káva

Kõva is an Estonian adjective meaning hard, solid, or tough. It describes the physical property of hardness or density, and it is also used figuratively to express qualities such as resilience, strength, or stubbornness. In everyday language the word is versatile and common, and it can be used to describe materials as well as people or situations that are difficult, enduring, or uncompromising.

Kõva is of Finnic origin and is cognate with the Finnish word kova, both reflecting a shared semantic field of hardness and strength. The Estonian form has developed within the Finnic language family alongside related terms in neighboring languages, preserving the core sense of firmness.

In usage, kõva can contrast with softer or gentler senses and is often employed to emphasize toughness or endurance. It appears across different registers, from casual speech to literary prose, and can convey literal hardness or a figurative toughness depending on context. As with many Estonian adjectives, kõva inflects to agree with gender, number, and case in sentences, but its basic meaning remains readily recognizable across contexts.