Significado
Discovering information about a topic.
Contexto cultural
In Finland, 'getting to the clear' (saada selville) is often a quiet, individual process. Finns value privacy, so finding out information often happens through observation rather than direct questioning. Similar metaphors of 'clarity' exist across the Nordics (e.g., Swedish 'klargöra'), reflecting a shared cultural value of transparency and honesty. In Finnish meetings, 'saada selville' is used to signal that a research phase is over and the facts are now on the table. It marks the transition to decision-making. Finnish news often uses the passive 'saatiin selville' to report on police investigations, emphasizing the result over the individual officer's work.
The 'That' Rule
If you are unsure how to continue the sentence, just add ', että' (that) and then a full sentence. It's the easiest way to use this phrase.
No Keys!
Remember, if you can touch it, you probably can't 'saada selville' it. Use 'löytää' for physical objects.
Significado
Discovering information about a topic.
The 'That' Rule
If you are unsure how to continue the sentence, just add ', että' (that) and then a full sentence. It's the easiest way to use this phrase.
No Keys!
Remember, if you can touch it, you probably can't 'saada selville' it. Use 'löytää' for physical objects.
Passive Power
Use 'saatiin selville' (was found out) when you want to sound like a professional investigator or a news reporter.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the correct form of 'saada selville'.
Minä ______ eilen, että huomenna on loma.
The sentence uses 'eilen' (yesterday), so we need the past tense first-person singular.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the right way to say 'I found out where he lives'.
'Saada selville' is used with indirect questions like 'missä hän asuu'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You just found out your friend is getting married.
This is a piece of information/news, so 'saada selville' is the correct choice.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Saitko selville, kuka söi keksit? B: ______, se oli kissa!
The question uses 'saitko selville', so the answer should match.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Saada Selville vs. Löytää
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosMinä ______ eilen, että huomenna on loma.
The sentence uses 'eilen' (yesterday), so we need the past tense first-person singular.
Choose the right way to say 'I found out where he lives'.
'Saada selville' is used with indirect questions like 'missä hän asuu'.
You just found out your friend is getting married.
This is a piece of information/news, so 'saada selville' is the correct choice.
A: Saitko selville, kuka söi keksit? B: ______, se oli kissa!
The question uses 'saitko selville', so the answer should match.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasIt's neutral. You can use it with friends, at work, or in a newspaper.
Yes, but you usually find out *something* about them, like 'Sain selville hänen nimensä'.
'Selvittää' is a verb meaning 'to solve' or 'to investigate'. 'Saada selville' is the result of that investigation.
Yes, that is a perfect and very common sentence.
No, 'selville' is a fixed form in this phrase.
Sain selville juhlista (using the elative case).
Yes, very much so. In spoken Finnish, 'saada' might become 'saa' or 'sain'.
Yes, if you found out *where* something is, e.g., 'Sain selville paikan'.
Yes, especially for discovering facts or secrets.
There isn't a direct opposite phrase, but 'pitää salassa' (to keep secret) is the opposite action.
Yes, it's a great translation for 'I figured it out'.
Yes, it's a key phrase for A2/B1 level Finnish language tests (YKI-testi).
Frases relacionadas
ottaa selvää
similarTo actively find out/investigate.
selvittää
synonymTo solve or clarify.
hoksata
similarTo realize or 'get it'.
päästä selvyyteen
specialized formTo reach a conclusion/clarity.
olla selvillä
builds onTo be aware of.
