haittaa

Haittaa is a Finnish word used as a verb meaning to harm, injure, or hinder, and as a noun haitta meaning harm or disadvantage. The verb haitata yields the present tense form haittaa in the third-person singular, as in “se haittaa” (it harms or hinders). It is used to describe negative effects on health, performance, convenience, or functioning, for example “se haittaa unta” (it harms sleep) or “kova melu haittaa työtekoa” (loud noise hinders work). The infinitive form of the verb is haitata.

The noun haitta denotes harm, nuisance, or disadvantage. It is used to refer to negative consequences or drawbacks in various contexts, such as health, safety, economics, or policy. Common collocations include “haitta ja hyöty” (costs and benefits). The plural form is haitat. The concept also appears in related terms such as haittavaikutus (adverse effect) and haitallinen (harmful).

In usage, haittaa often expresses a negative impact that can be alleviated or mitigated, depending on circumstances. The word is widely used in everyday Finnish as well as in technical, health, and policy discussions to describe unwanted outcomes or impediments. While haitta focuses on the adverse consequence, it is frequently contrasted with hyödyt (benefits) in analyses and decision-making.