löystyä

Löystyä is a Finnish verb meaning to become loose or to slacken. It is mainly intransitive and describes a change of state rather than an action performed on a direct object. The sense can be literal, as when material or clothing loses tension or fit, or figurative, for example when strictness or tension eases over time.

Etymology and related forms: The verb is built from the adjective löysä, meaning loose, with the -ty- suffix that expresses a change of state. Related words include löysä (loose) and löysyys (loosenness or looseness). The form is typical of Finnish -yä verbs, with regular conjugation patterns in different tenses and moods.

Usage: In literal usage, löystyä describes physical loosening, such as fabrics, belts, or ropes becoming less tight. Examples include vaatteet löystyivät pesussa (the clothes became looser in washing) and vyö löystyi (the belt loosened). Figurative use can refer to easing of rules, standards, or emotional tension: jännitys löystyi (the tension eased).

Grammar notes: Löystyä conjugates like other Finnish -yä verbs. Present tense forms include minä löystyn, sinä löystyt, hän löystyy, me löystymme, te löystytte, he löystyvät. Imperfect forms include löystyin, löystyit, löystyi, löystyimme, löystyitte, löystyivät. The past participle is löystynyt (having loosened). A common passive formation is löystetään (it is loosened).

See also: löysä (loose), löysyys (loosenness), and related verbs such as löysätä, which is more about deliberately loosening something.