mukautuvat

Mukautuvat is the plural third-person present tense form of the Finnish verb mukautua, meaning to adapt oneself or to adjust to changing conditions. The form is used when the subject is plural and the action is occurring in the present. For example: Ihmiset mukautuvat uusiin olosuhteisiin (People adapt to the new conditions). Eläimet mukautuvat ympäristöön (Animals adapt to the environment). In broader use, mukautuvat can describe systems, organizations, or groups that adjust to new requirements or circumstances.

Etymology and grammar: mukautua is built from the root mukaut- plus the infinitive ending -ua. The present plural ending -vat marks the third-person plural form, giving mukautuvat. The verb is intransitive and reflexive in sense, focusing on adjustment by the subject itself rather than a direct object action. The noun mukautuminen denotes the process or degree of adaptation.

Usage and nuance: The term is common in biology, ecology, technology, economics, and social discourse to express how entities change in response to environmental or contextual changes. It often emphasizes ongoing, automatic, or strategic adjustment. A related Finnish verb, sopeutua, is similar but can carry a nuance of fitting in or acclimating to surroundings, sometimes with a broader or less proactive connotation.

Related terms: mukautuminen (adaptation), sopeutuminen (adjustment, acclimatization), mukauttaminen (the act of adapting). See also common phrases like organisaatiot mukautuvat lainsäädäntöön or järjestelmät mukautuvat käyttäjien tarpeisiin.