Diese Seite in deiner Sprache

English

فارسی

العربية

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B2 verb 10 Min. Lesezeit

selviytyä

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps selviytyä in 30 Sekunden

Erklärung selviytyä in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'selviytyä' often, but you might hear it in very simple contexts. Think of it as 'to be okay' or 'to manage'. You can use it to say 'I'm okay' in a difficult situation. For example, if someone asks if you can carry a heavy bag, you might say 'Minä selviydyn' (I'll manage). It's a bit more advanced than 'minä pärjään', but the basic idea is the same. Focus on the meaning 'to manage' rather than 'to survive a disaster'. At this stage, just remember that it's a verb that shows you are doing fine even if things are a bit hard. You might see it in simple stories about animals surviving the winter. The most important thing for an A1 learner is to recognize the word and know it has a positive outcome—someone is getting through something. Don't worry too much about the 'ty' to 'dy' change yet, but notice it when you see it in text. It's a useful word for expressing basic self-reliance. If you are learning about hobbies, you might say you 'selviydyt' on the soccer field. It's a very versatile word even at this early stage. Just keep it simple and use it for small daily tasks.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the A2 level, you should start using 'selviytyä' for everyday challenges. You can use it to talk about school, work, or learning Finnish. For example, 'Selviydyn suomen kurssista' (I'm getting through the Finnish course). You'll notice that the thing you are getting through ends in -sta or -stä. This is the 'from' case, called the Elative. Learning this pattern is a big step at A2. You can also use it to talk about health, like 'selviytyä flunssasta' (to get through the flu). This level is where you begin to see the difference between 'pärjätä' (to get by) and 'selviytyä' (to manage a specific challenge). Try to use it when you want to show that something was a little bit hard but you did it. You might also hear it in instructions or simple news. If you are traveling, you might 'selviytyä' in a foreign city with only a map. It's a great word for building confidence in your ability to handle Finnish life. Start practicing the basic conjugation: minä selviydyn, sinä selviydyt, hän selviytyy. Notice how the 't' becomes a 'd' in the 'me' and 'te' forms too (me selviydymme). This is a great way to practice consonant gradation, which is a key grammar point at A2.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the B1 level, you can use 'selviytyä' to describe more complex emotional and social situations. You are now able to talk about surviving stressful periods at work or managing difficult personal relationships. You should be comfortable with the elative case (-sta/-stä) and start using the word with adverbs to describe *how* someone managed. For example, 'Hän selviytyi hienosti' (He managed brilliantly). You might also start using the noun form 'selviytyminen' (surviving/coping). At B1, you will encounter this word frequently in media, especially when journalists talk about how people are coping with rising prices or climate change. It's a key word for participating in discussions about social issues. You should also be aware of the phrase 'selviytyä hengissä' for surviving life-threatening situations. This is also the stage where you should distinguish 'selviytyä' from 'selvitä'. Remember that 'selviytyä' often feels more personal and active. If you 'selviydyt' a challenge, you did something to make it happen. You can also use it in the conditional mood: 'Selviytyisin paremmin, jos minulla olisi enemmän aikaa' (I would manage better if I had more time). This shows a higher level of grammatical control.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'selviytyä' with nuance and precision. You understand that it implies resilience and 'sisu'. You can use it in abstract contexts, such as a company surviving a market crash or a political party surviving an election. You should be able to use the translative case (-ksi) to show the result of survival, like 'selviytyä voittajaksi' (to emerge as the winner). Your understanding of the verb's rection should be perfect—always using the elative case for the challenge. You also start to recognize the word in idiomatic expressions and can use it to discuss mental health and burnout with more depth. For instance, you can talk about 'selviytymiskeinot' (coping mechanisms). At this level, you should be able to explain the difference between 'selviytyä', 'suoriutua', and 'pärjätä' to others. You are likely to hear this word in documentaries, deep-dive news articles, and literature. You should also be comfortable with the passive form 'selviydytään', which is often used as a collective encouragement. Your conjugation should be flawless, including the past tense and the perfect tenses. You might also use it in more complex sentence structures, such as 'Hänen oli vaikea selviytyä kaikista vaatimuksista' (It was hard for him to manage all the demands).

