hårdna

Hårdna is a Swedish verb meaning to become hard or stiff. The word is formed from the adjective hård, meaning hard, plus the infinitive suffix -na. It is typically used intransitively to describe a change of state that affects the subject rather than a direct object.

In physical contexts it refers to materials or substances increasing in hardness through processes such as heat treatment, quenching, aging, or cooling; for example, metals or polymers can hårdna as part of a manufacturing process. In environmental or geological contexts, substances such as rock or soil can hårdna as they dry or undergo chemical changes. In everyday language, it can describe a psychological or emotional shift, when a person’s attitudes, defenses, or resolve become more rigid or uncompromising.

The term is closely related to nouns such as hårdhet (hardness) and to phrases describing the result of hardening. The English equivalent is "to harden" or "to stiffen." In usage notes, hårdna often conveys a gradual change rather than a sudden event, and can carry neutral or negative connotations depending on context.

See also: hardness, hardening, stiffness.