Heikkenä

Heikkenä is a Finnish intransitive verb meaning to become weaker or to deteriorate in strength, health, performance, or quality. It is used to describe changes that occur on their own rather than actions taken by an agent. The word is closely related to the adjective heikko (weak) and is often used for physical condition, stamina, weather, or abstract qualities such as influence or economy.

In usage, heikkenä contrasts with the transitive verb heikentää, which means to cause someone or something to become weaker. For example, heikkenä describes a process that happens to a subject (kunto, sää, talous), while heikentää describes an action that weakens something else.

A common noun form is heikkeneminen, which denotes the process of weakening or deterioration. Related verbs and nouns appear in contexts such as health, strength, or intensity of conditions.

Examples include:

- Kunto heikkenee talven aikana. (Condition weakens during the winter.)

- Säätila heikkeni nopeasti myrskän lähestyessä. (The weather deteriorated quickly as the storm approached.)

- Talouden tila heikkeni epävaruuden lisääntyessä. (The economic situation weakened as uncertainty increased.)

Notes:

- Use heikkenä for intransitive deterioration; use heikentää when describing an action that weakens something.

- Antonyms include vahvistua or voimistua, meaning to strengthen or become stronger.