Panna means "to put, place, set." It is a Type 3 verb — infinitive in consonant + -na — so it follows the tulla model: drop -na, add a linking -e- for the personal stem (pane-), but build the participle and passive on the bare consonant stem pan-, where the following n assimilates. There is no gradation. One thing you must learn before using it freely, though, has nothing to do with grammar — see the register note below.
Principal parts
| Infinitive | Present 1sg | Present 3sg | Past 1sg | Past participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| panna | panen | panee | panin | pannut |
Personal stem pane- (with the linking -e-); the 3sg lengthens it to panee, the past drops it before -i- (pani). The participle is pan- + -nut → pannut (the n of the ending fuses with the stem n into a double nn).
Present and past
| Person | Present | Past (imperfect) |
|---|---|---|
| minä | panen | panin |
| sinä | panet | panit |
| hän | panee | pani |
| me | panemme | panimme |
| te | panette | panitte |
| he | panevat | panivat |
| negative | en pane | en pannut / emme panneet |
Panen maidon jääkaappiin ja leivän leipälaatikkoon.
I'll put the milk in the fridge and the bread in the bread box.
Panin avaimet taskuuni, mutta nyt ne ovat kadonneet.
I put the keys in my pocket, but now they've vanished.
Perfect, conditional, imperative
Compound tenses use olla + pannut (plural panneet). The imperative 2sg is the bare stem pane!; the plural is pankaa! (pan- + -kaa).
| Person | Perfect | Conditional | Imperative |
|---|---|---|---|
| minä | olen pannut | panisin | — |
| sinä | olet pannut | panisit | pane! |
| hän | on pannut | panisi | pankoon (formal) |
| me | olemme panneet | panisimme | pankaamme (formal) |
| te | olette panneet | panisitte | pankaa |
| he | ovat panneet | panisivat | pankoot (formal) |
Pane ovi kiinni, käytävästä tulee kylmää vetoa.
Close the door (put it shut), there's a cold draft from the hallway.
Passive
| Tense | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Present | pannaan | ei panna |
| Past | pantiin | ei pantu |
| Perfect | on pantu | ei ole pantu |
Note the split familiar from tulla: the present passive assimilates its -t- into the stem (pan- + -taan → pannaan, double nn), but the past and the past participle keep the -t- (pantiin, pantu).
Uudistus pannaan toimeen heti ensi vuoden alusta.
The reform will be implemented right at the start of next year.
Rection: illative for destination
Panna is a motion-into verb: the place you put something takes the illative ("into"), and the thing you move is a normal object. Do not use the inessive (-ssa, "in") — that describes a static location, not the act of putting.
Opettaja pani meidät istumaan eri puolille luokkaa.
The teacher made us sit on different sides of the classroom.
The last example shows a common extension: panna + a person + the third infinitive can mean "make someone do something" (panna istumaan — "make sit," panna maksamaan — "make pay").
A register trap you must know
In everyday speech, careful speakers often prefer laittaa or asettaa for "put," because panna also has a common (vulgar) sexual meaning ("to have sex with"). Panna is by no means banned — panna toimeen, panna merkille, panna pystyyn are entirely neutral fixed phrases — but with a bare human object it can be misread. When in doubt, laita se pöydälle is the safe everyday choice.
Laita kengät eteiseen, älä jätä niitä keskelle lattiaa.
Put your shoes in the hall, don't leave them in the middle of the floor.
Panen merkille, että olet ollut viime aikoina väsynyt.
I notice that you've been tired lately.
Common Mistakes
❌ Olen jo panut kirjan hyllyyn.
Incorrect — the participle assimilates to double n: pannut.
✅ Olen jo pannut kirjan hyllyyn.
I've already put the book on the shelf.
❌ Panen maidon jääkaapissa.
Incorrect — putting into a place needs the illative (motion), not the inessive.
✅ Panen maidon jääkaappiin.
I'll put the milk in the fridge.
❌ Minä pann sen tähän.
Incorrect — personal forms keep the linking -e-: panen.
✅ Minä panen sen tähän.
I'll put it here.
❌ Asia panaan toimeen ensi viikolla.
Incorrect — the present passive is pannaan (assimilated double n).
✅ Asia pannaan toimeen ensi viikolla.
The matter will be carried out next week.
Key Takeaways
- Two stems: personal pane- (panen, panee, panin, panisin), consonant pan- (participle pannut, imperative pankaa, passive pannaan).
- Passive split: present pannaan (double nn), but past pantiin and participle pantu keep the -t-.
- Illative rection: panna X illativeen — motion into a place, plus a normal object.
- Register: in careful everyday speech, prefer laittaa / asettaa for a bare object; fixed idioms (panna toimeen, panna merkille) stay neutral.
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