Jähmeämpi

Jähmeämpi is the comparative form of the Finnish adjective jähmeä, and it is used to describe something that is more stiff, rigid, or immobile than another thing. The sense can cover physical stiffness in muscles or joints, as well as surfaces that are cold and hard, or more generally a state of numbness or lack of ease. It can also be used metaphorically to describe atmospheres, attitudes, or processes that feel rigid or inflexible.

The word derives from the verb jähmetä, meaning to stiffen or become immobilized, with the comparative suffix -mpi. In standard Finnish, jähmeämpi is understood, but it is relatively uncommon in everyday speech. More common alternatives in everyday language include kankeampi and jäykempi, which convey similar ideas of stiffness or rigidity. Jähmeämpi often appears in descriptive, literary, or technical contexts where a precise nuance of stiffness or immobility is being foregrounded.

Usage notes and nuance: jähmeämpi can describe physical states (for example, a jähmeämpi käsi than a less stiff one), surfaces (jähmeä maa), or more abstract conditions (a jähmeämpi tunnelma). Because the term is somewhat formal or poetic, it can carry a tone of emphasis on rigidity or lack of fluidity. It complements other Finnish comparatives that signal increased stiffness or rigidity, such as kankeampi or jäykempi, depending on context and stylistic choice.