Epäonnistu

Epäonnistu is a Finnish verb meaning to fail or be unsuccessful. It is formed by adding the negating prefix ep- to the root onnu- tied to the verb onnistaa/onnistua, which means to succeed. The word is intransitive and typically describes events, attempts, plans or actions that do not achieve their intended result.

In practical use, epäonnistu is conjugated like other Finnish verbs. The present tense is epäonnistuu, as in Projettimme epäonnistuu—our project is failing. The simple past tense is epäonnistui, for example Yritys epäonnistui. The perfect present form is on epäonnistunut, as in Projekti on epäonnistunut. The corresponding passive or perfective nuances are conveyed with appropriate auxiliary verbs, while the related noun epäonnistuminen refers to the act or state of failing.

The past participle epäonnistunut is commonly used as an adjective, e.g., epäonnistunut yritys (a failed business). The noun epäonnistuminen denotes the occurrence of failure, often used to discuss outcomes, causes or consequences of unsuccessful efforts. The word can appear in both formal and informal registers, and is frequently used in reporting, analysis, sports, business, and technical contexts.

See also: onnistu, epäonnistuminen, onnistuminen. Etymologically, epäonnistu reflects the productive Finnish pattern of forming negated verbs with ep- attached to existing verbs, allowing clear distinction between success and failure in description and analysis.