At the C1 level, 'selviytyä' is a tool for sophisticated expression. You use it to discuss the human condition, existential survival, and complex systemic resilience. You can use the word in literary or academic contexts, perhaps discussing how a language 'selviytyy' in a globalized world or how a culture survives through centuries of change. You are familiar with all its derivatives, such as 'selviytyjä' (survivor) and 'selviytymistaistelu' (struggle for survival). You can use the verb to create subtle meanings—for example, using it sarcastically to describe someone managing a very minor inconvenience. You understand the historical and cultural weight of the word in Finnish history, particularly in relation to the wars and the harsh northern climate. You can integrate it into complex arguments, using it alongside other high-level vocabulary. You might use the potential mood ('selviytynee') to express a probable survival. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker's, and you can pick up on the emotional weight the word carries in different registers. You might also use it in the form of a participle, such as 'selviytyvä' (surviving/resilient), as an adjective: 'selviytyvä luonne' (a resilient nature).

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'selviytyä'. You can use it to play with language, creating metaphors and using it in highly specialized fields like philosophy, high-level politics, or classical literature. You understand the finest nuances between 'selviytyä' and its synonyms in every possible context. You can use the word to evoke specific cultural tropes, such as the 'lone survivor' in the woods. You are comfortable using it in rhythmic or poetic ways. You might use archaic or very formal variations of the word if the context demands it. You can dissect the etymological roots of the word and discuss how its meaning has evolved over time. For a C2 learner, 'selviytyä' is not just a verb; it's a concept that you can manipulate to express the deepest levels of human endurance and the complexity of overcoming obstacles. You can use it in the most formal speeches or the most casual, slang-heavy environments with equal ease. You might even use it to describe the survival of ideas or abstract theories. Your command of the grammar is automatic, allowing you to focus entirely on the rhetorical impact of your word choice.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

selviytyä in 30 Sekunden

Selviytyä means to survive, cope, or manage a difficult situation.
It is a Type 1 verb with consonant gradation (t -> d).
It usually takes the Elative case (-sta/-stä) for the challenge.
It is a key word for Finnish resilience and 'sisu'.

The Finnish verb selviytyä is a multifaceted gem in the Finnish language, primarily translating to 'to survive', 'to cope', or 'to manage'. At its core, it describes the act of getting through a difficult situation, whether that situation is a life-threatening accident, a stressful work week, or a complex math exam. It is a derivative of the adjective selvä (clear), suggesting a transition from a state of confusion or danger into a state of clarity and resolution. When you use selviytyä, you are not just saying you finished something; you are implying that there was a challenge to be overcome. It carries a connotation of resilience and perseverance that is deeply rooted in the Finnish concept of sisu.

Physical Survival: Used when someone remains alive after a dangerous event like a car crash or a natural disaster. Example: 'Hän selviytyi kolarista' (He survived the crash).
Daily Coping: Used for managing everyday stressors, such as a heavy workload or financial difficulties. Example: 'Miten selviydyt kaikesta tästä työstä?' (How do you cope with all this work?).
Success in Tasks: Used when someone successfully completes a challenge or a test. Example: 'Selviydyin tentistä kunnialla' (I got through the exam with honors).

Meidän on pakko selviytyä tästä talvesta yhdessä.

Translation: We must survive this winter together.

In Finnish culture, the ability to selviytyä is highly respected. It reflects a stoic attitude towards life's hardships. It is not about complaining; it is about finding a way forward. This verb is frequently heard in news reports regarding accidents, but it is equally common in personal conversations about mental health and burnout. It suggests a process—a journey from a point of struggle to a point of safety. Linguistically, it is a Type 1 verb, which means it undergoes consonant gradation where the 't' changes to a 'd' in many conjugated forms, such as minä selviydyn (I survive).

Hän selviytyi voittajaksi tiukan kisan jälkeen.

Translation: He emerged as the winner after a tight race.

The verb also appears in more abstract contexts. For instance, a business might selviytyä through a recession, or a relationship might selviytyä through a crisis. It implies that the core essence of the entity remains intact despite external pressures. It is a word of endurance. When comparing it to the similar verb selvitä, note that selviytyä often emphasizes the effort and the process of survival more than the simple outcome. It is the verb of the 'survivor' (selviytyjä).

On ihme, että kukaan selviytyi hengissä tuosta onnettomuudesta.

Translation: It is a miracle that anyone survived alive from that accident.

Using selviytyä correctly requires understanding its grammatical rection (the cases it governs). Most commonly, the source of the struggle or the danger is expressed in the Elative case (-sta/-stä). If you are surviving 'from' something, you use this case. For example, if you survive a crisis, it is selviytyä kriisistä. This grammatical structure is very consistent and helps learners identify the context of the survival immediately.

