jähmettymään

Jähmettymään is a Finnish verb that translates to "to freeze" or "to solidify." It describes a process where a liquid or a semi-solid substance becomes rigid and loses its fluidity. This transformation typically occurs when a substance cools down to a certain temperature, its freezing point. For example, water jähmettyy into ice when it reaches 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Many other substances also undergo a similar process of jähmettyminen, such as melted wax solidifying as it cools, or fats becoming firm at room temperature.

The term can also be used metaphorically to describe a state of shock or extreme fear, where a person becomes immobilized and unable to move or react. In this context, it conveys a sense of being frozen in place by an overwhelming emotion. For instance, someone might say they were jähmettynyt when they witnessed a sudden accident. This metaphorical usage highlights the rigidity and immobility associated with the physical process of freezing. The degree of jähmettyminen, whether literal or metaphorical, depends on the specific substance or the intensity of the experience.