tavata

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɑʋɑtɑˣ/, [ˈt̪ɑʋɑt̪ɑ(ʔ)]
• Hyphenation: ta‧va‧ta
• Rhymes: avata, ravata

From Proto-Finnic [Term?], probably from Proto-Germanic *dabaną. Cognate to Ingrian tavata, Karelian tavata, Votic tavata, Estonian tabada, Ludian tabada, Livonian ta'bbõ (“to guess, to solve a riddle”).[1] Sometimes compared with Votic tupàni (“to fit”), Komi-Zyrian [script needed] (topedni, “to squeeze, to combine, to join”), Hungarian tapad (“to cling, stick”), tapaszt (“to stick, to plaster”).

tavata

1. (transitive + accusative) to meet

   Tapaan hänet teatterin edessä.

   I'll meet her in front of the theater.

2. to meet up (to meet by arrangement)

   Kun ensi kerran tulet kaupunkiin, meidän pitäisi tavata jossakin.

   The next time you come in town we should meet up somewhere.

3. (transitive) to find, to catch

   Mutta jos teidät vielä tavataan tappelemasta, tulkitsen sen yksiselitteisesti tottelemattomuudeksi.

   But if you are found fighting another time, I will unequivocally interpret that as disobedience.

4. (transitive) to meet, to reach, to touch.

   Nostin jalkaa, kunnes se tapasi kynnyksen.

   I rose my leg until it met the threshold.

   Käsi tapaa ovenkahvaa. Se ei hievahdakaan.

   Hand touches the door handle. It doesn't move the slightest.

5. (intransitive, + illative) to touch, feel.

   Hän työnsi kätensä tyynyn alle ja tapasi johonkin kovaan.

   She put her hand under the pillow and felt something hard.

• nouns: tapaus, tapaaminen, tavoite, tapaturma
• verbs: tapailla, tapahtaa (archaic), tapahtua

• (to meet): kohdata
• (to find, to catch): yhdyttää, yhyttää
• (to reach): osua
• (to touch): koskea

• tappaa
• taputtaa

Either from the same Germanic source as etymology 1 or from tapa +‎ -ta.

tavata

1. (transitive, auxiliary, + infinitive) To have a habit (of doing something), to usually (do) (something), used to (do) (something) (past tense sense), to tend to be

   Lapsuudessa tapasin syödä aamuisin leipää ja kaakaota.

   I used to have bread and cocoa in the morning in my childhood.

   Meitä tavattiin kutsua onnenlinnuiksi.

   We used to be called lucky birds.

   Tapaan syödä myöhään illalla.

   I tend to eat late in the evening.

• (colloquial) tupata (“to tend (to be in certain manner)”)

From Swedish stava (“to spell”).

tavata

1. (transitive) To spell (a word; to pronounce a word letter by letter).
2. (transitive) To decipher (to read obscure or almost illegible text).

• nouns: tavu
• verbs: frequentative tavailla