This page in your language
فارسی العربية Deutsch Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
B1 verb 8 min read

kasvaa

Examples Notes & Tips kasvaa in 30 Seconds
Explanation kasvaa in your Level:
At the A1 level, the word 'kasvaa' is introduced as a simple verb to describe physical growth that you can see. You will use it to talk about how children get taller or how plants in a garden become bigger. It is one of the first verbs you learn to describe nature and people. At this stage, you focus on the present tense (minä kasvan, sinä kasvat) and very simple sentences. You might say 'Kukka kasvaa' (The flower grows) or 'Minä kasvan' (I grow). The focus is on the most literal, visible meaning. You don't need to worry about abstract concepts like the economy yet; just think about a small seed becoming a big tree or a baby becoming a child. It is a 'Type 1' verb, which is the most common group in Finnish, so learning 'kasvaa' helps you practice the basic conjugation rules that apply to hundreds of other words.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the A2 level, you start to use 'kasvaa' in more varied contexts. You can talk about the past using the 'oi' ending (Hän kasvoi nopeasti - He grew fast). You also begin to use the word with measurements, such as 'Hän kasvoi kymmenen senttiä' (He grew ten centimeters). You will encounter the word in more daily life situations, like talking about your hair or nails growing, or observing that the amount of snow is growing outside. You also learn the important distinction between 'kasvaa' (to grow) and 'kasvattaa' (to grow something/raise). A2 learners should be able to identify that 'kasvaa' is something the subject does on its own. You might also start to see it used with the translative case to say what someone became, like 'kasvaa aikuiseksi' (to grow into an adult).
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the B1 level, 'kasvaa' becomes a tool for discussing abstract ideas and social trends. This is the level where you move beyond just physical growth. You will use 'kasvaa' to discuss 'talouskasvu' (economic growth) or how the population of a city 'kasvaa'. You are expected to understand the word in news articles and more formal texts. You'll also learn common idioms, like 'kasvaa korkoa' (to accrue interest). B1 learners should feel comfortable using 'kasvaa' in all tenses, including the perfect (on kasvanut) and pluperfect (oli kasvanut). You will also start to notice the word in professional contexts, such as 'yritys kasvaa' (the company is growing). The nuance of using the partitive with growth (kasvaa pituutta) vs. the nominative (kasvaa kymmenen metriä) becomes more important here.
At the B2 level, you use 'kasvaa' with more precision and in more complex sentence structures. You can describe the rate or manner of growth using adverbs like 'huimasti' (wildly), 'tasaisesti' (steadily), or 'kituen' (stuntedly). You understand the metaphorical uses of the word in literature and opinion pieces, such as 'viha kasvaa' (hatred grows) or 'vastuun kasvaessa' (as responsibility grows). You are also able to distinguish 'kasvaa' from more specific synonyms like 'varttua' (to mature) or 'edistyä' (to progress). B2 learners can use the word in passive constructions or as a participle (kasvava kysyntä - growing demand). You understand that 'kasvaa' can describe a change in intensity, not just size, such as a sound growing louder or a feeling growing stronger.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C1 level, 'kasvaa' is used in highly nuanced and academic ways. You might encounter it in scientific papers describing biological processes or in philosophical texts discussing personal growth and 'henkinen kasvu' (spiritual/mental growth). You understand the subtle difference between 'kasvaa' and 'laajentua' (to expand) in urban planning or physics. You can use the word in complex idiomatic expressions and understand its role in word formation (e.g., 'kasvukipu' - growing pains). At this level, you can manipulate the word to fit very specific registers, using it in formal reports to describe 'kasvusuunta' (growth trend) or 'kasvupotentiaali' (growth potential). You also recognize the word when it appears in compound words that describe complex societal phenomena.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'kasvaa' and all its derivatives. You can use it in poetic and highly literary contexts where the growth might be purely symbolic. You understand the historical etymology of the word and how it relates to other Finno-Ugric languages. You can effortlessly switch between 'kasvaa' and its many synonyms to achieve the exact rhetorical effect you desire. Whether you are writing a technical economic analysis or a piece of creative fiction, you use 'kasvaa' as a versatile tool. You are also aware of very rare or archaic uses of the word and can interpret them correctly in old Finnish texts. Your use of 'kasvaa' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker, incorporating it into complex grammatical structures like the long third infinitive or various clitics without hesitation.
Sign up free to read full explanation
Examples Notes & Tips

