Kuihtuvat

Kuihtuvat is Finnish a verb form derived from kuihtua, meaning to fade away, wither, dwindle or dry up. The term is commonly used to describe gradual loss of vitality or color in both concrete and abstract senses, such as plants drying in heat, colors fading, or hopes and interest diminishing over time.

In standard Finnish, kuihtuvat is the third-person plural present indicative form of kuihtua. The corresponding singular present form is kuihtuu, and kuihtuva can be used as a present active participle meaning “fading” or “diminishing.” The word is typically employed with inanimate subjects but can also describe living things under stress, such as plants, morale, or enthusiasm.

Usage and nuance: kuihtua usually implies a slow, natural or negative process rather than a sudden change. It often conveys a sense of gradual decline or depletion and can be used both literally and figuratively. For example, kuihtuvat can describe flowers that lose their vitality in heat, colors that fade after exposure, or notions like hope or interest that wanes over time.

Examples:

- Kukat kuihtuvat kuumuuden vuoksi. (The flowers are fading due to the heat.)

- Toivo kuihtuu hänen elämässään. (Hope is fading in his life.)

- Kansalaiskeskustelusta kunto ja kiinnostus on kuihtunut. (Interest in the public discussion has faded.)

See also: kuihtua, Finnish verbs of gradual change, Finnish morphology.

Note: Kuihtuvat functions as a specific tense-form and should be matched to plural subjects; the base verb kuihtua covers the broader meaning and related forms.