Leikkaavat

Leikkaavat is a Finnish verb form meaning they cut or they are cutting. It is the third-person plural present tense (present indicative) of the verb that means to cut. As a finite form, leikkaavat is used with plural subjects and typically takes a partitive object in Finnish, for example when describing cutting actions performed on materials or body parts.

Usage and meanings

Leikkaavat is commonly used for everyday actions such as cutting wood, vegetables, or hair. It can describe both physical cutting and more abstract or regular activities. In addition to ordinary action, the form appears in geometric contexts to express that two lines or figures intersect, for example in phrases like Two lines intersect (Kaksi suoraa leikkaavat toisensa). The same verb can appear in related forms, such as the infinitive, past tense, or participles, to convey different times and aspects.

Participle use

In present active participle form, the root leikkaava (cutting) can modify nouns in plural form, producing phrases like leikkaavat veitset, meaning cutting knives. In this usage, leikkaavat functions adjectivally to describe the noun rather than acting as a standalone finite verb.

Examples

- He leikkaavat puuta joka päivä. (They cut wood every day.)

- He leikkaavat hiuksiaan parturissa. (They are cutting their hair at the barber.)

- Kaksi suoraa leikkaavat toisensa. (Two lines intersect.)

Etymology and related forms

The form derives from the Finnish verb meaning to cut. Related forms include the infinitive and past tense variants, the present participle leikkaava, and related nouns such as leikkaus (a cut or incision). Leikkaavat itself is strictly a finite form used with plural subjects.