suostutella

Suostutella is a Finnish verb meaning to persuade someone to do something, typically through argument, encouragement, or flattery. It is a transitive verb that requires a target (the person being persuaded) and a clause expressing the action they are being urged to take. The related noun suostuttelu denotes persuasion or coaxing, often with a subtle connotation of influence or pressure.

Etymology and related forms: the word is formed from the verb suostua, “to consent,” with the causative or instrumental suffix -tella, yielding a verb that conveys causing someone to consent or agree to an action. The noun suostuttelu is used to refer to the act or process of persuading.

Usage and nuance: suostutella can carry a range of nuances from neutral to slightly negative, depending on context and tone. It can describe sincere persuasion or more manipulative encouragement. In discourse, it is often contrasted with more neutral or decisive verbs such as pyytää (to request) or kehottaa (to urge).

Examples:

- Yritin suostutella häntä tulemaan mukaan. (I tried to persuade him to come along.)

- Hän suostutteli minut liittymään projektiin. (He persuaded me to join the project.)

- Opettaja yritti suostutella oppilaat jatkamaan kokeen loppuun. (The teacher tried to persuade the students to continue the test to the end.)

See also: suostuttelu, persuasiom, manipulointi.