sairastun

Sairastun is a Finnish verb form meaning “I fall ill” or “I am getting ill.” It is the first-person singular present indicative form of sairastua, the verb that means to fall ill or to become sick. The form is used to describe the onset of illness from the speaker’s perspective and can refer to both minor and more serious health issues, depending on context.

In standard Finnish, the present tense forms of sairastua include minä sairastun, sinä sairastut, hän sairastuu, me sairastumme, te sairastutte, he sairastuvat. The past tense is sairastuin, and the corresponding noun for the illness state is sairaus (illness) or the act of becoming ill, sairaastuminen. The verb can take various cases to indicate the illness or condition, for example sairastun flunssaan meaning “I am coming down with the flu.”

Typical usage includes sentences about personal health or plans contingent on health. For example, Minä sairastun tänään, joten en tule töihin translates to “I am getting ill today, so I won’t come to work.” Another common construction is Jos sairastun, otan sairauslomaa, meaning “If I fall ill, I will take sick leave.” The form sairastun is primarily used in the present tense, with past forms covering events that have already occurred.

Etymology traces sairastua to the root saira-, related to sickness, with the -tu- suffix forming the verb meaning to become ill. Related terms include sairaus (illness), sairausloma (sick leave), and sairaastuminen (the act of becoming ill).