Väläyttää

Väläyttää is a Finnish verb that has several related meanings, primarily revolving around the concept of showing or revealing something briefly or suddenly. One of its most common uses refers to flashing something, such as a light or a smile. For instance, a car's headlights might väläyttää to signal another driver, or a person might väläyttää a quick smile.

Beyond literal flashing, väläyttää can also mean to flash or glimpse something, suggesting a brief and often unintentional exposure. This can apply to seeing an object for a moment or to a quick display of emotion or thought. For example, one might väläyttää a memory or a fleeting expression of surprise.

In a more figurative sense, väläyttää can imply showing off or making a brief, impressive display of something. This might involve someone väläyttää their skills in a performance or väläyttää a new possession. The common thread in all these meanings is the idea of something being presented or appearing quickly and for a short duration. The context of the sentence usually clarifies which specific nuance of väläyttää is intended.