Haihtuivat

Haihtuivat is the third-person plural past tense form of the Finnish verb haihtua, meaning to evaporate, fade away, or disappear. The action is intransitive and describes a process in which a substance or phenomenon becomes less visible or exits the scene, whether physically (vapors, liquids, steam) or metaphorically (memories, interest, scent).

In usage, haihtua covers both literal and figurative fading. It can describe natural processes such as water or fog evaporating, as well as the disappearance of intangible things like smells, memories, or attention. The phrase can carry a sense of gradual or complete disappearance, often conveyed in descriptive or narrative contexts. It is common in everyday language and in literature to indicate a change over time or the end of a visible phase.

Examples:

- Sumut haihtuivat viime yönä, kun aurinko paistoi. (The fogs evaporated last night as the sun shone.)

- Muistot haihtuivat ajan myötä. (Memories faded over time.)

Notes: Because haihtuivat is a past-tense form, it requires a plural subject. For singular subjects, the corresponding forms are haihtui (past tense) or present tense forms such as haihtuu/haihtuvat, depending on number and tense. The verb can be used in both concrete and abstract contexts, making it a versatile term in Finnish narration.