sählätä

Sählätä is a Finnish verb that broadly translates to "to mess up," "to bungle," "to botch," or "to fumble." It describes an action that is carried out clumsily, inefficiently, or incorrectly, often leading to an undesirable outcome. The term implies a lack of skill, attention, or coordination in performing a task.

The context in which "sählätä" is used can vary. It can refer to minor mistakes, such as dropping something or misplacing an item, or to more significant errors in a professional or personal endeavor. For example, one might "sählätä" a recipe, meaning to ruin the dish through mistakes in preparation. Similarly, a student might "sählätä" an exam by making careless errors.

The verb carries a slightly informal and sometimes humorous connotation, suggesting that the mistake was not necessarily intentional but rather a result of a lapse in competence. It is often used to describe situations where someone is flustered or overwhelmed, leading to a series of unfortunate actions. The opposite of "sählätä" would be to do something competently, efficiently, or perfectly.