The Elative Connection: Use -sta/-stä for the challenge. 'Selviydyin haasteesta' (I survived/managed the challenge).
The Translative Goal: Use -ksi to describe what you become after surviving. 'Selviytyä voittajaksi' (To emerge as a winner).
Manner of Survival: Use adverbs like 'hyvin' (well) or 'kunnialla' (with honor). 'Hän selviytyi tehtävästä hyvin' (He managed the task well).

Opiskelija selviytyi tenttiviikosta vain vähillä unilla.

Translation: The student got through the exam week with only a little sleep.

When conjugating selviytyä, remember the 'ty' to 'dy' change. This is a common pitfall for B1 and B2 learners. In the present tense: minä selviydyn, sinä selviydyt, hän selviytyy. Notice that the 'hän' (he/she) form keeps the double 'y' and the 't'. In the past tense (imperfekt), it becomes minä selviydyin, hän selviytyi. This verb is also often used in the potential mood or with modal verbs like voida (can) or täytyä (must) to express the capability or necessity of surviving.

Toivottavasti yrityksemme selviytyy tästä taloudellisesta kriisistä.

Translation: Hopefully our company survives this economic crisis.

Another important usage is selviytyä hengissä, which literally means 'to survive in breath' (to survive alive). This is the standard way to say someone didn't die in an accident. Without 'hengissä', selviytyä might just mean they managed the situation. For example, 'Hän selviytyi kolarista' could mean they handled the insurance and repairs well, but 'Hän selviytyi kolarista hengissä' explicitly means they are alive.

Meidän täytyy selviytyä ilman ulkopuolista apua.

Translation: We must manage without outside help.

You will encounter selviytyä in a wide variety of contexts in modern Finland. It is a staple of news broadcasting, psychological discussions, and everyday workplace banter. Because Finnish culture values self-reliance, the concept of 'managing' or 'surviving' is a common theme in both media and private life. If you watch the evening news (Uutiset), you will hear it in reports about global conflicts, natural disasters, or the state of the national economy.

In the News: Reporting on survivors of accidents or how the government survives a vote of no confidence. 'Hallitus selviytyi välikysymyksestä.'
In the Workplace: Discussing deadlines, projects, and stress. 'Miten me selviydymme tästä projektista?'
In Literature and Films: Survival stories, especially those set in the harsh Finnish wilderness or during wartime.

Tämä on tarina ihmisistä, jotka selviytyivät mahdottomista olosuhteista.

Translation: This is a story of people who survived impossible conditions.

On social media, you might see influencers talking about 'selviytymisopas' (a survival guide) for anything from university life to parenting. In sports, commentators use it when a team narrowly wins or manages to stay in a league despite poor performance. It’s also the Finnish name for the reality show 'Survivor' (Selviytyjät), which has cemented the word in the minds of the general public as a synonym for strategic and physical endurance.

Hän on todellinen selviytyjä.

Translation: He is a true survivor.

In a medical or psychological context, doctors and therapists use selviytyä to discuss a patient's ability to function in daily life. If someone is struggling with depression, a key goal might be 'selviytyä arjesta' (to manage everyday life). This usage highlights the word's connection to mental fortitude and the daily grind, not just epic feats of heroism. It is a word that acknowledges the difficulty of life while providing a term for the act of continuing despite it.

Miten suomalaiset selviytyvät pimeästä talvesta?

Translation: How do Finns survive the dark winter?

The most common mistake learners make with selviytyä is confusing it with its shorter cousin, selvitä. While they are related and sometimes interchangeable, they have distinct nuances. Selvitä often means 'to clear up' (like the weather or a misunderstanding) or 'to find out' (selvittää). It can also mean to survive, but selviytyä is more specific to the *process* of surviving a challenge through one's own efforts.

Selvitä vs. Selviytyä: 'Selvitä' is often used for the weather clearing up or sobering up from alcohol. 'Selviytyä' is for overcoming a struggle.
Case Errors: Using the Partitive instead of the Elative. Wrong: 'Selviytyä haastetta'. Correct: 'Selviytyä haasteesta'.
Consonant Gradation: Forgetting the t -> d change. Wrong: 'Minä selviytyn'. Correct: 'Minä selviydyn'.

Älä sano: 'Minä selviytyi'. Sano: 'Minä selviydyin'.

Note: The first person singular requires the weak grade 'd'.

