samaistua

Samaistua is a Finnish verb meaning to identify with, to feel solidarity with, or to become similar to someone or something. It can describe empathizing with another person’s experiences, as well as adopting attitudes, values, or characteristics of another group or idea. The range of nuance includes recognizing similarity and, in some cases, deeper alignment or assimilation.

Etymology and nuance: The form is built from sama, meaning “the same,” with a suffix that marks a process of becoming or making oneself akin to another. In use, samaistua often conveys psychological or social identification rather than a physical change.

Usage: Samaistua is intransitive and typically governs the entity with which one identifies. Common constructions include samaistua johonkin (to identify with something or someone) and samaistua erilaisten kokemusten kanssa (to identify with various experiences). For example: Hän samaistuu kirjailijan kokemuksiin. Monia nuoria samaistuu tarinan päähenkilön kokemuksiin.

Grammatical notes: In present tense the forms are: minä samaistun, sinä samaistut, hän samaistuu, me samaistumme, te samaistutte, he samaistuvat. Past tense: minä samaistuin, sinä samaistuit, hän samaistui, me samaistuimme, te samaistuitte, he samaistuivat. Perfect passive-like forms use the participial form: olen samaistunut, olet samaistunut, hän on samaistunut, olemme samaistuneet, olette samaistuneet, he ovat samaistuneet.

See also: identify as a social or cultural process; see identifioituminen (identification) and related discussions of identity formation.