soutua

Soutua is a Finnish verb meaning to row a boat, i.e., to propel a vessel on water using oars. The verb is most commonly used in contexts involving recreational, sporting, or practical rowing. The standard dictionary infinitive form is soutaa, while soutua appears in some dialectal or older usages as an alternative infinitive form. The word is derived from the noun soutu, meaning the act of rowing or the stroke of the oar, with the common verb-forming suffix -a.

In usage, soutaa is a transitive verb that takes a direct object specifying what is rowed, such as a boat or a vessel. The action describes movement on water and is typically performed by a rower using oars. Finnish verb morphology yields a range of forms for soutua/soutaa, including present, past, and perfect constructions, as well as participles such as soutava (rowing, present participle) and soutanut (rowed, past participle). The verb forms align with standard Finnish conjugation patterns and vary by person and tense.

Related terms commonly used with soutua include soutu (rowing), soutaja (rower), and soutuvene (rowboat). Soutua appears across everyday language in Finland, from instructions and sports commentary to leisure activities on lakes and coastal areas. The word also features in cultural and historical contexts where rowing is a traditional or ongoing activity.

See also Soutu, Rowing, Finnish verbs.