Likaantuneen

Likaantuneen is a Finnish word form that derives from the verb likaantua, meaning to become dirty or stained. It functions as an adjective form related to a past participle, used to describe something that has become dirty. In standard Finnish, likantuneen appears as the genitive singular form of the attributive adjective likantunut, and is commonly found before a noun in contexts that require a possessive or connected sense, especially in formal or descriptive prose.

Grammatically, likantuneen is part of a broader pattern where adjectives formed from past participles reflect a state resulting from an action. The base form likantunut changes with case and number, and likantuneen represents the singular genitive in many constructions. This morphology allows speakers to convey that the object’s dirty state is a property attributed to it or its owner, depending on the surrounding noun and structure.

Usage and stylistic notes: likantuneen is more typical in written Finnish than in everyday speech. It often appears in descriptive passages, journalism with a formal tone, and literary language where precise nuance about wear or staining is intended. While its everyday equivalents exist (for example, simpler phrases using likainen or a plain noun-adjective pairing), likantuneen adds a layer of formality and specificity about the result of dirt or contamination.

See also: Finnish grammar, adjectives from participles, Finnish vocabulary.