voida

From Proto-Finnic *voidak, from Proto-Uralic *woje-.

• IPA^(key): /ˈʋoi̯dɑˣ/, [ˈʋo̞i̯dɑ̝(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -oidɑ
• Hyphenation^(key): voi‧da

voida

1. (auxiliary + first infinitive) can, to be able to, to be capable

   Synonyms: kyetä, pystyä, (in the past tense) saattaa

   tehdä voitavansa ― to do what one can, to do one's best

   En voinut olla nauramatta.

   I couldn't help laughing.

2. (auxiliary + first infinitive) can, may, might, to be possible

   Synonym: saattaa

   Teline voi kaatua.

   The stand/rack may fall over.

3. (auxiliary + first infinitive, in the conditional mood) could

   Voisitko auttaa minua?

   Could you please help me?

   Voisin juosta, jos haluaisin.

   I could run if I wanted.

4. (auxiliary + first infinitive, see usage notes) may, to be allowed (to), to be permitted (to)

   Synonym: saada

   Voinko avata ikkunan?

   May I open the window?

5. (auxiliary + first infinitive) can, to be acceptable, appropriate or justified (to); (with negative) should, must (not)

   Synonym: sopia

   Voiko tälläistä kysyä?

   Can I ask something like this?

   Sen vaikutusta ei voi vähätellä.

   Its effect should not be underestimated.

   Hänen rooliaan perheen hyvinvoinnin edistämisessä ei voi myöskään aliarvioida.

   Neither should her role in improving the family's wellbeing be belittled.

6. (intransitive) to be, feel, do, fare (to enquire or talk about wellbeing)

   Kuinka voitte?

   How are you? / How are you doing?

   En voi kovin hyvin.

   I'm not feeling too well.

• Being completely identical to the present forms, the past forms in positive sentences are very often replaced with the respective forms of the verb kyetä or pystyä:

  Voin nauraa. (present positive)

  I can laugh.

  En voinut nauraa. (past negative)

  I could not laugh.

  Voin nauraa. → Kykenin nauramaan. (past positive)

  I could laugh.

• Some may perceive the usage of voida for "may" as incorrect (similarly to can being used for permission) and instead advise to use saada.

• “voida”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[1] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-04

• vodia

voida f sg (Old Dauphinois)

1. Alternative form of vouedo (“empty”)

• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “*vŏcĭtus”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volumes 14: U–Z, page 589

From Proto-Finnic *voidak.

voida

1. be able

From Proto-Finnic *voidak.

voida

1. can, to be able

• Zajceva, N. G., Mullonen, M. I. (2007) “мочь, смочь”, in Uz’ venä-vepsläine vajehnik / Novyj russko-vepsskij slovarʹ [New Russian–Veps Dictionary]‎^[2], Petrozavodsk: Periodika