vilkkaa

Vilkkaa is a Finnish verb meaning to glance quickly or to signal briefly, and in some contexts to wink. The core sense is a short, deliberate movement of the eyes or a brief gesture used to convey attention, acknowledgment, or invitation without words. The form vilkkaa appears in the third-person singular present tense and in the imperative in everyday Finnish.

Origins and related forms: The word is linked to the root vilk-, and is related to vilkuttaa (to wave or signal with a hand or light) and vilkku (a blink or indicator light). In facial gesture usage, vilkkaa silmää means to wink.

Usage: Common expressions include vilkkaa minua (he glances at me) or vilkkaa silmää (to wink). The imperative vilkkaa! can be used to prompt someone to take a quick look. In descriptive narration, vilkkaa is used to convey a brief, attention-catching gesture rather than a sustained gaze. The form is versatile in spoken Finnish and can appear in informal dialogue as well as in written narratives.

Variants and related vocabulary: Vilkkaa is part of a family of words tied to blinking and signaling. Related terms include vilkuttaa (to signal with a gesture or light) and vilkku (a turn signal or blinking indicator). These connections reflect a common semantic field around quick, communicative movements.

See also: vilkas, vilkkua, vilkuttaa, vilkku.