vahvistaa

Vahvistaa is a Finnish verb meaning to confirm, verify, validate, or strengthen. The core sense is to make something more certain or officially established. The word is formed from the adjective vahva (strong) with the causative suffix -istaa, originally meaning “to make strong” and by extension “to confirm” or “to verify.”

Use and meaning: vahvistaa is transitive and typically takes a direct object. Examples include: “Minä vahvistan tiedot” (I verify the information), “Hänen henkilöllisyytensä vahvistetaan” (Her/His identity is confirmed), and “Sopimus vahvistettiin” (The contract was ratified/confirmed). In official or legal contexts it can also mean to certify or authorize a document or action, for instance “todistus vahvistaa” or the process described as “allekirjoituksen vahvistaminen” (authentication of a signature).

Grammatical notes: vahvistaa is a type-1 Finnish verb ending in -taa. Present tense forms are: minä vahvistan, sinä vahvistat, hän vahvistaa, me vahvistamme, te vahvistatte, he vahvistavat. Passive form: vahvistetaan. The past tense is vahvisti, and perfect forms include on vahvistanut.

Related terms and nuances: synoynms include todistaa (to attest), varmistaa (to ensure/verify), validoida or validoiminen (to validate), and sertfioida/todentaa in specific professional contexts. The noun forms include vahvistaminen (verification/validation) and vahvistus (confirmation/certification).

See also: vahvistamisen valo, vahvistusprosessi and other related terms used in documentation, authentication, and legal processes.