etääntymään

Etääntymään is a Finnish verb that translates to "to distance oneself," "to move away," or "to become estranged." It describes the act of increasing physical or emotional separation from someone or something. The verb is derived from the adjective "etäinen," meaning "distant."

The word can be used in various contexts. Physically, it might describe someone moving to a different city or country, thus distancing themselves from their original home. Emotionally, it can refer to a person becoming less close to friends or family members, perhaps due to differing opinions, life choices, or a lack of communication. Etääntymään can also describe the process of a concept or idea becoming less relevant or less influential over time.

The verb can be conjugated in different tenses and moods to reflect the ongoing or completed nature of the distancing. For example, "hän etääntyi ystävistään" means "he/she distanced himself/herself from his/her friends." The reflexive pronoun "itseään" can also be used, as in "hän etääntyi itseään" which emphasizes the active choice of the subject to distance themselves. Understanding the nuances of etääntymään is key to grasping expressions of separation and alienation in the Finnish language.