Lähentyvät

Lähentyvät is a Finnish verb form meaning “they approach” or “they come closer.” It is the present tense, third-person plural form of the intransitive verb lähentyä, which describes becoming closer in space or in a figurative sense, such as converging ideas or relationships.

Usage and meaning

Lähentyä is used to indicate that two or more entities are moving toward one another or toward a common point. The sense can be literal, as when two towns draw nearer, or figurative, such as relations between countries or groups becoming closer. The form lähentyvät is applicable whenever the subject is plural. For example: Kaupungit lähentyvät. Kansakuntien suhteet lähentyvät. Lähentyminen can function as a noun referring to the process of approaching or becoming closer.

Grammar notes

Lähentyä is an intransitive verb, so its present tense forms describe the subject’s action rather than transferring action to an object. The present plural ending for this verb is -vät, yielding lähentyvät (they approach). The past tense form is lähentyivät (they approached). Related forms include the infinitive lähentyä and the verbal noun lähentyminen.

Related concepts

Lähentyminen (the process of getting closer), lähestyä (a transitive form meaning to bring closer or to approach), and etääntyä (to move away) are closely related in meaning and usage within Finnish.

See also

Lähestyä, etääntyä, lähentyminen.