suuntaan

Suuntaan is a Finnish verb form meaning “I head toward” or “I direct (myself) toward.” It is the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb suuntaa, which covers senses such as moving in a direction, aiming, or directing. The form is closely related to the noun suunta, meaning “direction.”

Usage of suuntaan occurs in facing or aiming toward a destination, as well as in metaphorical or figurative contexts. For example, Minä suuntaan kohti pohjoista means “I head toward the north,” and Suuntaan katseeni eteenpäin means “I direct my gaze forward.” The phrase is commonly used in travel narration, navigation, and everyday speech to indicate planned movement or orientation.

Grammatical notes: suuntaan is the 1st-person singular present tense form. The corresponding forms include suuntaa for the third-person singular (“he/she heads”) and suuntaamme for the first-person plural (“we head”). The verb belongs to the typical Finnish -aa/-ä verb conjugation pattern. Negation uses en suuntaa (“I do not head”) in the present tense.

Syntax and construction: when expressing destination, Finnish often marks direction with a destination in the illative or with a phrase such as kohti followed by a direction, or with a destination inflected for movement (for example Helsinkiin for “to Helsinki”). Examples include Minä suuntaan Helsinkiin and Minä suuntaan kohti merta. Distinguishing suuntaan as a verb form from the noun suunta (direction) is generally clear from context.

See also: suunta (direction), suuntaus (orientation), Finnish verb conjugation.