hakeutumalla

Hakeutumalla is the gerund form of the Finnish verb hakeutua. In Finnish grammar, the -malla/-mällä suffix creates a gerund that expresses the means, method, or manner by which something is done. Hakeutumua means to seek entry, to apply oneself, or to align oneself with a person, group, or path. Hakeutumalla, therefore, describes performing an action by means of seeking or applying, often to convey intention, initiative, or voluntary engagement.

The word is commonly used in formal or descriptive contexts to indicate how someone has engaged with a task, opportunity, or path. Examples include pursuing study or work by taking deliberate steps, such as hakeutumalla opiskelemaan (by pursuing studies) or hakeutumalla töihin (by seeking work). It can also refer to joining a program, movement, or community through active pursuit, e.g., hakeutumalla vapaaehtoistyöhön (by volunteering) or hakeutumalla mukaan ryhmään (by joining a group).

Etymologically, hakeutumalla combines the verb hakeutua with the gerundial suffix -malla, which marks the act as a means or method. Related forms include hakeutuminen (the act of seeking or aligning oneself) and hakeutua (the infinitive form, meaning “to seek” or “to apply”). The gerund is more common in writing and formal discourse, where the emphasis is on the manner of action rather than a specific finite event.

In summary, hakeutumalla denotes performing an action through active seeking or voluntary alignment with a path, program, or group, and is a common feature of formal Finnish expression. See also hakeutua, hakeutuminen.