kallistua

Kallistua is a Finnish verb meaning to lean, tilt, or incline. It covers both physical movement, such as a person or object tilting, and figurative meaning, describing a tendency or inclination toward a person, idea, or course of action. In physical contexts it is common to describe bodies, furniture, or structures that tilt or lean. In figurative use, it can express a shift in attitude or preference, for example when opinions or decisions become more favorable or receptive.

Etymology and related forms: The verb derives from the noun kallistus, which means tilt or incline, with the -ua verb formation that is common in Finnish. Related forms include the noun kallistus (tilt), the present participle kallistuva (tilting, leaning), and the past participle kallistunut (tilted, leaned). The word is a standard part of everyday Finnish and appears in both informal and formal contexts.

Grammar and usage: Kallistua is intransitive, typically describing the subject’s own action or state. Common conjugations in the present tense are: minä kallistun, sinä kallistut, hän kallistuu, me kallistumme, te kallistutte, he kallistuvat. The imperfect forms are: kallistuin, kallistuit, kallistui, kallistuimme, kallistuitte, kallistuivat. Phrases express physical directions such as kallistua eteenpäin (lean forward) or kallistua taaksepäin (lean backward). Figuratively, it can describe a change in disposition, as in asenne kallistuu kohti myönteistä näkemystä (the attitude leans toward a positive view).

See also: kallistus, kallistuva, kallistunut. The term is widely used across domains to convey both physical tilting and a figurative inclination, without requiring specialized knowledge beyond standard Finnish grammar.