hallitsevat

Hallitsevat is a Finnish word formed from the verb hallita, meaning to govern or rule. It has two common functions in Finnish: as the third-person plural present tense form of hallita, meaning “they govern”; and as the present active participle of hallita, used attributively to mean “governing” or “ruling.” In the participle use, hallitsevat agrees with the noun it describes in number and case (for example, hallitsevat puolueet = “the governing parties”).

In everyday and political language hallitsevat is often used to describe actors currently in power. As a verb, it appears with a plural subject: Valtiot hallitsevat taloutta. The phrase can also refer more broadly to authorities or groups that exercise control, not only in politics but in contexts such as organizations or systems.

As an attributive present active participle, hallitsevat functions like an adjective in front of a noun. It is used to characterize the noun as being in a governing or ruling condition, and it inflects for the noun’s number and case. Examples include hallitsevat puolueet (“the governing parties”) and hallitsevien puolueiden ohjelma (“the program of the governing parties”). The participial form thus provides a concise way to indicate current governance without repeating hallita.

See also: hallitus, hallita, hallitseminen, politikointi.