Kõvamad

Kõvamad is an Estonian word associated with the comparative degree of the adjective kõva, meaning hard or solid. In standard Estonian, the comparative form of kõva is kõvem, and its plural nominative form is kõvemad. Therefore, kõvamad is not the standard spelling for the plural comparative and is typically regarded as nonstandard, a misspelling, or a dialectal variant in many contexts.

In usage, the standard form kõvemad is employed to describe multiple items that are harder or more solid than others. For example, the sentence Need kivid on kõvemad kui need kasutab kõneles, meaning “Those stones are harder than those.” When interpreting texts, readers should be aware that kõvamad may occasionally appear due to misspelling or nonstandard speech, but it does not represent the normative form.

Etymology and related forms: kõva is the positive form meaning hard. The comparative is formed with the suffix -vem, yielding kõvem; the plural nominative of the comparative is kõvemad. This pattern fits the general Estonian practice of degree of comparison, where adjectives change form to indicate a higher degree and number agreement. See also Estonian grammar and the entry on kõva for a fuller treatment of the word’s meanings and inflection.