kasvaa in 30 Seconds

  • Kasvaa is a Finnish verb meaning 'to grow' or 'to increase'.
  • It is intransitive, meaning the subject itself undergoes the growth.
  • It covers biological growth, numerical increases, and abstract development.
  • Commonly used for plants, children, economy, and personal maturity.

The Finnish verb kasvaa is a fundamental word that primarily translates to "to grow" in English. However, its application in Finnish is remarkably broad, spanning biological growth, physical expansion, numerical increases, and abstract development. At its core, kasvaa describes a process where something becomes larger, taller, or more numerous through a natural or systemic progression.

Biological Growth
This is the most literal use. It refers to plants, animals, and humans physically increasing in size. When a child gets taller, they kasvavat. When a tree reaches toward the sky, it kasvaa. In Finland, nature is a constant topic of conversation, so you will frequently hear this in relation to forests, mushrooms, and berries.
Numerical and Economic Increase
In professional and news contexts, kasvaa is the standard verb for rising statistics. If the economy is expanding, the population is rising, or interest rates are climbing, the verb used is almost always kasvaa. It implies a steady, often positive (though sometimes concerning) upward trend.
Abstract and Personal Development
Metaphorically, the word applies to feelings, skills, or reputations. A person's confidence can grow, or a conflict can grow into a larger problem. It suggests that the subject is evolving into a more significant state.

Lapset kasvavat nykyään niin nopeasti.

Translation: Children grow so fast nowadays.

Understanding the nuance of kasvaa requires distinguishing it from its transitive counterpart, kasvattaa. While kasvaa is something the subject does itself (intransitive), kasvattaa is something the subject does to something else (transitive), like raising a child or growing tomatoes. This distinction is a hallmark of Finnish verb pairs.

Korko kasvaa tilillä joka kuukausi.

Translation: Interest grows (accrues) on the account every month.

In summary, whether you are talking about a beard, a city's population, or a child's height, kasvaa is your go-to verb. It captures the essence of expansion and maturation across all facets of life in Finland.

Using kasvaa correctly involves understanding its grammatical behavior as a Type 1 verb. This means its infinitive ends in two vowels, and it follows a predictable conjugation pattern. Because it is an intransitive verb, the focus is always on the subject that is undergoing the growth.

The Location of Growth
When specifying where something grows, Finnish uses the Inessive (-ssa/-ssä) or Adessive (-lla/-llä) cases. For example, "Kukka kasvaa puutarhassa" (The flower grows in the garden). If you are talking about something growing *onto* a surface, like moss on a rock, you use the Adessive: "Sammal kasvaa kivellä".
Growing Into Something
To describe what something becomes as it grows, the Translative case (-ksi) is used. "Hän kasvoi aikuiseksi" (He grew into an adult / He grew up). This indicates a change in state or role.

Tämä puu kasvaa kymmenen metriä korkeaksi.

Translation: This tree grows to be ten meters tall.

When discussing measurements, the quantity usually stays in the nominative or partative depending on the sentence structure, but the dimension (like height or width) often requires specific handling. For instance, "Hän on kasvanut pituutta" (He has grown in height) uses the partative for the abstract quality of 'height'.

Kaupungin asukasluku kasvaa tasaisesti.

Translation: The city's population is growing steadily.

In the past tense, kasvaa becomes kasvoi (He/she/it grew). For example: "Viime kesänä ruoho kasvoi nopeasti" (Last summer the grass grew quickly). Mastery of these patterns allows you to describe everything from personal history to global trends.

