Meaning
To retract a statement.
Cultural Background
Finns value honesty and directness. Taking back words is seen as a sign of integrity and self-awareness rather than weakness. In meetings, precision is key. If you provide wrong data, 'taking it back' immediately is expected to maintain professional trust. Finnish 'netiquette' encourages users to own their mistakes. Retracting a comment is preferred over deleting it without explanation. In older generations, 'giving one's word' was a sacred contract. Retracting it was a major event requiring a sincere apology.
The 'Sanani' trick
Always pair 'ottaa takaisin' with 'sanani' (my words) to sound like a native speaker when apologizing.
Don't use with 'kirja'
If you say 'Otan kirjan takaisin' at a library, they will think you are reclaiming a book you own, not returning a borrowed one.
Meaning
To retract a statement.
The 'Sanani' trick
Always pair 'ottaa takaisin' with 'sanani' (my words) to sound like a native speaker when apologizing.
Don't use with 'kirja'
If you say 'Otan kirjan takaisin' at a library, they will think you are reclaiming a book you own, not returning a borrowed one.
Conditional for Politeness
Use 'Ottaisin sanani takaisin' to sound more humble and regretful.
Silence is Gold
In Finland, it's better to stay silent than to say something you'll have to take back later.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'ottaa'.
Minä ______ sanani takaisin, koska olin väärässä.
The subject is 'Minä' (I), so the verb must be in the first person singular present tense.
Which sentence is used to retract an insult?
Valitse oikea lause:
'Otan sanani takaisin' is the standard idiom for retracting words.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Sanoit, että tämä on tyhmää. B: Anteeksi, ______ ______ ______.
B is apologizing and retracting their previous statement about something being 'tyhmää' (stupid).
Match the phrase to the situation.
You said something mean to a friend and regret it.
This is the appropriate social response for regretting a spoken statement.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Retracting vs. Returning
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMinä ______ sanani takaisin, koska olin väärässä.
The subject is 'Minä' (I), so the verb must be in the first person singular present tense.
Valitse oikea lause:
'Otan sanani takaisin' is the standard idiom for retracting words.
A: Sanoit, että tämä on tyhmää. B: Anteeksi, ______ ______ ______.
B is apologizing and retracting their previous statement about something being 'tyhmää' (stupid).
You said something mean to a friend and regret it.
This is the appropriate social response for regretting a spoken statement.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, use 'palauttaa' for returning items to a store.
'Takaisin' is standard; 'takas' is common in spoken Finnish (puhekieli).
Usually the accusative (sanat -> sanani) because the retraction is a completed action.
Yes, 'ottaa lupaus takaisin' is very common.
No, it's actually polite to take back hurtful words.
Simply: 'Otan sen takaisin.'
'Perua' is more like 'to cancel' (e.g., a meeting), while 'ottaa takaisin' is more about the words themselves.
Yes, 'ottaa joku takaisin' means to take someone back into a relationship or job.
Yes, 'ottaa [object] takaisin' is the standard order.
Yes, frequently when reporting on political retractions.
Yes, but 'Otan sanani takaisin' sounds more natural.
En ota sanojani takaisin!
Related Phrases
perua sanansa
synonymTo cancel one's words
pyörtää puheensa
similarTo reverse one's speech
vetää takaisin
similarTo pull back
syödä sanansa
contrastTo eat one's words
palauttaa
specialized formTo return
