Significado
To monitor something or someone.
Contexto cultural
When swimming at a summer cottage, it is a strict rule that an adult must 'pitää vahtia' over the children. This is often done silently from the pier. In wood-heated saunas, the 'saunavahti' is the person responsible for the fire. They 'pitävät vahtia', that the temperature is right and the fire is safe. Finns often leave their babies in strollers outside shops or cafés while they sleep. They 'pitävät vahtia' through the window, reflecting high social trust. During communal cleanup days, someone is usually assigned to 'pitää vahtia' the coffee and pulla (buns) to make sure there's enough for everyone.
Use the Elative Case
Always remember to use the -sta/-stä ending for the thing you are watching. 'Pidä vahtia laukusta', not 'laukkua'.
Don't say 'Pitää vahti'
Without the 'a' at the end of 'vahtia', it sounds like you are physically holding a guard in your arms.
Significado
To monitor something or someone.
Use the Elative Case
Always remember to use the -sta/-stä ending for the thing you are watching. 'Pidä vahtia laukusta', not 'laukkua'.
Don't say 'Pitää vahti'
Without the 'a' at the end of 'vahtia', it sounds like you are physically holding a guard in your arms.
The Silent Watch
In Finland, 'pitää vahtia' doesn't require talking. You can sit in silence with a friend and still be 'pitämässä vahtia'.
Cooking Context
This is the most natural phrase to use when you don't want your food to burn. 'Pidä vahtia pannusta!'
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'pitää'.
Minä ______ vahtia lapsista tänä iltana.
The first-person singular form of 'pitää' is 'pidän' due to consonant gradation (t -> d).
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
How do you ask someone to watch your bag?
You need the partitive 'vahtia' and the elative 'laukusta'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a campfire and need to go get more wood.
'Pitää vahtia' is the most natural way to ask someone to monitor a fire for safety.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Onko maito jo valmista? B: En tiedä, sinun täytyy ______.
The infinitive 'pitää vahtia' follows 'täytyy'.
Match the Finnish phrase with its English equivalent.
1. Pitää vahtia lapsista, 2. Pitää silmällä, 3. Vartioida porttia
These are the most common translations for these specific nuances.
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Ayudas visuales
When to use 'Pitää vahtia'
Safety
- • Children
- • Pets
- • Campfire
Property
- • House
- • Luggage
- • Car
Processes
- • Cooking
- • Downloads
- • Experiments
Banco de ejercicios
5 ejerciciosMinä ______ vahtia lapsista tänä iltana.
The first-person singular form of 'pitää' is 'pidän' due to consonant gradation (t -> d).
How do you ask someone to watch your bag?
You need the partitive 'vahtia' and the elative 'laukusta'.
You are at a campfire and need to go get more wood.
'Pitää vahtia' is the most natural way to ask someone to monitor a fire for safety.
A: Onko maito jo valmista? B: En tiedä, sinun täytyy ______.
The infinitive 'pitää vahtia' follows 'täytyy'.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
These are the most common translations for these specific nuances.
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Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasIt is neutral. You can use it with friends, family, or at work.
No, use 'katsoa' for movies. 'Pitää vahtia' is for safety or monitoring.
'Vahtia' is a verb (to watch), while 'pitää vahtia' is a collocation (to keep watch). They are often interchangeable, but the collocation sounds more like a continuous duty.
You can say 'Minä pidän vahtia lapsista.'
Yes, in a professional context, it can mean surveillance (valvonta).
Yes, it is very common to say a dog is keeping watch over the house.
It is 'vahtia'. The word 'vahti' becomes 'vahtia' in the partitive case.
Yes, if you are applying for a security or caretaking role.
Usually the elative case (-sta/-stä).
Yes, 'kytätä' or 'väijyä', but they are often negative.
No, for that you would use 'tarkkailla painoa'.
Yes, it is a standard term for sentry duty.
Frases relacionadas
pitää silmällä
similarTo keep an eye on
vartioida
specialized formTo guard formally
valvoa
similarTo supervise or stay awake
kaitsia
synonymTo tend or herd
tarkkailla
similarTo observe
