lähtö

Lähtö is a Finnish noun that denotes departure, the act of leaving a place, or the starting point of something. It is used in daily speech to refer to the moment when someone or something begins a journey or leaves a location. The term also appears in more abstract senses, such as the origin or starting point of a process or event.

Etymology and forms: Lähtö is derived from the verb lähteä, meaning to leave or depart. The noun form is formed with the common suffix -ö, yielding words like lähtö, lähtöaika (departure time), and lähtöpaikka (departure place). Related compounds include lähtökohtaisesti (by default, essentially) and lähtötilanne (starting situation).

Usage in travel and schedules: In timetables, signs, and travel contexts, lähtö is used to indicate when and where journeys begin. Examples include lähtöaika, the scheduled departure time, and lähtöpaikka, the point of departure. In airline and railway terminology, the corresponding concept is often paired with saapuminen, meaning arrival, to describe the flow of departures and arrivals.

Other uses: In sport and competitions, lähtö refers to the start of a race or event, as in starting signals or the moment the competition begins. The term can also appear in more figurative phrases that describe the beginning of a project, phase, or process, such as lähtökohta (starting point) or lähtötilanne (initial situation).

See also: lähteä, lähtökohtaisesti, lähtöaika, lähtöpaikka, saapuminen.