Another error is the misuse of 'hengissä' (alive). As mentioned before, if you say 'Hän selviytyi onnettomuudesta', it implies they managed the situation. If you want to say they didn't die, you *must* add 'hengissä'. Many English speakers assume the verb 'survive' automatically implies staying alive, but in Finnish, selviytyä is broader and covers 'managing' as well. Therefore, being specific is key to being understood correctly.

Väärin: Hän selviytyi kokeen. Oikein: Hän selviytyi kokeesta.

Note: The object of survival must be in the elative case.

Lastly, learners sometimes confuse selviytyä with suoriutua. While suoriutua also means to manage or perform a task, it is more formal and focuses on the performance itself (like a sports performance or a bureaucratic task). Selviytyä is more visceral and implies a struggle. You suoriudut from a task you are capable of, but you selviydyt from a task that tests your limits.

Muista: Selviytyä is about the struggle; Suoriutua is about the performance.

Finnish has several verbs that overlap with selviytyä. Choosing the right one depends on the intensity of the situation and whether you are focusing on the result or the effort. Understanding these nuances will help you move from a B2 to a C1 level of fluency. The most common alternative is pärjätä, which is more informal and generally means 'to get by' or 'to be okay'.

Pärjätä: Informal. Means 'to get by'. 'Minä pärjään' (I'll be fine/I'll manage). It doesn't necessarily imply a huge struggle.
Selvitä: To survive or to clear up. Often used for the result. 'Selvisin hengissä' (I survived/made it out alive).
Suoriutua: To perform or carry out a task. More formal. 'Hän suoriutui tehtävästä' (He completed the task).
Kestää: To endure or last. 'Hän kestää kipua' (He endures pain). Focuses on the duration of the struggle.

Vaikka tilanne oli vaikea, hän pärjäsi lopulta hyvin.

Translation: Although the situation was difficult, he managed well in the end.

In academic or professional writing, you might see selviytyä replaced by suoriutua velvoitteistaan (to manage one's obligations) or selviytyä haasteista. In very informal slang, people might use klaarata (from Swedish 'klara'), as in 'Mä klaaraan tän' (I'll handle this). Another interesting related word is jäädä eloon, which literally means 'to remain in life' and is a very literal way of saying 'to survive' a life-threatening event.

Hän selvitti tiensä finaaliin.

Translation: He made his way to the final (using 'selvittää' as an active 'clearing').

When comparing selviytyä and kestää, remember that kestää is about the object (how much can it take?), while selviytyä is about the subject (did they make it through?). For example, a bridge kestää the weight of cars, but a person selviytyy from a bridge collapse. This distinction is subtle but important for natural-sounding Finnish.

Meidän on vain kestettävä tämä loppuun asti.

Translation: We just have to endure this until the end.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The word is conceptually linked to the idea of a fog clearing or a person finding their way out of a dark forest into the 'clear' (selvä) light.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈsel.ʋi.yt.y.æ/

US /ˈsel.vi.yt.y.æ/

Stress is always on the first syllable: SEL-vi-yt-y-ä.

Reimt sich auf

viipyä viihtyä säilyä päättyä täyttyä hälytä erehtyä kehittyä

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'y' as 'i'.
Missing the double 'y' length in some forms.
Incorrectly stressing the second syllable.
Forgetting the 'ä' sound at the end.
Confusing the 'ty' and 'dy' sounds during gradation.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

Easy to recognize in context, but requires knowledge of the elative case.

Schreiben 4/5

Challenging due to consonant gradation (t to d) and the double 'y'.

Sprechen 4/5

The 'y' sound and the length of the word can be difficult for English speakers.

Hören 3/5

Clear pronunciation, but can be confused with 'selvitä' in fast speech.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

selvä pärjätä kestää vaikea apu

Als Nächstes lernen

suoriutua menehtyä vastoinkäyminen kriisi resilienssi

Fortgeschritten

selviytymismekanismi eksistentiaalinen perseveranssi koettelemus karaistua

Wichtige Grammatik

Consonant Gradation (Type 1 Verbs)

selviytyä -> selviydyn

Elative Case for Source/Challenge

selviytyä kriisistä

Translative Case for Result

selviytyä voittajaksi

Infinitive Structures with 'voida'

voin selviytyä

Necessive Structure with 'täytyy'

minun täytyy selviytyä

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Beispiele nach Niveau

Minä selviydyn tästä.

I will manage this.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Hän selviytyy hyvin.

He is managing well.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Me selviydymme.

