piiloutua

Piiloutua is a Finnish verb meaning to hide oneself or to take cover, either physically by seeking concealment or metaphorically by avoiding attention or participation. The action is intransitive and often reflexive, with the subject performing the hiding.

The word is formed from piilo, meaning a hiding place, combined with the suffix -outua, creating an intransitive verb. It belongs to a class of Finnish verbs ending in -outua and shares similar conjugation patterns with them.

In usage, piiloutua can describe someone who disappears from view, for example by slipping behind a tree or into a crowd, as well as someone who withdraws from social situations or public gaze. It can also be used in a broader sense to indicate avoiding exposure or scrutiny, not necessarily tied to a physical hiding place.

Conjugation can be approached as with other -outua verbs. The present tense forms include piiloudun, piiloudut, piiloutuu, piiloudumme, piiloudutte, piiloutuvat. The imperfect forms include piilouduin, piilouduit, piiloutui, piilouduimme, piilouduitte, piiloutuivat. The perfect aspect uses the past participle piiloutunut with the auxiliary on, as in on piiloutunut. For example, “Hän piiloutui pensaiden taakse” illustrates a simple past action of hiding oneself.

See also: piilo, piilopaikka, piileskellä, which relate to hiding places and the act of concealing.