tavoittaa

Tavoittaa is a Finnish verb with several related senses centered on the idea of reaching or contacting. It can mean to reach a destination or place, to reach a target or goal, or to contact or reach someone, for example by telephone or mail. The nuance ranges from physical arrival to the successful completion of an objective, or the act of getting in touch.

Etymology: The verb is formed from the noun tavoite (goal, target) with typical Finnish verb-forming suffixes, producing a verb that expresses arriving at or attaining what is aimed for. It is cognate with other -taa verbs in Finnish.

Usage: Tavoittaa is transitive and requires a direct object that denotes what is reached or contacted. In practice, it covers both concrete and abstract reach: you can reach a place, a target, a conclusion, or a person. In contexts about pursuing goals, speakers often choose tavoitella (to pursue) or saavuttaa (to attain) as alternative shades of meaning. The phrase tavoittaa someone by phone or mail is common in everyday language and written communication.

See also: tavoite (goal, target), tavoittaminen (attainment), tavoitella (to pursue). These related terms help distinguish between the act of reaching or contacting and broader notions of aiming for and achieving objectives.