pielää

Pielää is a Finnish verb that translates to "to skim" or "to scoop" in English. It specifically refers to the action of removing a layer of something from the surface of a liquid. This can include removing cream from milk, scum from boiling soup, or debris from water. The action often implies a gentle or careful movement to collect the unwanted material.

The verb pielää is commonly used in domestic contexts, such as in cooking or household chores. For example, a cook might pielää the fat from the surface of a broth before serving it, or someone might pielää fallen leaves from a pond. While its primary meaning is literal, it can occasionally be used metaphorically, though such usage is less frequent. The word itself is part of the Finnish language's rich vocabulary for describing everyday actions and processes.