turvautua

Turvautua is a Finnish verb meaning to rely on or to resort to someone or something for help, support, or justification. It conveys turning to a source in a time of need, often in formal or literary contexts. The sense ranges from seeking assistance to leaning on a principle or external aid.

Usage and construction

The verb is commonly used with complements indicating the source of help or basis for action. Typical constructions include turvautua apuun (to rely on help), turvautua viranomaisiin or turvautua viranomaisten apuun (to turn to the authorities or to authorities’ help). It can also express seeking support from people, for example turvautua vanhempiinsa (to turn to one’s parents). The case forms of the complement are usually illative (to/into) when naming the thing turned to, and genitive or other cases when naming the person or source in some contexts.

Conjugation and forms

Turvautua is an intransitive verb. Common forms include:

- turvautuu (present, he/she/it turns to)

- turvautui (past)

- turvautuivat (past plural)

- turvautua (infinitive)

- turvautunut (past participle), used in compound tenses and adjectivally, e.g., turvautunut apuun.

Etymology

The word derives from turva, meaning security or protection, combined with the suffix -utua to form a verb indicating the act of seeking protection or relying on something.

Notes

Turvautua is often more formal or literary than everyday alternatives such as kääntyä (to turn to) or pyytää apua (to ask for help). It emphasizes dependency on an external source rather than initiating action independently.

See also

Kääntyä, pyytää apua, turva.