vietää

Vietä is a common Finnish verb that translates to "to spend" or "to live" when referring to time, or "to pass" when referring to time. It is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow the standard patterns.

The primary meaning of vietä relates to how one occupies their time. For example, one might say "Mä vietän kesää maalla," which means "I am spending the summer in the countryside." It can also be used in the context of celebrating or observing an event, such as "Juhlimme syntymäpäivää illallisella," meaning "We are celebrating the birthday with a dinner."

Another common usage involves the passing of time. "Aika kului nopeasti," meaning "Time passed quickly," uses a related form of the verb. The verb can also describe a period of time. "Hän vietti monta vuotta ulkomailla," translates to "He spent many years abroad."

The conjugation of vietä is irregular. For instance, the present tense first-person singular is "minä vietän," while the past tense first-person singular is "minä vietin." The imperative form for the second-person singular is "viettäkää." Understanding these variations is key to using the verb correctly in Finnish.