Viivytellä

Viivytellä is a Finnish verb meaning to delay, to linger, or to hesitate. It denotes postponing an action or decision, or spending more time in a place than is necessary. The sense can range from intentional postponement to mere hesitation or lingering.

In everyday language viivytellä is typically used intransitively, without a direct object. For example, you might say that someone "viivytteli lähtöä" (they lingered before leaving) or that a process "viivästyi" (was delayed). There is also a closely related transitive form "viivyttää," which means to cause something to be delayed, as in an obstacle that "viivyttää aikataulua" (delays the schedule).

The noun forms related to the verb are viivytys, meaning a delay or postponement, and viivyttely, referring to the act or process of delaying. These terms are common in both everyday speech and more formal or administrative language, especially when discussing timelines, decisions, or planning.

Nuances distinguish viivytellä from similar verbs. Viivähtää means to tarry briefly, often with a light, momentary delay, whereas viivytellä emphasizes a longer delay or procrastination. Viivytys and viivyttely can carry a neutral or slightly negative connotation, depending on context, particularly when delays affect schedules or obligations.

See also: viivästyä, viivyttää, viivähtää.