Finnish for busy people

Syödä and Eating – Closely-Related Verbs

There is a super large amount of words related to syödä “eating”. In this article, we’ll go over some of the verbs you could be using to express that you’re eating, as well as go over some verbs that express HOW you’re eating. In addition, we will be looking at more abstract uses of the verb syödä.

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  1. Syödä – Eating
  2. Ruoka-aika – Meal time
  3. Ahmiminen – Greedy eating
  4. Ruoan pureskelu – Chewing food
  5. Muita verbejä – Other verbs
  6. Eläimet – Animals
  7. Syödä – Eating – Abstract uses
  8. Sayings with the verb syödä

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1. Syödä – Eating

Finnish English
syödä to eat
syödä hyvin to eat a nice meal
syödä liikaa to overeat
syödä tarpeeksi to eat enough
syödä lautanen tyhjäksi to clear one’s plate
syödä loppuun to finish eating
syödä ulkona to eat out
syödä kotona to eat at home
syödä kylläiseksi to eat one’s fill
syödä kyllikseen to eat one’s fill
syödä eväitä to eat food brought from home
syödä vatsansa täyteen to fill one’s stomach
syödä aamupalaksi muroja to eat cereal for breakfast
syödä kunnon ateria to eat a proper meal
syödä terveellisesti to eat healthily
syödä epäterveellisesti to eat unhealthily
syödä hyvällä ruokahalulla to eat with a good appetite
syödä e-pillereitä to take birth control
syödä D-vitamiinia to take D-vitamins
syödä lääkkeitä to take one’s medicine
syödä kynsiä to bite one’s nails
syödä kuin lintu to eat like a bird (not much)
syödä kuin hevonen to eat like a horse (a lot)
syödä puikoilla to eat with chopsticks
syödä lusikalla to eat with a spoon

2. Ruoka-Aika – Meal Time

Finnish English
aterioida to eat a meal
nauttia ateria to have a meal
ruokailla to have a meal
illastaa to have dinner
illallistaa to dine
syödä aamiaista to eat breakfast
aamiaistaa to have breakfast
syödä lounasta to eat lunch
lounastaa to have lunch
syödä välipalaa to eat a snack
syödä iltapalaa to eat an evening snack
syödä päivällistä to eat dinner
syödä ilallista to eat a fancy dinner
murkinoida to eat a meal (spoken)

3. Ahmininen – Greedy Eating

Finnish English
Syödä ahneesti To eat greedily
ahmia to gulp down
ahmaista to gulp down
hotkia to wolf down quickly
hotkaista to gobble up without chewing
mässäillä to gobble up lot of good food
mättää ruokaa suuhun to shovel food in your mouth
syöpötellä to binch, overindulge
popsia to eat bite-size things greedily
napostella to snack (e.g. pähkinöitä)
natustella to munch (e.g. potato chips)

4. Ruoan pureskelu – Chewing food

Finnish English
jauhaa to chew
pureskella to chew (e.g. bubble gum)
pureksia to chew repeatedly
haukata to bite a piece off
mutustaa to chew slowly
mutustella to chew slowly
natustaa to eat by chewing slowly
nakertaa to nibble, eat with small bites
rouskutella to munch repeatedly

5. Muita Verbejä – Other Verbs

Finnish English
syöttää lusikalla to feed with a spoon
imeä to suck
imeskellä suck (e.g. lollipop)
niellä to swallow
maistaa to taste
dipata to dip
laihduttaa to be on a diet
maiskutella to eat in a noisy manner
safkata to eat (spoken)
tyydyttää nälkänsä to satisfy one’s hunger
herkutella to feast
röyhtäistä to burp
sulattaa to digest
ravita to nourish
käydä piknikillä to go on a picnic
käydä pöytään to go to the table
käydä käsiksi ateriaan to tackle a meal

6. Eläimet – Animals

Below, you can find some verbs related to feeding animals and the ways animals eat.

Finnish English
ruokkia linnut to feed the birds
antaa ruokaa to give food
kaluta to gnaw (e.g. a bone)
nokkia to peck
märehtiä to chew, ruminate
nakertaa to gnaw (e.g. a hole)
näykkiä to nibble (e.g. as a fish)
käyttää ravintonaan to feed on

7. Syödä – Eating – Abstract Uses

In the table below, I’ve focused on more abstract uses of syödä.

Finnish English
Epävarmuus syö minua sisältä. Uncertainty eats me from inside.
Koulu syö vapaa-aikani. Work eats my free time.
Kulut syövät lentoyhtiöiden tulosta. The costs eat the airlines’ profit.
Auto syö vähemmän polttoainetta. The car consumes less fuel.
Inflaatio syö säästöjä. Inflation eats savings.
S-market on syönyt pikkukaupat. S-market has supplanted small shops.

8. Sayings with the verb syödä

  • Syödä jonkun kädestä.
    Literally: “To eat from someone’s hand.”
    Meaning: To react submissively, gullibly to someone’s words.
  • Syödä sanansa.
    Literally: “To eat one’s word.”
    Meaning: To break one’s promise OR to retract one’s statements.
  • Syödä jotakuta silmillään.
    Literally: “To eat someone with one’s eyes.”
    Meaning: To stare at someone greedily, lustfully, steadfastly.
  • Syödä niin, että napa naukkuu.
    Literally: “To eat thus that the belly button squeaks.”
    Meaning: To overeat, stuff one’s face.
  • Syön vanhan hattuni, ellen ole oikeassa.
    Literally: “I will eat my old hat, if I’m not right.”
    Meaning: I’m absolutely certain I’m right.
  • Aikainen lintu mato syö.
    Literally: “The early bird eats the worm.”
    Meaning: It pays off to turn up early.
  • Rohkea rokan syö.
    Literally: “The brave person eats the pea soup.”
    Meaning: He who dares to try will enjoy the results.
  • Kenen leipää syöt, sen lauluja laulat.
    Literally: “Whose bread you eat, their songs you’ll sing.”
    Meaning: Do what is in the best interest of the person who takes care of you.
  • Nopeat syövät hitaat.
    Literally: “The quick eat the slow.”
    Meaning: You should act quickly.
  • Syödessä nälkä kasvaa.
    Literally: “While eating, hunger grows.”
    Meaning: When you get a taste of something, you want more of it.
  • Aprillia, syö silliä, juo suolavettä/kuravettä päälle.
    Literally: “April Fools, eat herring, drink salt water / muddy water.”
    Meaning: Rhyme said when fooling someone on April Fool’s

That’s it for verbs related to syödä “eating”. Hopefully you learned something new, regardless of what level you are currently at! We have many articles related to food on the vocabulary page!

11 Comments

  • How would you say to feed someone? Like a baby or a patient? Is it ruokkia as well, as for the birds?
    Thanks!

  • Whenever food is ready, my mother in law will not say Syödään. Instead she says Syömään. It drives me nuts because I can’t figure out why she’d use the 3rd illative infinitive over the passive form, in this case “Let’s eat”.

    • Yes, thanks for that. I was still quite early in my studies and had never made the connection that tule was dropped that whole entire time.

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