Tukeutuvat

Tukeutuvat is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Finnish verb tukeutua, which means to lean on or to rely on. The term covers both physical leaning and figurative reliance, such as basing arguments on evidence or turning to traditions as a source of support.

Usage of tukeutua is common in both concrete and abstract contexts. In a physical sense, one can say that structures or objects touch or press against each other and “tukeutuvat toisiinsa” (lean on each other). In a figurative sense, a person, group, or idea can “tukeutua” something—traditions, evidence, norms, or sources of authority—to justify or ground actions or conclusions. The expression often involves noun phrases that denote what is relied upon, such as perinteisiin (traditions) or todistusaineistoon (evidence).

Grammatical notes: tukeutua is an intransitive verb; its present tense forms include minä tukeudun, sinä tukeudut, hän tukeutuu, me tukeudumme, te tukeudutte, he tukeutuvat. The corresponding past tense forms are tukeuduin, tukeuduit, tukeutui, tukeuduimme, tukeuduitte, tukeutuivat. The participle form is tukeutunut, used to describe someone who has leaned on or relied on something. The form tukeutuvat specifically marks a plural subject in the present tense.

See also: the related noun tuki (support) and the verbs tukea (to support) and tukeutua (to lean on, to rely on). In usage, context determines whether the nuance is physical support or methodological or ideological reliance.