The word kasvaa is ubiquitous in Finland, echoing through various domains of daily life. From the evening news to a casual walk in the forest, you will encounter this verb frequently. Understanding the context helps in picking up the subtle shifts in meaning.

In the News and Media
Financial reporters use kasvaa to describe the GDP (BKT), inflation, and stock market trends. You'll hear phrases like "talous kasvaa" (the economy is growing) or "työttömyys kasvaa" (unemployment is growing). It provides a neutral, factual tone for reporting changes in data.
In the Garden and Nature
Finns love their summer cottages (mökki) and gardens. Conversations often revolve around how well the potatoes (perunat) are growing or if the chanterelles (kantarellit) have started to grow in the woods. "Onko metsässä jo kasvanut sieniä?" (Have mushrooms already grown in the forest?)

Innostus uuteen projektiin kasvaa päivä päivältä.

Translation: Enthusiasm for the new project grows day by day.

In social settings, parents often remark on how quickly their children have grown. It’s a standard "small talk" topic in Finland. You might hear: "Voi kuinka sinä olet kasvanut!" (Oh, how you have grown!). It's also used when discussing where someone was raised: "Missä sinä olet kasvanut?" (Where did you grow up?).

Velka kasvaa, jos sitä ei makseta pois.

Translation: Debt grows if it is not paid off.

Even in weather reports, you might hear about ice thickness growing on lakes during winter. The word is truly a pillar of the Finnish vocabulary, appearing whenever something moves from a smaller state to a larger one.

For English speakers, the most common pitfall with kasvaa is confusing it with its transitive twin, kasvattaa. Because English uses the same word "grow" for both "The plant grows" and "I grow the plant," learners often apply this logic to Finnish, leading to grammatical errors.

Kasvaa vs. Kasvattaa
Remember: kasvaa is intransitive. The subject is the thing that is getting bigger. Kasvattaa is transitive. The subject is the person or thing causing something else to get bigger. Incorrect: "Minä kasvan tomaatteja" (I grow as tomatoes). Correct: "Minä kasvatan tomaatteja" (I grow tomatoes).
Confusing with 'Lisääntyä'
While kasvaa means to grow in size or amount, lisääntyä often specifically means to reproduce or multiply in number. While they can sometimes be used interchangeably for statistics, kasvaa is more general. You wouldn't say a person "lisääntyy" when they get taller; you say they "kasvaa".

Väärin: Poika kasvattaa kymmenen senttiä vuodessa.

Correction: Poika kasvaa kymmenen senttiä vuodessa. (The boy grows 10cm, he doesn't 'raise' 10cm).

Another mistake involves the use of the translative case. Learners often forget to use the -ksi ending when saying what someone grew up to be. "Hän kasvoi lääkäri" is incorrect; it must be "Hän kasvoi lääkäriksi". This ending indicates the transformation.

Väärin: Parta lisääntyy nopeasti.

Correction: Parta kasvaa nopeasti. (Beard grows, it doesn't multiply like a population).

Lastly, be careful with the past tense. Since kasvaa is a Type 1 verb, the 'a' changes to 'oi'. Some learners try to use 'kasvasi', which is incorrect. Always use kasvoi.

While kasvaa is the most versatile word for growth, Finnish offers several specific alternatives depending on the context. Choosing the right one can make your Finnish sound more natural and precise.

Varttua vs. Kasvaa
Varttua is a more elegant, slightly old-fashioned way to say "to grow up" or "to mature." It is specifically used for people and animals. While kasvaa focuses on the physical size, varttua often implies the passage of time and the process of reaching adulthood.
Suurentua vs. Kasvaa
Suurentua means "to become larger" or "to expand." It is often used for physical objects like a hole in a garment or an image on a screen. Kasvaa is more organic, whereas suurentua is more mechanical or spatial.
Lisääntyä vs. Kasvaa
Lisääntyä specifically means "to increase in number" or "to reproduce." Use this for populations, or when the quantity of items grows. Kasvaa can also be used for numbers, but lisääntyä is more focused on the count itself.

