niukentuneet

Niukentuneet is a Finnish adjective form used to describe something that has become scarce or diminished. It is the plural past participle of the verb niukentua, which means to become scarce or to be in short supply. The word functions both predicatively and attributively, agreeing with the noun it modifies, for example niukentuneet varat (scarcer resources) or niukentuneet työvoimavarannot (scarce labor resources).

Etymology and form: The term derives from the adjective niukka, meaning scarce or meager, combined with the verb niukentua. The participle niukentuneet conveys a completed change of state and is used when referring to plural subject matter. The related singular form is niukentunut, while the noun form niukkuus refers to scarcity as a concept.

Usage: Niukentuneet is common in formal or analytical writing across fields such as economics, ecology, demography, and policy analysis. It describes conditions that have shifted to a state of scarcity since a prior period, enabling statements like “varat ovat niukentuneet viimeisen vuosikymmenen aikana” (resources have become scarcer over the last decade). It can describe physical goods, raw materials, or non-material conditions like funding, opportunities, or time.

See also: niukka (scarce), niukkuus (scarcity), niukentua (to become scarce).

Notes: While widely understandable in Finnish, the word is predominantly used in written discourse and technical contexts. Its meaning relies on a comparison to a previous, more abundant state.