pahentuvat

Pahentuvat is a Finnish verb form meaning to become worse or to deteriorate. It is the present tense, third-person plural form of the verb pahentua, used when the subject is plural. The verb pahentua denotes a process of worsening and can describe health, conditions, or general situations.

Etymology and form: pahentua is built from the adjective paha meaning bad, with the derivational suffix -entua, indicating a change of state toward a worse condition. Pahentuvat specifically marks plural subjects in the present tense. Related forms include pahentaa, the transitive verb meaning to aggravate or worsen something, and pahentunut, the past participle used in compound tenses (for example, tilanne on pahentunut).

Usage and examples: In medical or health contexts, one might say oireet pahentuvat to indicate that symptoms are worsening. In everyday or journalistic language, tilanteet pahentuvat describes deteriorating situations. The form pahentuvat appears with plural subjects, while singular subjects use pahentuu (for example, tilanne pahentuu).

Context and notes: The term is neutral and commonly used in descriptive writing, reporting, and formal discourse. It coexists with related terms such as pahentaa (to worsen something) and pahentunut (worsened), allowing speakers to convey changes over time across multiple domains, including health, environment, economy, and social conditions.