Pehmendama

Pehmendama is an Estonian verb that translates to "to soften" in English. It describes the action of making something less hard, less rigid, or less intense. This can apply to physical objects, abstract concepts, or even emotional states.

In a physical sense, pehmendama can refer to making something soft through various means. For example, one might pehmendama leather by conditioning it, or pehmendama dough by adding moisture and allowing it to rest. It can also describe the process of cooking food until it becomes tender.

Beyond the physical, pehmendama can be used metaphorically. One might pehmendama a critical remark to make it more palatable, or pehmendama a difficult situation by introducing a more understanding approach. In terms of emotions, it can describe the act of becoming more lenient, compassionate, or less angry. The opposite of pehmendama would be "karmistama," meaning to harden or to make more severe. The context in which pehmendama is used dictates its precise meaning, but the core idea of reducing hardness or intensity remains consistent.