vihjata

Vihjata is a Finnish verb meaning to hint, to suggest indirectly, or to intimate. It denotes communicating an idea, intention or fact without stating it explicitly, often by implication, tone, or partial information.

The verb is derived from the noun vihje, meaning "hint" or "clue". It is a standard Finnish verb with the infinitive form vihjata and conjugates regularly (present minä vihjaan, sinä vihjaat, hän vihjaa; past hän vihjasi). A related frequentative form is vihjailla, implying repeated or casual hinting. Nouns and participles derived from the verb include vihje and vihjattu.

Usage typically involves implying something without direct assertion; it is common in everyday speech, journalism and literature when describing indirect communication or insinuation. It can be used transitively (vihjata jotakin, "to hint something") or with clauses (vihjata, että..., "to hint that...").

Examples:

- Hän vihjasi, että kokous on siirretty. (He/she hinted that the meeting was postponed.)

- Älä vihjaile, sano suoraan. (Don’t hint; say it directly.)

Synonyms depend on nuance: ehdottaa can overlap when the hint is a mild suggestion, while sanoa suoraan is the antonym. The term carries neutral connotations but can imply evasiveness or tact depending on context.