Keinuvat

Keinuvat is a Finnish verb form meaning “they sway” or “are swaying.” It is the present indicative, third person plural of the verb keinua, which means to rock, swing, or pendulate. The form reflects a plural subject and is commonly used in descriptive contexts to indicate motion caused by wind, motion, or other forces.

Grammatically, keinuvat is a finite verb form that agrees with a plural subject. The corresponding singular present form is keinuu (he/she/it sways). The verb keinua belongs to everyday Finnish vocabulary and is frequently used in both neutral prose and more expressive writing to convey gentle or rhythmic movement.

Usage and nuance: keinuvat is typically employed to describe observable, ongoing swaying actions. It can describe natural phenomena (for example, trees or vessels moving in wind) or human-made objects that rock or oscillate. In weather reports, travel descriptions, or literary passages, the word helps convey a sense of motion and atmosphere without specifying the agent of the movement.

Examples:

- Laivat keinuvat merellä. (The ships sway at sea.)

- Koivut keinuvat tuulessa. (The birches sway in the wind.)

Etymology and related forms: keinua is the base verb; -vat is the standard plural present indicative ending in Finnish for third person plural. Related forms include keinuu (singular present) and related participial or nominal derivatives formed from the same root.

See also: Finnish grammar, verbs, present tense, keinua.