säikäytä

Säikäytä is a Finnish verb that translates to "to startle," "to frighten," or "to scare." It describes the action of causing a sudden feeling of fear or alarm in someone. The verb is commonly used in everyday conversation to express that someone has been surprised or frightened, often by an unexpected event or sound.

The root of the word is "säik-" which relates to fear or fright. The suffix "-ä" is a common verb ending in Finnish. Säikäytä can be used in various contexts, from a minor surprise, such as a loud noise making someone jump, to a more significant fear-inducing situation.

Examples of its use include "Säikytin hänet vahingossa" (I accidentally startled him/her) or "Älä säikäytä minua niin kovasti" (Don't scare me so badly). The verb can also be used reflexively as "säikähtyä," meaning "to be startled" or "to become scared." For instance, "Hän säikähtyi yhtäkkiä ovikellon soittoon" (He/She was startled by the sudden ringing of the doorbell). The intensity of the fear or surprise can be modified by adverbs.