vapautetut

Vapautetut is a Finnish word, the plural past participle form of the verb vapauttaa, meaning "to free" or "to release." Literally translated, vapautetut means "those who have been freed" or "the released" and is used both as an adjective and as a substantive noun in Finnish.

Grammatical and lexical characteristics

As a past participle, vapautetut agrees in number and case with the noun it modifies; the singular form is vapautettu. It can be used attributively (vapautetut vangit — "the released prisoners") or nominally to denote a group (Vapautetut saapuivat kotiin — "The released arrived home"). It inflects according to Finnish case endings in regular patterns.

Common uses and contexts

Vapautetut appears in legal and bureaucratic language to describe individuals released from custody, parole, or detention. In historical and political contexts it denotes populations or territories that have been liberated from occupation or oppression. The term is also used in journalism and everyday speech when referring to released hostages, prisoners, or freed animals.

Cultural usage

Vapautetut can serve as a title or thematic term in literature, music, and visual media, often invoking themes of liberation, justice, and return. As a general Finnish expression, its precise meaning depends on context and accompanying nouns or phrases.