We will manage.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Selviydytkö sinä?

Are you managing?

Question form.

Kissa selviytyy talvesta.

The cat survives the winter.

Elative case: talvesta.

He selviytyvät työstä.

They manage the work.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

Selviydyn ilman apua.

I manage without help.

Postposition: ilman.

Te selviydytte hienosti!

You (plural) are managing great!

Adverb: hienosti.

Selviydyin kokeesta.

I got through the exam.

Past tense + Elative case.

Miten selviydyt tästä päivästä?

How are you getting through this day?

Interrogative: Miten.

Hän selviytyi flunssasta nopeasti.

She recovered from the flu quickly.

Elative case: flunssasta.

Me selviydymme tästä viikosta.

We will get through this week.

Future meaning in present tense.

Selviydytkö ilman autoa?

Can you manage without a car?

Question form.

Lapset selviytyivät matkasta hyvin.

The children managed the trip well.

Past tense, 3rd person plural.

Hän selviytyi haasteesta.

He managed the challenge.

Elative case: haasteesta.

Toivottavasti selviydyt työssä.

Hopefully you manage at work.

Inessive case: työssä.

Hän selviytyi onnettomuudesta hengissä.

He survived the accident alive.

Phrase: selviytyä hengissä.

Miten ihmiset selviytyvät stressistä?

How do people cope with stress?

Elative case: stressistä.

Yritys selviytyi vaikeasta vuodesta.

The company survived a difficult year.

Elative case: vuodesta.

Selviydyin haastattelusta kunnialla.

I got through the interview with honor.

Adverbial phrase: kunnialla.

Hän selviytyy arjesta lasten kanssa.

She manages everyday life with the children.

Elative case: arjesta.

Meidän täytyy selviytyä tästä kriisistä.

We must survive this crisis.

Necessive: täytyy.

Selviytyykö luonto saasteista?

Does nature survive pollution?

Elative plural: saasteista.

Hän selviytyi tehtävästä ilman apua.

He managed the task without help.

Elative case: tehtävästä.

Hän selviytyi voittajaksi tiukan kisan jälkeen.

He emerged as the winner after a tight race.

Translative case: voittajaksi.

Miten talous selviytyy inflaatiosta?

How does the economy survive inflation?

Elative case: inflaatiosta.

Hän selviytyi vaikeasta lapsuudestaan.

She survived her difficult childhood.

Elative + Possessive suffix.

On ihme, että hän selviytyi hengissä.

It is a miracle that he survived.

Subordinate clause with 'että'.

Selviytyäkseen hänen on tehtävä töitä.

In order to survive, he must work.

1st Infinitive + Translative (purpose).

Miten selviytyä burn-outista?

How to cope with burnout?

Infinitive form in a question.

Hän selviytyi vastoinkäymisistä huolimatta.

He survived despite setbacks.

Postposition: huolimatta.

Meidän on selviydyttävä tästä yhdessä.

We must get through this together.

Passive present participle (necessive).

Kulttuuri selviytyy vain muuttumalla.

Culture survives only by changing.

Instructive of the 2nd infinitive.

Hän selviytyi moraalisesta dilemmasta.

He got through the moral dilemma.

Abstract elative usage.

Miten demokratia selviytyy kriisiaikoina?

How does democracy survive in times of crisis?

Essive plural: kriisiaikoina.

Hän selviytyi koettelemuksista vahvempana.

He emerged from the trials stronger.

Essive case: vahvempana.

Selviytyminen vaatii suurta sisua.

Survival requires great grit.

Noun form: selviytyminen.

Yrityksen on selviydyttävä globaalissa kilpailussa.

The company must survive in global competition.

Necessive structure.

Hän selviytyi kritiikistä vähin vaurioin.

He survived the criticism with minimal damage.

Instructive plural: vaurioin.

Miten kieli selviytyy globalisaatiosta?

How does a language survive globalization?

Elative case: globalisaatiosta.

Ihmiskunnan on selviydyttävä eksistentiaalisista uhista.

Humanity must survive existential threats.

Elative plural + Adjective.

Hän selviytyi tragediasta stoalaisella tyyneydellä.

He survived the tragedy with stoic calm.

Adessive case: tyyneydellä.

Selviytyäkseen on joskus mukauduttava.

To survive, one must sometimes adapt.

Passive necessive.

Teos selviytyi vuosisatojen saatossa.

The work survived through the centuries.

Inessive + Genitive.

Hän selviytyi poliittisesta puhdistuksesta.

