pehmeys

Pehmeys is a Finnish noun meaning the quality or state of being soft or smooth. It is used to describe physical textures, such as the tenderness of bread, the plushness of fabric, or the softness of foam, as well as sensory impressions like a gentle touch or a soft sound. Metaphorically, pehmeys appears in discussions of behavior, attitudes, or policies to convey gentleness, leniency, or tact.

Etymology: The word derives from the adjective pehmeä (soft) and the nominalizing suffix -ys, forming a general noun for softness. It is a standard term in everyday Finnish and occurs in both spoken and written language.

Usage: In everyday language, pehmeys is common and widely understood. It is typically positive, often contrasted with kovuus (hardness) or jäykkyys (rigidity). In product descriptions, it highlights comfort and tactile appeal; in poetry or prose, it can carry aesthetic or emotional nuance. The word frequently collocates with nouns like kankaan pehmeys (the softness of the fabric), leivän pehmeys (the bread’s softness), or pehmeä kosketus (a soft touch).

See also: pehmeä, pehmeyden (genitive form), kovuus, jäykkyys.