Hän varttui pienessä kylässä Lapissa.

Translation: He grew up (matured) in a small village in Lapland.

Other verbs include kehittyä (to develop), which is used when the growth involves complexity rather than just size, and edistyä (to progress), used for tasks or skills. If a plant is thriving particularly well, you might use kukoistaa (to flourish/bloom).

Ongelma paisuu hallitsemattomaksi.

Translation: The problem is swelling (growing) out of control. (Using paisua for dramatic growth).

By learning these variations, you can describe growth with much more color. For example, a debt doesn't just kasvaa; it can paisua (swell) if it becomes huge, or kertyä (accumulate) if it builds up slowly.

Fun Fact

The word 'kasvi' (plant) was artificially derived from the verb 'kasvaa' in the 19th century during the development of modern Finnish vocabulary.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈkɑsʋɑː/
US /ˈkɑsʋɑː/
Primary stress is always on the first syllable: KAS-vaa.
Rhymes With
rasvaa (fat/grease) vastaa (answers) vatsaa (stomach - partative) nastaa (thumbtack - partative) paskaa (slang) maksaa (costs/pays) saksaa (German - partative) jaksaa (to have energy)
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing the 'v' like a 'w'. Finnish 'v' is closer to the English 'v'.
  • Shortening the final double 'aa'. It must be long.
  • Adding a 'u' sound like 'kasvua' when it should be the verb 'kasvaa'.
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Minä kasvan.

I grow.

Simple present tense, 1st person singular.

2

Kukka kasvaa.

The flower grows.

3rd person singular.

3

Lapset kasvavat.

The children grow.

3rd person plural.

4

Puu kasvaa pihalla.

The tree grows in the yard.

Inessive case (pihalla) for location.

5

Kasvatko sinä vielä?

Are you still growing?

Question form with -ko suffix.

6

Ruoho kasvaa kesällä.

The grass grows in the summer.

Adverb of time (kesällä).

7

Omena kasvaa puussa.

The apple grows on the tree.

Inessive case (puussa).

8

Me kasvamme joka päivä.

We grow every day.

1st person plural.

1

Hän kasvoi nopeasti.

He grew fast.

Past tense (imperfekti).

2

Parta kasvaa viikossa.

A beard grows in a week.

Time duration (viikossa).

3

Tomaatti kasvaa isoksi.

The tomato grows big.

Translative case (isoksi).

4

Oletko kasvanut pituutta?

Have you grown in height?

Perfect tense and partative (pituutta).

5

Kaupunki kasvaa länteen.

The city is growing to the west.

Directional case (länteen).

6

Hiukset kasvavat hitaasti.

Hair grows slowly.

Adverb (hitaasti).

7

Lapsi kasvoi aikuiseksi.

The child grew into an adult.

Translative case (aikuiseksi).

8

Metsässä kasvaa marjoja.

Berries grow in the forest.

Existential sentence structure.

1

Talous kasvaa tänä vuonna.

The economy is growing this year.

Abstract subject (talous).

2

Hinnat kasvavat koko ajan.

Prices are growing all the time.

Numerical growth.

3

Innostus kasvaa projektin edetessä.

Enthusiasm grows as the project progresses.

Temporal construction (edetessä).

4

Hän on kasvanut vastuuseen.

He has grown into the responsibility.

Illative case (vastuuseen).

5

Yrityksen voitto kasvaa.

The company's profit is growing.

Genitive attribute (yrityksen).

6

Väkiluku kasvaa maahanmuuton myötä.

The population grows along with immigration.

Postposition (myötä).

7

Korko kasvaa tilillä.

Interest grows on the account.

Financial context.

8

Hän kasvoi vaativissa oloissa.

He grew up in demanding conditions.

Plural inessive (oloissa).

1

Kysyntä kasvaa huimasti.

Demand is growing wildly.

Strong adverb (huimasti).

