Kuultujen

Kuultujen is the genitive plural form of the Finnish past passive participle kuultu, derived from the verb kuulla (to hear). In Finnish grammar, participles can function as adjectives and, in some cases, as parts of noun phrases. Kuultujen modifies a noun in the genitive plural, and it is most commonly seen in fixed expressions that indicate hearsay.

The most well-known usage is in the expression kuultujen huhujen mukaan, meaning “according to what has been heard” or “according to rumors.” This construction signals that the information is secondhand and not verified directly by the speaker. It is frequent in journalism, summaries, and narrative prose, where the speaker wishes to hedge a claim or attribute it to external sources.

Usage notes and nuance:

- Kuultujen is typically paired with nouns in the genitive plural, such as huhujen (rumors) or lähteiden (sources).

- The phrase generally conveys uncertainty and hedges statements, as opposed to stating facts.

- In formal writing, the same idea can be expressed with more direct phrasing or with sources cited, but kuultujen huhujen mukaan remains a common colloquial and journalistic form.

Examples:

- Kuultujen huhujen mukaan päätös tehtiin tänään. (According to the rumors heard, the decision was made today.)

- Kuultujen lähteiden mukaan projekti etenee suunnitellusti. (According to the heard sources, the project is progressing as planned.)

See also:

Finnish grammar, participles, and phrases indicating hearsay.