Pelastautuu

Pelastautuu is a Finnish verb meaning to save oneself from danger or to make one’s way to safety. It is used when the subject actively escapes a hazardous situation, rather than being rescued by someone else. Typical contexts include fires, floods, accidents, or other threats where a person must get to safety on their own. The act can also be described as escaping to a secure place or getting away from immediate danger.

Grammar and usage: Pelastautua is an intransitive, reflexive verb. The action refers to the subject’s own efforts to reach safety. The infinitive is pelastautua; the present tense third-person singular form is pelastautuu; the past tense form is pelastautui. The past participle is pelastautunut, used in passive or perfect constructions, and pelastautuva serves as a present participle meaning “escaping.”

Common usage notes: Pelastautuminen is the noun form for the act of saving oneself. It contrasts with pelastaa (to rescue someone or something) and pelastus (rescue, saving). Pelastautua is often paired with phrases such as turvaan (to safety) or pois vaarasta (away from danger), and is used across contexts from personal emergencies to safety training and emergency planning.

Examples:

- Hän pelastautui tulipalosta ja pääsi turvaan.

- Pelastautuminen vaatii nopeaa toimintaa ja tilannetajua.

- Pelastautumisensa jälkeen hän kertoi, miten tilanne ratkaistiin.

See also: pelastaa, pelastus, hätätilanne, pelastussuunnitelma.