Tuhoutuvat

Tuhoutuvat is the third-person plural present tense form of the Finnish verb tuhoutua, meaning that something is perishing or being destroyed. It is used to describe destruction that happens to multiple objects, places, or systems, often as a result of external forces rather than deliberate human action. The verb tuhoutua is intransitive and conveys damage that is typically irreversible or extensive.

Etymology and form: The verb tuhoutua derives from the noun tuho, meaning destruction, with the verb-forming suffix -outua. The form tuhoutuvat corresponds to “they perish” or “they are destroyed” in present time, depending on context. In everyday Finnish, tuhoutua emphasizes the undergoing nature of the damage rather than an agent performing destruction.

Usage and contexts: Tuhoutuvat is common in reporting on natural disasters, wars, fires, erosion, and ecological or cultural loss. It can describe tangible damage—such as buildings or landscapes—as well as more abstract decay of ecosystems or cultural heritage. For example: “Kaupungin vanhat rakennukset tuhoutuvat tulipalossa.” (“The city’s old buildings are destroyed in the fire.”) “Metsän elinympäristöt tuhoutuvat ilmastonmuutoksen vaikutuksesta.” (“Forest habitats are being destroyed due to climate change.”) In historical or scientific writing, the term helps convey the scale and lack of recovery of affected subjects.

See also: tuhoutua, tuho, tuhoama, tuhoutuminen. The concept is closely related to destruction, loss, and irreversible damage in Finnish discourse.