Kohtelevat

Kohtelevat is a Finnish verb form that appears in everyday language to express how a group of subjects acts toward others or toward something. It is the third-person plural present indicative form of the verb kohdella, which means to treat, handle, or regard. The form is used when the subject is plural, such as people, organizations, or groups, and it indicates ongoing or general behavior.

In grammatical terms, kohtelevat is formed by taking the verb stem and adding the plural present tense ending -vat (with vowel harmony applied as appropriate). The corresponding singular form is kohtelee, while the past tense and other moods are expressed with their respective endings. As with other Finnish verbs, the exact meaning of kohtelevat is determined by context and the object of the action.

Usage notes cover both social and instrumental senses of the verb. It can describe how someone treats another person or group (for example, treating employees fairly or addressing concerns with respect) as well as how someone handles a situation or task (such as how officials or institutions treat inquiries or cases). The nuance can range from neutral to evaluative, depending on surrounding language and tone.

Examples:

- He kohtelevat asiakkaitaan hyvin. (They treat their customers well.)

- Hallinto-kohtelevat hakijoita tasapuolisesti. (The administration treats applicants impartially.)

Kohtelevat is part of everyday Finnish and participates in the broader set of verbs that describe social behavior and treatment. As a regularly formed verb in the present indicative, it is typically straightforward to conjugate once the infinitive and stem are known.