Kaihtaa

Kaihtaa is a Finnish verb that expresses aversion, reluctance, or a sense of dread toward something. The nuance is closer to avoiding or shrinking away from a person, situation, or action, rather than simply feeling fear. It can be used with a direct object (kaihtaa jotakin) or with an infinitive clause to indicate reluctance to do something (kaihtaa tehdä jotakin). Typical contexts include moral or emotional aversion, or anticipatory discomfort, such as kaihtaa pimeää, kaihtaa konflikteja, or kaihtaa suuria muutoksia.

In contemporary Finnish, kaihtaa is common in standard and literary prose but less frequent in casual speech, where pelätä (to fear) or välttää (to avoid) may be more common alternatives. The expression often carries a stronger emotional charge than neutral avoidant verbs and can convey an internal conflict or principled hesitation.

Etymology is not clearly documented in popular dictionaries; the verb belongs to the class of Finnish roots that describe affective avoidance. Related terms include pelätä (to fear) and välttää (to avoid), with kaihtaa emphasizing aversion and reluctance rather than raw fear. See also kaiho (longing) for a thematic family resemblance in the language of feeling.