Vähentynyt

Vähentynyt is a Finnish word that functions as the past participle of the intransitive verb vähentyä, meaning to decrease or diminish. It is used as an adjective or predicative complement to indicate that something has become smaller in amount, number, intensity, or extent. Examples include a sentence like “Päästöt ovat vähentyneet” (Emissions have decreased) or “vähentynyt määrä” (decreased amount).

Usage and nuances

Vähentynyt describes a result rather than the act of reducing. It is commonly found in statistical, economic, environmental, and health contexts to report changes over time. The form can modify nouns in various cases, for example: “vähentynyt määrä” (nominative), “vähentyneen määrän” (genitive), “vähentyneessä tilanteessa” (in a decreased situation). Because Finnish participles agree with the noun they modify, the ending adapts to the case and number of the noun.

Related terms

Related Finnish concepts include väheneminen (the process of decreasing or diminishment) and vähentäminen (the act of reducing). Vähennys is another related noun meaning reduction or deduction, depending on context, but it is used in somewhat different senses than the participial form vähentynyt.

Common contexts

Vähentynyt appears in media, reports, and official statistics when noting reductions such as lower emissions, smaller populations, decreased production, or reduced risk. It can also describe improvements or positive changes, for example “vähentynyt riski” (reduced risk) or “vähentynyt energiankulutus” (decreased energy consumption).

Notes

While related, be mindful of contrast with forms derived from the verb vähentää (to reduce), such as vähennetty, which is the past participle of a transitive construction and means “has been reduced.” Vähentynyt specifically reflects a decrease from its intransitive source vähentyä.