tottuneet

Tottuneet is a Finnish term formed as the past participle of the verb tottua, meaning to become accustomed or to get used to something. In everyday Finnish, the base adjective is tottunut, meaning “accustomed” or “used to.” The form tottuneet is its plural past participle, used to describe plural subjects or groups as “the accustomed ones” or “seasoned/experienced people,” and it can appear in attributive position (tottuneet työntekijät) or predicative constructions (Nämä henkilöt ovat tottuneet).

Usage and nuance: Tottuneet emphasizes habitual familiarity and ease with routines or conditions. It is common in formal or descriptive writing, such as reports, analyses, and literary descriptions, but is also found in journalism and public discourse. While it conveys a sense of experience, it can be slightly more neutral than kokeneet (experienced), with a focus on adaptation to repeated situations rather than on overall skill.

Grammar and forms: As an adjective, tottuneet agrees in number with the noun it modifies. For example, tottuneet työntekijät means “the seasoned employees.” It may also appear in predicative form with a linking verb, as in Nämä henkilöt ovat tottuneet, meaning “These people have become accustomed.” The related forms include tottunut (singular) and tottuneet (plural).

Etymology and related terms: Tottunut derives from the verb tottua, meaning to become accustomed. The suffix -nut/-neet marks past participle forms in Finnish, enabling an adjective that expresses a state resulting from becoming accustomed. Common alternatives include kokeneet (experienced) and tottumusta ylläpitävät ilmaisut, depending on context.

Examples:

- Hän on tottunut aikaisin heräämiseen. (She has become accustomed to waking up early.)

- Tottuneet työntekijät osaavat toimia nopeasti kriisitilanteissa. (Seasoned workers know how to act quickly in crises.)