Kuuleva

Kuuleva is a Finnish term formed from the verb kuulla, meaning “to hear.” It functions as a present active participle and as an adjective with the sense of “hearing” or “listening.” In usage, kuuleva describes someone or something that hears or is attentive, and it can also refer to things related to listening, such as listening skills or receptive attitudes.

Grammatically, kuuleva is part of the -va/-vä participle family in Finnish. As an adjective, it agrees with the noun it modifies: for example, kuuleva ihminen (a listening person) or kuulevan korvan (the listening ear, in the genitive). The particle can appear in various inflected forms to match case and number, just like other adjectives derived from verbs.

In everyday and literary Finnish, kuuleva is often used to emphasize attentiveness or receptiveness. Phrases such as kuuleva korva (“a listening ear”) are common figurative uses that highlight a willingness to listen and understand. The term can also describe people who actively listen in conversations, classrooms, or counseling contexts, conveying a sense of empathy and openness to other perspectives.

Translations into English include “listening,” “attentive,” or “hearing,” depending on context. As a linguistic form, kuuleva is a standard Finnish participle-adjective and a tool for signaling attention to speech and communication.