He survived the political purge.

Specific historical/political context.

Miten selviytyä merkityksettömyyden tunteesta?

How to survive the feeling of meaninglessness?

Abstract psychological usage.

Hän selviytyi koitoksesta voittajana.

He emerged from the ordeal as a winner.

Essive case: voittajana.

Selviytymisvaisto ohjaa meitä kaikkia.

Survival instinct guides us all.

Compound noun: selviytymisvaisto.

Synonyme

pärjätä selvitä suoriutua kestää selvittää jäädä eloon pinnistellä klaarata

Gegenteile

menehtyä epäonnistua lannistua uupua

Häufige Kollokationen

selviytyä hengissä

selviytyä voittajaksi

selviytyä haasteesta

selviytyä arjesta

selviytyä säikähdyksellä

selviytyä kunnialla

selviytyä puhtain paperein

selviytyä omin avuin

selviytyä talven yli

selviytyä kriisistä

Häufige Phrasen

Kyllä me selviydytään.

— A common encouraging phrase meaning 'We'll get through this.'

Älä huoli, kyllä me selviydytään.

Miten sinä selviydyt?

— A question asking how someone is coping with a situation.

Olet ollut tosi kiireinen, miten sinä selviydyt?

Selviytyä vähällä.

— To get through something with very little (money, sleep, etc.).

Opiskelijana piti selviytyä vähällä rahalla.

Selviytyä säikähdyksellä.

— To escape a dangerous situation with only a scare, no injuries.

Onneksi hän selviytyi kolarista pelkällä säikähdyksellä.

Selviytyä omin päin.

— To manage something entirely on one's own.

Hän halusi selviytyä tehtävästä omin päin.

Selviytyä kuivin jaloin.

— To get through a difficult situation without any harm (literally 'with dry feet').

Hän selviytyi skandaalista kuivin jaloin.

Selviytyä hengissä.

— To stay alive in a life-threatening situation.

Kaikki matkustajat selviytyivät hengissä.

Selviytyä voittajana.

— To emerge from a struggle as the winner.

Hän selviytyi elämän koitoksista voittajana.

Selviytyä pälkähästä.

— To get out of a tight spot or trouble.

Hän selviytyi pälkähästä viime hetkellä.

Selviytyä arjen kiireistä.

— To manage the rush and bustle of everyday life.

Lomalla on helpompi selviytyä arjen kiireistä.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

selviytyä vs selvitä

Often used for weather clearing or sobering up, whereas selviytyä is about overcoming a struggle.

selviytyä vs selvittää

This is an active verb meaning 'to solve' or 'to find out', while selviytyä is about the subject's survival.

selviytyä vs suoriutua

More formal and focuses on the performance of a task rather than the struggle of survival.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Selviytyä kuivin jaloin"

— To escape a tricky situation without any negative consequences.

Vaikka yritys meni konkurssiin, johtaja selviytyi kuivin jaloin.

informal

"Selviytyä säikähdyksellä"

— To experience a close call without actual harm.

Auto melkein osui häneen, mutta hän selviytyi säikähdyksellä.

neutral

"Selviytyä pälkähästä"

— To get out of a difficult or embarrassing situation.

Opettaja auttoi oppilasta selviytymään pälkähästä.

informal

"Selviytyä puhtain paperein"

— To pass a test or inspection without any faults.

Hän selviytyi huumetestistä puhtain paperein.

neutral

"Selviytyä rimaa hipoen"

— To barely manage or pass (literally 'grazing the bar').

Hän selviytyi tentistä rimaa hipoen.

informal

"Selviytyä voittajana"

— To overcome a great struggle and come out on top.

Hän selviytyi sairaudesta voittajana.

neutral

"Selviytyä hengissä"

— The standard way to say someone survived a fatal risk.

Kukaan ei uskonut hänen selviytyvän hengissä.

neutral

"Selviytyä omin avuin"

— To manage without any external assistance.

Hän selviytyi muutosta omin avuin.

neutral

"Selviytyä vähin äänin"

— To get through something quietly or without making a scene.

Hän selviytyi erosta vähin äänin.

neutral

"Selviytyä kunnialla"

— To manage a task in a way that preserves one's dignity.

Hän selviytyi puheesta kunnialla.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

selviytyä vs selvitä

They look similar and both relate to 'clear' (selvä).

Selvitä is often the result (I made it), while selviytyä is the process and effort (I survived/managed). Selvitä also means to sober up.

