kuollut

Kuollut is a Finnish adjective formed from the verb kuolla, meaning to die. It denotes the state of no longer living and is commonly translated as dead or deceased. As the past participle of kuolla, kuollut is used both predicatively and attributively. Predicatively it appears with the verb olla to indicate a completed state of death, as in Hän on kuollut (He is dead). Attributively it modifies nouns: kuollut mies (dead man), kuolleet eläimet (dead animals). Finnish adjectives, including participles, decline to agree with the noun in number and case, so kuollut can take different endings to match the surrounding grammar.

The word also has nonliteral or metaphorical uses, such as describing languages or traditions as dead or obsolete (kuollut kieli, a dead language). In death notices and obituaries, kuollut is commonly used to indicate that a person has died, and it appears in phrases that state the fact of death or reference the deceased person.

Etymologically, kuollut derives from the verb kuolla. It belongs to a family of death-related terms in Finnish, with kuolema meaning death and related forms appearing in various grammatical constructions. The term is widely understood in modern Finnish and is productive in both ordinary and formal language.