Yleistyä

Yleistyä is a Finnish verb meaning to become widespread, to become common, or to be generalized across a population or over time. It is used to describe phenomena, practices, ideas, or terms that spread beyond their original context. The form is intransitive, indicating a process rather than an action performed on a direct object.

In usage, yleistyä denotes a gradual or rapid expansion in prevalence. It is often modified by adverbs such as nopeasti or laajasti. For example: “Ilmiö on yleistynyt viime vuosina.” “Käytössä on yleistynyt uusi termi.” The word can refer to social trends, scientific findings, linguistic usage, or policy practices.

Etymology: The verb derives from the adjective yleinen (general, common) with derivational suffixes that express a becoming state, roughly “to become general.” Related forms include yleistää (to generalize, a transitive verb), yleisyys (the state or quality of being general), and yleinen (general).

Contexts and nuance: Yleistyminen emphasizes the spread or adoption of something across different domains, regions, or groups, rather than its origin. It is commonly used in journalism, academia, and public discourse to describe how a concept, term, or practice gains broad acceptance.

See also: yleistää, yleisyys, yleinen.