2

Erot kasvavat rikkaiden ja köyhien välillä.

Gaps are growing between the rich and the poor.

Abstract social growth.

3

Hän on kasvanut ulos vanhoista vaatteistaan.

He has grown out of his old clothes.

Phrasal usage (kasvaa ulos).

4

Luottamus kasvaa hitaasti mutta varmasti.

Trust grows slowly but surely.

Idiomatic adverbs.

5

Kasvava työttömyys on suuri ongelma.

Growing unemployment is a big problem.

Present participle (kasvava).

6

Melu kasvoi sietämättömäksi.

The noise grew unbearable.

Translative case (sietämättömäksi).

7

Hän kasvoi henkisesti matkan aikana.

He grew spiritually during the trip.

Adverb (henkisesti).

8

Kasvaimen koko kasvaa.

The size of the tumor is growing.

Medical context.

1

Paine kasvaa hallitusta kohtaan.

Pressure is growing against the government.

Metaphorical pressure.

2

Kuoro kasvoi mahtavaksi loppua kohden.

The choir grew magnificent towards the end.

Descriptive growth.

3

Kasvava epävarmuus varjostaa markkinoita.

Growing uncertainty overshadows the markets.

Participial phrase.

4

Hänen maineensa kasvoi kansainvälisiin mittoihin.

His reputation grew to international proportions.

Illative plural (mittoihin).

5

Lapsi kasvoi kiinni vanhempiinsa.

The child grew attached to their parents.

Idiomatic 'kasvaa kiinni'.

6

Tietoisuus ympäristöasioista kasvaa jatkuvasti.

Awareness of environmental issues is growing constantly.

Abstract noun (tietoisuus).

7

Kaupungin merkitys kasvoi rautatien myötä.

The city's significance grew with the railway.

Historical context.

8

Jännite kasvoi huippuunsa ennen ottelua.

The tension grew to its peak before the match.

Possessive suffix (huippuunsa).

1

Kuilu todellisuuden ja haaveiden välillä kasvaa.

The chasm between reality and dreams is growing.

Philosophical metaphor.

2

Hän on kasvanut tehtävänsä tasalle.

He has grown to be equal to his task.

Idiomatic 'tason tasalle'.

3

Kasvava monimutkaisuus leimaa nyky-yhteiskuntaa.

Growing complexity characterizes modern society.

Academic register.

4

Teoksen jännite kasvaa vähitellen kohti kliimaksia.

The tension of the work grows gradually towards the climax.

Literary analysis.

5

Hänen kaipuunsa kotiin kasvoi päivä päivältä.

His longing for home grew day by day.

Emotional depth.

6

Väestön ikääntyessä hoivatarve kasvaa eksponentiaalisesti.

As the population ages, the need for care grows exponentially.

Scientific/Statistical register.

7

Kasvun rajat tulevat vastaan.

The limits of growth are being met.

Conceptual idiom.

8

Sivistys kasvaa hiljaisuudessa.

Culture/Education grows in silence.

Poetic aphorism.

Common Collocations

talous kasvaa
korkoa kasvaa
pituutta kasvaa
parta kasvaa
metsä kasvaa
paine kasvaa
ero kasvaa
vastuu kasvaa
koko kasvaa
määrä kasvaa

Common Phrases

kasvaa aikuiseksi

— To grow up to be an adult.

Hän haluaa kasvaa aikuiseksi nopeasti.

kasvaa ulos

— To grow out of something (like clothes).

Lapsi kasvoi ulos kengistänsä.

kasvaa kiinni

— To grow attached to or to grow shut.

Haava kasvoi kiinni.

kasvaa korkoa

— To accrue interest or to become more valuable over time.

Hyvä maine kasvaa korkoa.

kasvaa isoksi

— To grow big/tall.

Kun minä kasvan isoksi, minusta tulee poliisi.

kasvaa kieroon

— To grow crooked (literally or metaphorically).

