Signification
To investigate and learn the truth.
Contexte culturel
Finns value 'omatoimisuus' (self-initiative). If you are told to 'ottaa selvää', it is expected that you do it yourself without asking for step-by-step instructions. In Northern Finland, 'taking clarity' often relates to nature—observing the snow or reindeer behavior to predict the weather. In meetings, 'ottaa selvää' is a commitment. If you say it, you must follow up, or you will be seen as unreliable ('epäluotettava'). The phrase is used to bridge the gap between 'knowing' and 'understanding'. It is the first step of any 'tutkimus' (research).
The 'I'll check' phrase
In a Finnish office, 'Otan selvää' is the perfect way to end a conversation when you don't have the answer but want to sound helpful.
Case Sensitivity
Always remember the -sta/-stä ending. Saying 'Otan selvää se' sounds very broken to a native ear.
Signification
To investigate and learn the truth.
The 'I'll check' phrase
In a Finnish office, 'Otan selvää' is the perfect way to end a conversation when you don't have the answer but want to sound helpful.
Case Sensitivity
Always remember the -sta/-stä ending. Saying 'Otan selvää se' sounds very broken to a native ear.
Don't Guess
Finns prefer you to say you'll find out ('otan selvää') rather than giving an uncertain guess.
Selvää vs Selkoa
Use 'selvää' for facts and 'selkoa' for complex systems or messy situations.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct case ending for the word in brackets.
Haluan ottaa selvää tästä [asia].
The object of 'ottaa selvää' takes the elative case (-sta).
Which sentence is the most natural for a professional email?
You need to tell your boss you will investigate the budget discrepancy.
This is professional, uses the correct case, and the correct idiom.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Tiedätkö, mihin aikaan juna lähtee? B: En ole varma, mutta...
'Otan selvää' is the standard response for 'I will find out'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
1. Ottaa selvää historiasta, 2. Saada selvää käsialasta, 3. Selvittää rikos
'Ottaa selvää' is for research, 'Saada selvää' is for perception, 'Selvittää' is for solving/clarifying.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Ottaa vs Saada
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesHaluan ottaa selvää tästä [asia].
The object of 'ottaa selvää' takes the elative case (-sta).
You need to tell your boss you will investigate the budget discrepancy.
This is professional, uses the correct case, and the correct idiom.
A: Tiedätkö, mihin aikaan juna lähtee? B: En ole varma, mutta...
'Otan selvää' is the standard response for 'I will find out'.
1. Ottaa selvää historiasta, 2. Saada selvää käsialasta, 3. Selvittää rikos
'Ottaa selvää' is for research, 'Saada selvää' is for perception, 'Selvittää' is for solving/clarifying.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, but usually in passive or modal forms like 'On otettava selvä'. In normal speech, 'ottaa selvää' is much more common.
'Tutkia' is 'to study' or 'to research' (like a scientist). 'Ottaa selvää' is more general and used for everyday inquiries.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your friends, or a shopkeeper.
Yes, if you are naming the thing you are investigating. If you use a subordinate clause (e.g., 'ottaa selvää, kuka...'), you don't need the -sta case.
Yes, 'ottaa selvää jostakusta' means to find out about someone's background or character.
It means to be able to comprehend something that is hard to perceive, like a quiet voice or bad handwriting.
Almost. 'Selkoa' is slightly more formal and implies getting a full report or understanding a complex logic.
Use the past tense: 'Otin selvää'.
Absolutely. It shows you are proactive and willing to learn.
You can use the verb 'selvittää', which is a single word with a similar meaning.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but 'jättää arvailujen varaan' (to leave to guesswork) is a conceptual opposite.
Police usually 'selvittävät' a crime, but they also 'ottavat selvää' details.
Expressions liées
ottaa selkoa
similarTo get an account of something
saada selville
similarTo find out / discover
selvittää
synonymTo clarify / solve
tutkia
specialized formTo study / investigate
tiedustella
specialized formTo inquire
varmistaa
builds onTo confirm
