yleistyneet

Yleistyneet is a Finnish term used to describe ideas, practices, or characteristics that have spread widely or become prevalent within a population or area. It is the plural past participle form of the verb yleistyä, and functions as an adjective or predicative participle in sentences such as "ilmestöt ovat yleistyneet" (these phenomena have become widespread).

Etymology and grammar: yleistyneet derives from yleistyä, meaning to spread or become widespread. The form yleistyneet is used with plural subjects or as a predicative complement, signaling that diffusion or broad adoption has occurred. The word often appears in academic, journalistic, and policy discourse when characterizing diffusion of practices, beliefs, technologies, or norms.

Usage and context: The term commonly appears in sociology, cultural studies, public health, media analysis, and market research. It conveys a sense of diffusion from limited origins to general usage and may carry evaluative overtones, implying normalization or mainstreaming. It can be contrasted with terms like harvinaisia (rare) or paikallinen (local), to mark decline or containment of a phenomenon.

Examples:

- yleistyneet tavat (widely adopted customs)

- yleistyneet uskomukset (widely held beliefs)

- yleistyneet teknologiat (widely used technologies)

See also: yleistyminen (the process of becoming widespread), leviäminen (spread), laajeneminen (expansion).