Tuhmuvad

Tuhmuvad is the present tense form in Estonian of the verb tuhmunema, meaning to become dim, fade, or darken. It is used to describe changes in light, visibility, or color that reduce clarity or brightness. The form tuhmu-vad indicates a plural subject, so it is commonly used when talking about multiple things fading at once.

Morphology and usage notes: In standard Estonian, the base verb tuhmunema yields different finite forms for different subjects. Tuhmuvad specifically attaches to third-person plural subjects in the present tense. The related singular present form is tuhmuneb or tuhmub, depending on the exact verb class and context. The past participle form is tuhmunud, used to describe something that has already faded.

Etymology and meaning: Tuhmuvad derives from the Estonian adjective tuhm, meaning dull, dim, or obscure. The verb sense extends to gradual loss of brightness or distinctness, whether due to lighting conditions, weather, aging, or artistic effect. The term often appears in descriptive or literary contexts as well as in photography, meteorology, and art criticism.

Examples of use: Värvid tuhmunuvad fotol. (The colors fade in the photograph.) Õhtul tuhmunuvad taevase varjundid. (In the evening, the tones in the sky become dim.) Need examples illustrate how the plural form is used with plural subjects to express fading effects.

Related terms include tuhmunema (to become dim) and tuhmunud (dimmed), which share the same semantic field. Tuhmuvad provides a concise way to describe gradual diminishment of brightness, color richness, or clarity in Estonian discourse.