rikkoivat

Rikkoivat is the third-person plural past tense form of the Finnish verb rikkoa, meaning to break, damage, or, in a broader sense, to violate. The infinitive rikkoa covers both literal breaking of physical objects and more figurative uses such as breaking rules, agreements, or norms.

Morphology and formation: rikkoivat is formed from the stem rikko- with the past-tense ending -ivat, which is typical for plural past forms in Finnish. The double consonant in rikko- reflects standard orthographic rules in Finnish verb stems before certain endings. The corresponding singular past form is rikoi (he/she/it broke).

Usage: The form rikkoivat is used when the subject is plural and the action is completed in the past. It can describe the breaking of tangible objects, such as a window or a tool, as well as the violation or breach of rules, laws, contracts, or agreements in a broader sense. Finnish speakers choose rikkoivat in formal or neutral narration when reporting a past event involving multiple actors.

Nuances and register: The verb is common in everyday language and in written Finnish. It carries a straightforward, neutral tone and does not inherently convey value judgments beyond the fact of breaking or violating.

See also: rikkoa, rikkoi, rikkominen, rikot (various forms of related verbs and nouns referring to breaking or violation).