This is the 748th most frequent Finnish word.
lasta
The Finnish word "lasta" means "child" in the partitive case or "a spatula."
Here, 'lasta' is again in the partitive case, showing that the action of giving candy is directed toward an undefined amount related to 'lapsi' (a child).
Hän antoi lasta kädessään karkkia.
He/she gave a child in his/her hand candy.
In this example, 'lasta' refers to 'spatula,' which is its nominative form here used as the subject of the sentence, indicating a different word entirely that happens to share the form.
Keittiön lasta oli kaapissa.
The kitchen spatula was in the cabinet.
"Lasta" here is the partitive singular form of "lapsi" (child), used to express an ongoing or incomplete action towards the child.