tykkäsivät

"Tykkäsivät" is the third-person plural past tense form of the Finnish verb "tykätä." The verb "tykätä" means to like, to be fond of, or to appreciate something. Therefore, "tykkäsivät" translates directly to "they liked" or "they were fond of."

This verb form is used when referring to a group of people (more than one) who previously had a positive feeling or sentiment towards a person, object, activity, or concept. For example, "Lapset tykkäsivät jäätelöstä" means "The children liked the ice cream." The subject of the sentence is plural ("lapset" - children), and the verb "tykkäsivät" reflects this plurality and the past action of liking.

The verb "tykätä" is commonly used in everyday spoken and written Finnish. It is a relatively informal verb, and its usage implies a straightforward expression of preference or enjoyment. While other verbs can express liking, "tykätä" often carries a nuance of simple, unpretentious appreciation. The past tense "tykkäsivät" specifically situates this liking in a completed timeframe.