tuhoutuneet

Tuhoutuneet is a Finnish adjective formed as the plural past participle of the verb tuhoutua, meaning that something has been destroyed or ruined. When used with a noun, tuhoutuneet agrees in number (for example, tuhoutuneet rakennukset = destroyed buildings). The form can also function as a substantive in some contexts, referring to people or things that have perished, though this usage is more literary or journalistic rather than everyday speech.

Etymology: the word derives from tuho, meaning destruction, combined with the verb tuhoutua, with the participle tuhoutunut giving the sense of “destroyed.” The plural form tuhoutuneet reflects agreement with a plural noun.

Usage: common in descriptions of damage from natural disasters, wars, fires, or accidents. It is not a verb; it serves as an adjective or, less frequently, as a noun referring to the destroyed or perished in a given context. Examples: “Tuhoutuneet rakennukset jäivät raunioiksi.” “Kaupungin tuhoutuneet osat tarvitsevat jälleenrakennusta.”

See also: tuhoutua, tuho, tuhoutuminen.