työntyy

Työntyy is a Finnish verb that expresses pushing forward or into something, or protruding. It is an intransitive verb that describes movement rather than a direct action on a tangible object. Työntyy is the present tense, third-person singular form of the verb työntyä; the infinitive is työntyä, and related forms include työntyi (past), työntynyt (participle), and työntyminen (the act of pushing one’s way in).

The sense of työntyä covers both literal and figurative uses. Literally, it can describe someone forcing their way into a space, such as a crowd, often accompanied by illative or allative case phrases like väkijoukkoon or eteenpäin. Figuratively, it can mean to emerge or come to the fore, for example a opinion or trend that työntyy esiin in public discussion.

Etymology-wise, työntyy derives from the verb työntää, meaning “to push,” with affixes that form an intransitive or reflexive sense. The root työnt- is related to other Finnish terms built around pushing or thrusting.

Usage notes: työntyä emphasizes the act of moving forward or intruding rather than exerting a direct object. It is common in everyday Finnish as well as in journalism and literature when describing both physical movement and figurative emergence.

Example: Hän työntyy eteenpäin jonossa. This illustrates pushing forward in line.

See also: työntö, työntövoima, työntyä.