epäonnistui

Epäonnistui is the past tense form of the Finnish verb epäonnistua, meaning to fail or be unsuccessful, particularly in an attempt or endeavor. It signals that an effort did not achieve its intended result.

Etymology and meaning: The word is built from the negation prefix epä- combined with onnistua, which means to succeed. Epäonnistua is used for intransitive failure, and epäonnistui specifically indicates that the subject failed in the past.

Usage and grammar: Epäonnistui is a finite verb form used with a subject in the third person singular. It does not take a direct object. The present tense form is epäonnistuu, the past participle is epäonnistunut, and related nouns include epäonnistuminen (the act or result of failing). Common sentence patterns include subjects such as yritys (attempt), suunnitelma (plan), or kokeilu (experiment): Yritys epäonnistui. The plan failed. Kokeilu epäonnistui. The experiment failed.

Nuances and context: Epäonnistui often conveys that a goal was not reached due to various factors, such as insufficient preparation, unforeseen obstacles, or simple bad luck. The tone can be neutral or negative, depending on context and emphasis. It appears in everyday speech, journalism, and literature to report or describe unsuccessful outcomes.

Related forms: The opposite verb is onnistua (to succeed). The noun form is epäonnistuminen (failure or failure to succeed). These forms are commonly used in Finnish to discuss success and failure across different domains.