sattuma

Sattuma is a Finnish noun meaning chance, luck, or coincidence. It refers to events that occur without intentional planning and whose appearance is often interpreted as fortuitous, surprising, or simply by circumstance. The term can be used in a neutral sense to describe a coincidence, or in a positive sense to convey luck or a fortunate turn of events.

The word derives from the Finnish verb sattua, meaning to happen, occur, or strike. As a common -ma noun, sattuma is used across both formal and informal speech and appears in standard Finnish grammar with its typical declensions. A related adverb is sattumalta, meaning by chance or by coincidence.

Usage notes and nuance: sattuma emphasizes the role of happenstance in an event. In everyday language, it can describe pleasant surprises as well as neutral coincidences. For example, one might say, "Se oli sattuma, että tapasimme metsässä," meaning “It was a coincidence that we met in the forest.” In English, sattuma is commonly translated as “chance,” “coincidence,” or “luck,” depending on context. The term is widely understood in Finnish media, literature, and conversation as a concise way to characterize events outside deliberate control.