Sopeutuneet

Sopeutuneet is a Finnish word meaning "adapted" or "adjusted." It is the plural past participle form of the verb sopeutua and is used as an adjective to describe entities that have become accustomed to or modified to fit new conditions. The singular form is sopeutunut, and the plural form is sopeutuneet.

The word can be used attributively, for example sopeutuneet maahanmuuttajat (the adapted immigrants), or predicatively in clauses with a auxiliary verb, as in Ihmiset ovat sopeutuneet hyvin (The people have adapted well). In biology and ecology, sopeutuneet describes organisms that have developed traits allowing them to survive or thrive in a particular environment. In social sciences, it can refer to people or groups that have integrated into a new society or culture.

Related terms include sopeutuminen (the process of adaptation) and sopeutumiskyky (adaptability). The usage often implies a successful or satisfactory adaptation, though the exact nuance depends on context. Antonyms such as sopeutumattomat or sopeutumattomuus describe lack of adaptation or failure to adjust. The form sopeutuneet agrees in number and case with the noun it modifies and can appear in various syntactic positions, reflecting Finnish’s rich participial and adjectival system.