hajottua

Hajottua is a Finnish intransitive verb meaning to decompose, disintegrate, or break apart. It describes the gradual loss of cohesion in a material, organism, or system due to time, environmental conditions, moisture, heat, or chemical processes. The term is used in scientific contexts—such as chemistry, biology, and geology—as well as in everyday language to describe things that are falling apart or losing their structure. It can refer to physical breakdown of organic matter, minerals, or synthetic materials, as well as the figurative breakdown of plans, institutions, or social systems.

Hajottua is closely related to the transitive verb hajottaa, which means to break something apart or to cause decomposition. The corresponding noun form hajottuminen denotes the process of decomposition, while hajottaminen can refer to the act of breaking something into parts. In usage, hajottua often emphasizes a passive or natural progression rather than an intentional action.

The word belongs to the Finnish -tua verb class and follows standard patterns for intransitive verbs in conjugation. Like many Finnish terms for natural processes, hajottua has broader metaphorical usage; it can describe both tangible material aging and more abstract forms of disintegration, such as systems or plans gradually breaking down under stress.

Etymology traces hajottua to the root hajo-, associated with breaking, fragmentation, or dispersal, with the typical -tua suffix forming the intransitive infinitive. It is a common term in Finnish dictionaries and language references.

See also: hajoaminen, hajottaminen, hajoittaa. References: standard Finnish dictionaries such as Kielitoimisto sanakirja.