbs or phrases that emphasize caution, such as Vältä suoraa kontaktia tai vaikutuksia, depending on the context. For addressing more than one person, Finnish would use the corresponding plural imperative form.

Translations and equivalents: In English, välttää corresponds to avoid or refrain from. The imperative Vältä carries a direct, instructional tone and is common in preventive or advisory contexts. It is a core example of how Finnish uses specific imperatives to convey practical cautions in health, safety, and everyday decision-making.