vihjaavat

Vihjaavat is the present tense, third-person plural form of the Finnish verb vihjata, meaning to hint or insinuate. The form indicates that multiple subjects are conveying something indirectly rather than stating it outright. In everyday Finnish, vihjata describes communication that leaves content open to interpretation, often used to avoid blunt statements or to signal a stance indirectly.

Examples illustrate the usage: He vihjaavat, että seuraava kokous siirretään. In the message they hint that the delivery is not ready. These sentences show how vihjata functions with subordinate clauses (often introduced by että) to convey a hinted meaning rather than a direct assertion. The nuance can range from neutral to slightly critical, depending on context and tone.

Grammatical and related information: vihjata is the infinitive; vihjaan, vihjaat, vihjaa, vihjaamme, vihjaatte, vihjaavat are the corresponding verb forms. Related terms include vihje, meaning hint or cue, and vihjailla, a related verb meaning to hint or insinuate, sometimes in a playful or persistent way. The root idea centers on suggesting something indirectly rather than announcing it plainly.

Origin and usage context: the word derives from vihje (hint) with a productive Finnish verb-forming suffix. Vihjaavat is common in both spoken and written Finnish, especially in journalism, literature, and everyday conversation when indirect communication is appropriate. See also vihje and vihjailla for related meanings and usage.