Peräävä

Peräävä is a Finnish word that translates to "tailing" or "following closely" in English. It describes the act of following behind someone or something, often in a way that suggests pursuit or observation. The term can be used in both literal and figurative contexts.

Literally, peräävä can refer to a vehicle following another vehicle on the road, or an animal tracking its prey. For instance, one might say a police car is peräävä a suspect's vehicle. In a more general sense, it can describe a person walking behind another person, perhaps for safety or to keep up.

Figuratively, peräävä can imply surveillance or espionage. A detective might be peräävä a person of interest, or a journalist might be peräävä a story. It can also be used to describe a situation where one entity is lagging behind another in progress or development. For example, a country's economy might be peräävä that of its neighbors. The nuance of the word often depends on the context in which it is used. It doesn't necessarily carry a negative connotation, but can imply a degree of persistence or determination in the act of following.