sattuu

Sattuu is a Finnish verb meaning to hurt or to ache, and it is most commonly used to express physical pain. It can also be used in informal speech to convey emotional discomfort, though more precise vocabulary is usually preferred in formal or medical contexts. The word is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb satuttaa, which carries the sense of causing injury or pain.

Grammatically, sattuu is used with a subject that is typically a body part or a situation causing pain. Common examples include "Pääni sattuu" (My head hurts) and "Käteni sattuu" (My hand hurts). The construction is impersonal in the sense that the pain is described as happening to the subject rather than the subject acting on something else.

In everyday language, sattuu is a frequent way to report acute or mild pain without specifying cause. For more precise reporting, speakers might use phrases like "kipu polvessa" (pain in the knee) or "polvi on kipeä" (the knee is painful). In medical or formal communication, more technical terms such as kipu or kipeä are often preferred to describe pain intensity, location, and duration.

Etymology and related forms: sattuu derives from the Finnish verb satuttaa (to injure, to hurt). The form is used across Finnish varieties and is a basic, widely understood expression for describing pain in everyday conversation. See also satuttaa, kipu, and kipeä for related terms and expressions of discomfort.