puukottaa

Puukottaa is a Finnish verb meaning to stab someone with a knife. It denotes the act of piercing another person with a blade and is used in everyday language, media reporting, and legal discussions. Related nouns include puukotus (the act of stabbing), and puukottaja (a stabber), while puukotettu refers to someone who has been stabbed. The verb is part of a family of weapon-related terms formed from puukko, the common Finnish hunting knife. In figurative use, puukottaa can also mean to betray someone, as in backstabbing.

Usage and grammar can vary, but puukottaa generally takes a direct object, as in hänet puukotettiin (he/she was stabbed). It is used to describe single incidents as well as ongoing violence and often appears in crime reporting to specify the method of injury, location, and circumstances. The form puukottaminen (stabbing) is used to describe the act in a general sense, while puukottaja denotes the perpetrator.

Legal and social context: In Finland, stabbing another person is a serious violent crime. Depending on the intent and circumstances, charges may include murha (murder) or tapon yritys (attempted murder). Penalties are determined by the Finnish Penal Code and can include lengthy prison terms. Stabbings have implications for public safety, medical response, and community discussions about violence, policing, and urban safety.

Notes on origins and usage: The etymology links to puukko (knife), with the suffix -taa forming the verb. While primarily referring to real acts of violence, the term also appears in metaphorical expressions related to betrayal or harm done by indirect means.