Rappeutua

Rappeutua is a Finnish intransitive verb meaning to deteriorate, degenerate, or decay. It is used for gradual negative changes in many contexts, including the physical condition of living beings, health, and aging, as well as the state of objects, buildings, environments, and even abstract situations such as morale or social conditions.

The noun form rappeutuminen denotes deterioration or degeneration, while rappeutuva describes something that is deteriorating. In usage, rappeutua often appears with expressions of time or aging, for example describing how conditions worsen "iän myötä" (with age) or as a result of wear and time. It can apply to both concrete subjects, such as structures and metals, and more abstract states, such as a deteriorating situation.

Common contexts include medical or biological degeneration, where degenerative processes affect tissues or organs; in engineering or materials science, where wood, metal, or concrete may deteriorate under moisture, corrosion, or stress; and in cultural or ecological discussions, where environments or communities are described as rappeutuva or rappeutuneet. In all cases, the term conveys a trajectory toward poorer condition rather than a sudden change.

The word is native Finnish and forms part of everyday vocabulary, with various related expressions that describe different aspects or speeds of decline. See also related Finnish terms for deterioration and aging, such as rappeutumisen ja rappeutuneiden tilojen käsittely.