Hän selvisi kokeesta (He passed). Hän selviytyi kokeesta (He managed to get through the difficult exam).

selviytyä vs suoriutua

Both mean 'to manage'.

Suoriutua is for tasks and duties (neutral/formal). Selviytyä is for challenges and threats (emotional/visceral).

Hän suoriutui työstä. Hän selviytyi kriisistä.

selviytyä vs pärjätä

Both translate to 'manage'.

Pärjätä is informal and means 'to be okay'. Selviytyä is more serious and implies a real obstacle.

Pärjäätkö? (Are you okay?) Selviydytkö? (Are you managing this hard thing?)

selviytyä vs selvittää

Related root.

Selvittää is transitive (you solve something). Selviytyä is intransitive (you survive).

Selvitän ongelman. Selviydyn ongelmasta.

selviytyä vs kestää

Both relate to endurance.

Kestää is to last or endure pain/pressure. Selviytyä is to come out the other side of a challenge.

Kone kestää rasitusta. Ihminen selviytyy onnettomuudesta.

Satzmuster

Minä selviydyn.

Minä selviydyn tästä tehtävästä.

[Subject] selviytyi [Noun]-sta/-stä.

Hän selviytyi kokeesta.

[Subject] selviytyi [Noun]-sta/-stä hengissä.

Kaikki selviytyivät kolarista hengissä.

[Subject] selviytyi [Noun]-ksi.

Hän selviytyi voittajaksi.

Selviytyäkseen [Subject] [Verb]...

Selviytyäkseen yrityksen on uudistuttava.

[Subject] selviytyi [Adverbial] vaurioin.

Hän selviytyi kriisistä vähin vaurioin.

Miten selviytyä [Noun]-sta/-stä?

Miten selviytyä stressistä?

[Subject] on selviydyttävä [Noun]-sta/-stä.

Meidän on selviydyttävä tästä yhdessä.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

selviytyminen

selviytyjä

selviytymistarina

selviytymiskeino

selviytymispakkaus

Verben

selvitä

selvittää

Adjektive

selviytyvä

selvä

selviytymiskykyinen

Verwandt

sisu

kestävyys

pärjääminen

suoriutuminen

pelastuminen

Registriere dich kostenlos, um alle Beispiele zu sehen

So verwendest du es

frequency

Very high, especially in news and personal discussions about challenges.

Häufige Fehler

Minä selviytyn. → Minä selviydyn.
Type 1 verbs like selviytyä undergo consonant gradation where 't' becomes 'd' in weak forms.
Hän selviytyi onnettomuutta. → Hän selviytyi onnettomuudesta.
The verb requires the elative case (-sta/-stä), not the partitive case.
Hän selviytyi kolarista. (Meaning he is alive) → Hän selviytyi kolarista hengissä.
Without 'hengissä', it might just mean he managed the situation (insurance, etc.). 'Hengissä' is needed for physical survival.
Minä selviydyin tentti. → Minä selviydyin tentistä.
The object of survival must be in the elative case.
Sää selviytyi. → Sää selvisi.
For the weather clearing up, the shorter verb 'selvitä' is used, not 'selviytyä'.

Tipps

Watch the Gradation

Remember the t -> d change in personal forms. This is the most common mistake for learners. Practice: minä selviydyn, sinä selviydyt.

Use with 'Hengissä'

To be clear about surviving a life-threatening event, always add 'hengissä'. Otherwise, people might think you just managed the paperwork.

Learn the Noun

The noun 'selviytyminen' is very common in psychology and news. Learning it helps you understand headlines about 'selviytymistarinoita' (survival stories).

Sisu Connection

Think of this verb as the action of 'sisu'. When you use it, you are invoking a powerful Finnish cultural concept of resilience.

Elative Case

Always look for the -sta/-stä ending. It's the 'from' case that tells you what was survived. It makes the sentence structure easy to follow.

Break It Down

The word is long. Practice saying 'sel-vi-yt-y-ä' slowly until the 'y' and 'ä' sounds feel natural in sequence.

Listen for the 'd'

In spoken Finnish, the 'd' in 'selviydyn' might be very soft or even dropped in some dialects, but the double 'y' usually stays clear.

Compound Words

The word often forms compounds like 'selviytymisvaisto' (survival instinct). The genitive form 'selviytymis-' is the key here.

Emerging as a Winner

Use the translative case 'voittajaksi' to describe a successful outcome of a struggle. It sounds very idiomatic and advanced.

