vaikuttavat

Vaikuttavat is a Finnish verb form that translates to “they influence” or “they affect.” It is the third-person plural present tense of vaikuttaa, a verb meaning to influence, affect, or have an effect on something or someone. The infinitive is vaikuttaa. Other related forms include vaikutus (influence, effect) and vaikuttava (influential, affecting). The word is commonly used in analyses of outcomes, opinions, and decisions, where various factors or actors are described as influencing the result.

In usage, vaikuttavat typically introduces the subject that exerts influence and the object that experiences the influence. Examples: “Nämä uutiset vaikuttavat ihmisten mielipiteisiin” (these news items influence people’s opinions). “Sosiaaliset tekijät vaikuttavat päätöksiin” (social factors affect decisions). In journalism and research, the phrases “vaikuttavat tekijät” or “vaikuttavat henkilöt” may appear to refer to influential factors or people.

Notes: Finnish verbs conjugate for person and number; “vaikuttavat” is used for plural subjects. The form contrasts with the singular “vaikuttaa” (he/she/it influences). Etymology traces to the root vaikuttaa with an ending that signals third-person plural present tense. The term is neutral and widely used across academic, media, and everyday language to describe influence and causality.