kõvastuvad

Kõvastuvad is an Estonian verb form meaning “they become horrified” or “they are shocked.” It is the present tense, third-person plural form of the verb kõvastuma. The base verb kõvastuma denotes a sudden emotional response to alarming information, events, or statements, typically fear or astonishment.

The verb is intransitive; its subject is the person or group experiencing the emotion. It is commonly used with clauses or phrases indicating what provokes the reaction, such as when someone hears disturbing news or encounters a troubling statement. For example, Ta kõvastub kuuldes kohutavaid uudiseid (They are horrified upon hearing shocking news).

Related forms include the singular present tense form kõvastub (he/she/it becomes horrified) and the past participle kõvastunud, used to describe something or someone as having been shocked. The noun kõvastus denotes the state of shock or horror that can be described as the source or result of kõvastumine, depending on the sentence.

In usage, kõvastuma conveys a strong emotional response and is appropriate in both everyday and literary Estonian. It is often contrasted with milder terms for surprise or concern, emphasizing a more intense reaction. Etymologically, it is linked to the Estonian noun kõvastus (shock, horror) and shares its semantic field with expressions describing fear, surprise, and emotional impact.