The 'Clear' Root

Remember that 'selvä' means clear. To 'selviytyä' is to get yourself 'clear' of a problem. This logic helps you remember the meaning.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Sell-View-To-Yeah'. You 'Sell' your struggle, get a better 'View', and say 'Yeah!' because you survived.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a person emerging from a dark, foggy forest into a bright, clear field. This represents moving from struggle to 'selvä' (clear) safety.

Word Web

selvä selvitä selviytyjä selviytyminen selvittää selvyys selvitys selvästi

Herausforderung

Try to use 'selviytyä' in three different sentences today: one about work, one about health, and one about a hobby.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Finnish adjective 'selvä', which means 'clear', 'evident', or 'plain'. The suffix '-ytyä' is used to form reflexive or stative verbs.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To become clear or to clear oneself from a difficult or murky situation.

Uralic / Finnic.

Kultureller Kontext

Be sensitive when using the word regarding trauma or serious illness; while it is common, it implies a level of struggle that should be acknowledged.

English speakers often use 'survive' and 'cope' separately, but 'selviytyä' bridges both, emphasizing the successful outcome of a struggle.

Selviytyjät (Finnish Survivor TV show) The book 'Selviytyjät' by various authors documenting war stories Finnish news headlines during the 1990s recession

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Accidents

selviytyä hengissä
selviytyä vammoitta
selviytyä säikähdyksellä
selviytyä kolarista

Work/Study

selviytyä deadlineista
selviytyä tentistä
selviytyä stressistä
selviytyä työkuormasta

Daily Life

selviytyä arjesta
selviytyä vähällä unella
selviytyä ilman rahaa
selviytyä yksin

Business/Economy

selviytyä lamasta
selviytyä kilpailusta
selviytyä konkurssista
selviytyä inflaatiosta

Nature

selviytyä talvesta
selviytyä kuivuudesta
selviytyä luonnossa
selviytyä pakkasesta

Gesprächseinstiege

"Miten sinä yleensä selviydyt stressaavista tilanteista?"

"Oletko koskaan joutunut selviytymään vaikeasta haasteesta?"

"Mikä on paras selviytymiskeinosi pimeänä talvena?"

"Uskotko, että kuka tahansa voi selviytyä luonnossa ilman varusteita?"

"Miten suomalainen yhteiskunta selviytyy tulevaisuuden haasteista?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Kirjoita kerrasta, jolloin selviydyit vaikeasta tilanteesta kunnialla.

Pohdi, miten selviytyminen ja sisu liittyvät toisiinsa omassa elämässäsi.

Mitä asioita tarvitset selviytyäksesi pitkästä ja pimeästä talvesta?

Kirjoita kuvitteellinen tarina selviytyjästä autiolla saarella.

Miten uskot selviytyväsi seuraavasta suomen kielen kokeestasi?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

While both can mean 'to survive', 'selviytyä' emphasizes the active effort and process of overcoming a challenge. 'Selvitä' often focuses on the result or is used for non-living things like weather clearing up. For example, 'Sää selviää' (The weather clears), but 'Hän selviytyi myrskystä' (He survived the storm through effort).

No. In Finnish, 'selviytyä' can mean simply managing a task or a situation. To explicitly say someone didn't die, you should use the phrase 'selviytyä hengissä' (survive alive). Without 'hengissä', it might just mean they handled the situation well.

You should almost always use the Elative case, which ends in -sta or -stä. This marks the challenge, accident, or situation you are surviving. Example: 'selviytyä kokeesta' (survive/manage the exam).

It follows Type 1 verb conjugation with consonant gradation. The 't' changes to 'd'. So, 'minä selviydyn'. In the past tense, it is 'minä selviydyin'.

Yes, it is extremely common in both spoken and written Finnish. You will hear it in news, at work, and in daily conversations about health and stress.

Yes, it is very common to say 'selviytyä tentistä', especially if the exam was particularly difficult or stressful.

It means 'to emerge as the winner'. The translative case (-ksi) is used here to show the state or role the person attained after the struggle.

It is neutral. It is used in formal news reports and academic texts, but it is also perfectly normal to use in casual conversation with friends.

Yes, you can use it for animals surviving the winter, a predator, or a lack of food. Example: 'Kettu selviytyi talvesta'.

A 'selviytyjä' is a survivor. It is the noun form of the verb. It is also the Finnish name for the TV show 'Survivor'.

Registriere dich kostenlos für Tipps & Notizen