Puu kasvoi kieroon rinteessä.

kasvaa kohisten

— To grow very rapidly (literally 'with a rushing sound').

Ruoho kasvaa kohisten sateen jälkeen.

kasvaa pituutta

— To grow in height.

Oletko kasvanut pituutta viime näkemästä?

kasvaa yli

— To grow over something or to exceed a limit.

Pensaat kasvoivat aidan yli.

kasvaa täyteen mittaansa

— To grow to one's full size/potential.

Koira on kasvanut täyteen mittaansa.

Idioms & Expressions

"kasvaa horsmaa"

— To be dead (literally 'to grow willowherb', similar to 'pushing up daisies').

Hän on kasvanut horsmaa jo vuosia.

Informal/Dark humor
"ruoho kasvaa hänen jalkojensa alla"

— Used to describe someone who is slow or lazy (usually in the negative: 'ei anna ruohon kasvaa...').

Hän ei anna ruohon kasvaa jalkojensa alla.

Idiomatic
"kasvaa korkoa"

— To wait for a better time or for something to improve in value.

Annettiin asian kasvaa korkoa.

Metaphorical
"kasvaa kieroon"

— To develop a bad character due to poor upbringing.

Hän kasvoi kieroon huonossa seurassa.

Metaphorical
"kasvun paikka"

— An opportunity for personal growth or a moment of learning from a mistake.

Tämä virhe oli hänelle kasvun paikka.

Common
"kasvukivut"

— Growing pains (literally or regarding a new project/organization).

Uudella yrityksellä on kasvukipuja.

Standard
"kasvaa kiinni johonkin"

— To become emotionally very attached to something or someone.

Hän kasvoi kiinni kotikaupunkiinsa.

Emotional
"antaa kaikkien kukkien kasvaa"

— To be tolerant of all kinds of people/opinions.

Demokratiassa annetaan kaikkien kukkien kasvaa.

Political/Social
"kasvaa yli päätään"

— For a situation to become unmanageable (to grow over one's head).

Työt kasvoivat hänellä yli pään.

Informal
"kasvaa pituutta"

— Often used jokingly when someone makes a mistake or is naive.

Kasva vielä vähän pituutta ennen kuin neuvot minua.

Sarcastic

Word Family

Nouns

kasvu (growth)
kasvain (tumor)
kasvatus (upbringing/breeding)
kasvusto (vegetation)
kasvatti (protege/foster child)
kasvi (plant)

Verbs

kasvattaa (to grow something/raise)
kasvattua (to be grown/developed)
kasvehtia (to vegetate)

Adjectives

kasvava (growing)
kasvullinen (vegetative)
kasvukelpoinen (viable for growth)

Related

elää (to live)
kehittyä (to develop)
suurentua (to enlarge)
vahvistua (to strengthen)
varttua (to mature)
Sign up free to see all examples

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'CASK' of water helping a flower 'VA' (vastly) grow. KAS-VA-A.

Visual Association

Visualize a seedling pushing through the soil, getting taller with every second. As it goes up, you say 'kasvaa'.

Word Web

Nature Height Economy Children Hair Interest Population Plants

Challenge

Try to find 5 things in your room or outside that are currently 'kasvaa' and name them in Finnish.

Word Origin

The word 'kasvaa' has deep Proto-Finnic roots. It is shared across most Finnic languages (e.g., Estonian 'kasvama').

Original meaning: The original meaning is related to increasing in size or quantity, specifically in a natural, organic way.

Uralic / Finnic.

Cultural Context

English speakers often struggle because 'grow' is used for both 'growing up' and 'growing vegetables'. In Finnish, you must use 'kasvattaa' for the latter.

'Kasvun ihme' (The Miracle of Growth) - a common theme in Finnish nature documentaries. The concept of 'Kasvun rajat' (Limits to Growth) is a staple in Finnish environmental debate. The song 'Pieni mies' by Jukka Kuoppamäki mentions growing up.
Sign up free for tips & notes

Related Content

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!