pysäytys

Pysäytys is a Finnish noun that denotes a stopping place or a moment of stopping. It is commonly used to refer to a location where vehicles such as buses or trams stop to pick up or drop off passengers, i.e., a bus stop or tram stop. The term can also describe a temporary pause or halt in a process, movement, or activity.

Etymology and form: Pysäytys is derived from the verb pysähtyä, meaning “to stop,” with the abstract noun suffix -ys. Related verbs include pysäyttää (to stop something) and the noun pysähdys (a pause or halt that is typically shorter or more abrupt). In everyday Finnish, pysäytys and pysähdys are related but used in slightly different nuances, with pysäytys more typically signifying a designated stopping point and pysähdys a momentary pause.

Usage: In public transportation, pysäytys is widely used in signage, maps, and timetables to label stops along a line. It distinguishes a stop point from broader terms like asema (station), which may refer to a larger transport hub or terminal. The word can also appear in planning documents, street signs, and passenger information systems to indicate where vehicles halt or where passengers may board.

Variations and related terms: Pysäytys appears in plural as pysähdykset or pysäytykset when listing multiple stops. Related concepts include pysähtyä (to stop oneself), pysähdys (a pause), and pysäyttää (to stop something). The exact usage can vary with context, but all share the core idea of stopping or halting.

See also: pysähtyä, pysähdys, pysäyttää.