Voimaantunutta

Voimaantunutta is a Finnish participial adjective derived from the verb voimaantua, meaning to become empowered or to gain personal agency and resources. The word describes someone who has achieved a sense of capability to influence their own life and surroundings, often through education, participation, support networks, or access to resources.

In Finnish, voimaantunutta is the inflected form of the participle voimaantunut used in certain grammatical cases, such as the partitive or accusative singular. In practice it appears as a descriptor of a person or group, for example in a phrase referring to an empowered individual or community. Related forms include voimaantuminen, which refers to the process of becoming empowered, and voimaantunut as the base predicate adjective.

The concept is widely used in social sciences, education, health, and development work in Finland, as well as in everyday language. It emphasizes both internal factors (self-efficacy, confidence) and external factors (resources, rights, opportunities, supportive networks) that enable action and participation. Voimaantunut individuals or communities are encouraged to participate more fully in decision-making processes, exercise greater autonomy, and pursue goals aligned with their values. The term is commonly linked to fields such as gender equality, community development, and youth work to describe progress toward greater agency and wellbeing.

Overall, voimaantunutta conveys a state of having gained influence over one’s circumstances, combining personal empowerment with the practical means to act in one’s own interest.