Valittaa

Valittaa is a Finnish verb meaning to complain, to lament, or to express regret. It is used for everyday grievances as well as more formal or literary lamentation. The verb can introduce what is being complained about with clauses starting with että, or with a phrase like jostakin to indicate the object of complaint. In some contexts valittaa can also convey a sense of sorrow or sympathy, equivalent to “I’m sorry that…”.

Conjugation in its common forms: present tense forms are valitan (I complain), valitat (you complain), valittaa (he/she/it complains), valitamme (we complain), valitatte (you all complain), valittavat (they complain). The imperfect (past) forms are valitin, valitti, valitti, valitimme, valititte, valittivat. Perfect forms use the auxiliary olla with the past participle: olen valittanut, olet valittanut, on valittanut, olemme valittaneet, olette valittaneet, ovat valittaneet.

Nouns and related forms: valitus refers to a formal complaint or grievance, often in administrative or legal contexts; valittaminen denotes the act of complaining; valittaja is a person who complains. The verb can take various objects, for example valittaa jostakin (to complain about something) or valittaa siitä (to complain about that). The nuances range from casual grumbling to legitimate grievances or regrets, and in some contexts valitus may also refer to an official appeal.

Examples: Hän valittaa jatkuvasti. (He/She complains constantly.) Valitan, etten päässyt mukaan. (I’m sorry/Regret that I couldn’t join.) Hän valitti siitä, että työaika oli liian pitkä. (He/She complained about the long working hours.)