jähmettyivät

Jähmettyivät is the third-person plural past tense form of the Finnish verb "jähmettyä." This verb translates to "to freeze," "to stiffen," "to become rigid," or "to become numb." It describes a state of immobility or loss of sensation, often due to cold, fear, or shock.

The verb "jähmettyä" itself is derived from "jähmeä," meaning "stiff" or "solid." The suffix "-tyä" indicates a change of state, suggesting a process of becoming stiff or frozen. Therefore, "jähmettyivät" specifically refers to multiple subjects (people, animals, objects, etc.) having undergone this process in the past.

For example, one might say "Lapset jähmettyivät pelosta" which means "The children froze from fear." Another example could be "Osa kasveista jähmettyivät pakkasessa," translating to "Some plants became stiff in the frost." The context in which "jähmettyivät" is used will determine the precise shade of meaning, but the core idea remains a transition into a state of stillness or insensitivity. This word is commonly encountered in descriptive writing and everyday conversation in Finnish.