Hirm

Hirm is a noun in Estonian that designates fear, dread, or horror. It describes an emotional response to perceived threat and can refer to a brief fright as well as a lasting sense of unease.

The word is native to Estonian and used across registers—from everyday speech to literature and journalism. It commonly appears in phrases that express apprehension about concrete threats or abstract dangers.

In psychology, fear is considered a basic emotion that prepares the body for protective action. It can be rational, in response to real danger, or irrational, as in anxiety disorders and phobias. The term hirm in Estonian is the lexical equivalent of this broad concept, though everyday usage often emphasizes a specific threat.

Culturally, hirm appears in Estonian folklore, fiction, and media as a motif of danger or the unknown, contributing to mood and tension.

See also: fear, anxiety, phobia.