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Odota minuuttia, minä tarkistan aikataulun.

Odota minuuttia, minä tarkistan aikataulun.
Wait a minute, I’ll check the schedule.

Breakdown of Odota minuuttia, minä tarkistan aikataulun.

minä
I
odottaa
to wait
tarkistaa
to check
minuutti
minute
aikataulu
schedule
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Questions & Answers about Odota minuuttia, minä tarkistan aikataulun.

Why is odota used here, and what form is it?

Odota is the imperative (command) form of the verb odottaa (to wait) for you (singular).

  • odottaa → odota! = Wait!
    If you were addressing more than one person or being more formal, you’d use odottakaa.
Why is it minuuttia and not minuutti?

Because Finnish typically uses the partitive singular with amounts like a minute, two minutes, some time, etc.

  • minuutti = a minute (dictionary form)
  • minuuttia = partitive, often used with “an amount of time”
    So Odota minuuttia is literally like Wait (for) a minute (of time).
Is Odota minuuttia idiomatic Finnish, or is there a more common way to say it?

It’s understandable and used, but very common alternatives are:

  • Odota hetki. = Wait a moment.
  • Odota vähän. = Wait a bit.
  • Hetkinen! = Just a moment! (very common, casual)
Why is there a comma: Odota minuuttia, minä tarkistan aikataulun?

Finnish often uses a comma to separate two independent clauses, especially when the second clause has an explicit subject:

  • Odota minuuttia, minä tarkistan aikataulun.
    It’s similar to English Wait a minute, I’ll check the schedule.
    You can also see the same idea written as two sentences:
  • Odota minuuttia. Minä tarkistan aikataulun.
Do you have to include minä? Why not just Tarkistan aikataulun?

You don’t have to. Finnish verb endings already show the subject:

  • (Minä) tarkistan = I check / I’ll check
    Including minä adds emphasis or clarity (like I in English):
  • Odota, minä tarkistan... can feel like Hold on, I’ll check...
What tense is tarkistan—present or future?

Formally it’s present tense, but Finnish present often covers near-future intentions too.
So minä tarkistan aikataulun can mean:

  • I’m checking the schedule (right now), or
  • I’ll check the schedule (immediately / next)

Context usually makes it clear.

Why is it aikataulun and not aikataulu?

Aikataulun is the genitive form of aikataulu (schedule/timetable). With many verbs, the object can appear in a genitive-like “total object” form when the action is seen as complete (checking the schedule as a whole).

  • tarkistan aikataulun ≈ I’ll check the schedule (as a complete task)

A common alternative is partitive when the action is ongoing/partial:

  • tarkistan aikataulua ≈ I’m checking the schedule / looking over the schedule (process-focused)
Is aikataulu always the schedule, or can it be a schedule?

Finnish has no articles (a/the), so aikataulu can be either a schedule or the schedule. The intended meaning comes from context. In this sentence it’s naturally understood as the relevant schedule (e.g., the train timetable).

Can the word order change? For example, Minä tarkistan aikataulun, odota minuuttia?

Yes, word order is flexible, but it changes emphasis and naturalness. Common, natural options:

  • Odota minuuttia, minä tarkistan aikataulun. (very natural)
  • Odota, minä tarkistan aikataulun. (very common)
  • Minä tarkistan aikataulun, odota minuuttia. sounds more like an afterthought in Finnish.
How would I say this politely to a stranger?

Use the plural/formal te imperative:

  • Odottakaa hetki, tarkistan aikataulun. = Please wait a moment, I’ll check the schedule.
    You can also add softeners like:
  • Anteeksi, odottakaa hetki... = Sorry, please wait a moment...
How do I negate it: Don’t wait a minute, I’ll check the schedule or Wait a minute, I won’t check?

Two different negations:

1) Don’t wait (negative imperative):

  • Älä odota minuuttia... (singular you)
  • Älkää odottako... (plural/formal)

2) I won’t check (negative verb in 1st person):

  • Minä en tarkista aikataulua / aikataulun
    Usually aikataulua (partitive) sounds more natural here, but context matters.
How is this pronounced, especially the double letters?

Key points: Finnish double letters are longer.

  • Odota: stress on first syllable: O-do-ta
  • minuuttia: mi-nuut-ti-a (long uu, then double tt)
  • tarkistan: tar-kis-tan
  • aikataulun: ai-ka-tau-lun

Length matters: minuutti vs minuuti would sound wrong to Finnish ears.