Peilaavat

Peilaavat is a Finnish word, the third person plural present form and present participle of the verb peilata, meaning "to mirror" or "to reflect". As a verb form it translates as "they mirror/reflect" and as a participle it functions attributively, describing objects or phenomena that mirror or display something.

Usage and meaning

Peilaavat is used in both literal and figurative contexts. Literally it describes surfaces or media that reflect light, images or signals (for example, "lasit peilaavat valoa" — "the glasses reflect light"). Figuratively it can indicate that something expresses, represents or corresponds to another thing, such as social phenomena, data or opinions ("tulokset peilaavat muuttunutta käytäntöä" — "the results reflect changed practice"). In technical language peilata is used for actions like mirroring data, images or radar echoes.

Grammar and related forms

As a present-tense verb form it agrees with a plural subject. The infinitive is peilata; other related forms include peilaan (1st person singular), peilasi (past), peilannut (present perfect participle). Common near-synonyms include heijastaa (to reflect) and kuvastaa (to depict or reflect in a figurative sense), with subtle differences in register and nuance.

Stylistic notes

Peilaavat appears in everyday, scientific and journalistic Finnish. Choice between peilata, heijastaa and kuvastaa depends on context and precision: peilata often implies a mirroring action or surface, heijastaa emphasizes physical reflection, and kuvastaa leans toward representational meaning.