kuihtuneet

Kuihtuneet is Finnish an adjective formed from the verb kuihtua, meaning to wither, fade away, or dry out. The term describes something that has lost vitality or moisture and has become dry, shriveled, or faded. Kuihtunut is the singular past participle, while kuihtuneet is the nominative plural; it is used to modify plural nouns, for example kuihtuneet lehdet (withered leaves) or kuihtuneet marjat (withered fruits). It can also be used predicatively, as in Kasvit ovat kuihtuneet, meaning “the plants have withered.”

Usage and context: Kuihtuneet is common in horticultural, agricultural, and ecological contexts to describe plants, flowers, or produce damaged by drought, frost, disease, or aging. It is also found in literary and descriptive prose to convey deterioration or loss of vitality more generally. In everyday speech, kuihtuneet is often chosen over more neutral terms when the emphasis is on the appearance or condition of something that has dried out or faded.

Nuance and related terms: The concept is closely related to kuivunut (dried out) and kuiva (dry), but kuihtuminen emphasizes gradual decline toward a withered state. It can carry metaphorical weight in literature to depict fading memories or waning life, though in such uses it remains descriptive rather than symbolic.

Examples:

- Kuihtuneet lehdet peittivät pihan syksyllä.

- Kasvi on kuihtunut kastelun puutteesta.

- Cuiva marjat ovat kuihtuneet ja kaatuneet puuaukealle.

Translation: Withered leaves covered the yard in autumn; the plant has withered due to lack of watering; the dried fruits have withered and fallen onto the ground.