omaksu

Omaksu is a Finnish noun that denotes the act, process, or result of adopting or internalizing something. It is formed from the verb omaksua, which means to adopt, absorb, or take into oneself. In practice, omaksu is most often used in contexts involving knowledge, attitudes, norms, or practices that a person or group accepts and makes part of their own behavior or worldview.

In education and psychology, omaksuminen refers to internalization, the mental process by which new information is integrated with existing knowledge and beliefs rather than just memorized. Common collocations include omaksua uuden tiedon, omaksua tavat, or omaksumistapa. The term can express both successful and insufficient internalization, depending on context.

Contrast with related terms: sisäistäminen is a close synonym emphasizing deep internalization; oppiminen is learning more generally. Etymology traces back to the verb omaksua; the related noun omaksuminen ("the act of adopting/absorbing") is frequently used in formal discourse. The usage varies regionally and across fields, but the core idea remains the same: taking something into oneself and making it part of one's practice.