Vetistä

Vetistä is a Finnish verb meaning to dilute or water down something, i.e., to reduce its concentration by adding water or another solvent. The term is used mainly in contexts involving liquids, such as food, beverages, sauces, soups, and chemical solutions, where the aim is to lower strength, flavor, or density.

In practical use, vetistäminen describes the act of dilution. For example, a cook might vetistää a broth by adding water to adjust its intensity: “Keitto on voimakasta; sen maku voidaan vetistää lisäämällä vettä.” In scientific or industrial settings, vetistäminen refers to diluting a solution to reach a desired concentration. The process is closely related to laimentaminen and laimeus, which are more common terms for dilution in everyday Finnish.

Metaphorically, vetistäminen can also be used to describe making something less forceful or less extreme, such as a plan, argument, or performance, by reducing its intensity or commitment. However, in such uses, more precise or alternative expressions are often preferred to avoid ambiguity.

Equivalents and related terms include laimentaminen (dilution) and laimeus (weakening, dilution). The concept is part of common culinary and laboratory vocabulary, and its correct application usually depends on the context and the expected final concentration of the liquid product.

See also: laimentaminen, laimeus, laimennus, dilution (in a general sense).