kõva

From Proto-Finnic *kova. Cognates include Finnish, Ingrian, Karelian, Livvi, Ludian, and Veps kova, Votic kõva and Livonian kõvā.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɤvɑ/,

• Audio:

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• Rhymes: -ɤvɑ
• Hyphenation: kõ‧va

kõva (genitive kõva, partitive kõva, comparative kõvem, superlative kõige kõvem or kõvim)

1. hard, solid, rigid (dense in composition, resistant to pressure; in a non-liquid, non-gaseous state)

   Antonym: pehme

   kõva metall ― hard metal

   kõva kui kivi ― hard as a rock

   Magma kattus kõva koorikuga. ― The magma was covered with a hard crust.

   Malm on kõva ja rabe. ― Cast iron is hard and brittle.

   kõva kattega maantee ― paved road (literally, “with a hard cover ”)

   Teras on kõvem kui raud. ― Steel is harder than iron.

   Tamm on kõvem puu kui kask. ― An oak is a harder tree than a birch.

   kõvade kaantega raamat ― a hardcover book

   Kartulid on kõvad, tuleb veel keeta. ― The potatoes are hard, they still need to be boiled.

   kõvaks keedetud muna ― a hard-boiled egg

   kõva suulagi ― hard palate

   kõva habe ― coarse beard (= with stiff hairs, difficult to trim)

   • (Can we date this quote?), Paul Kuusberg, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

     Tee muutus ikka liivasemaks ja pehmemaks ning lõpuks kadus kõva põhi täiesti. Jalad vajusid sügavale liiva.

     The path became more and more sandy and soft and eventually the hard ground disappeared completely. The feet sank deep into the sand.

   1. (of items of clothing) stiff, tough, rigid

      kõva riie ― stiff fabric

      Märjad riided külmusid kõvaks. ― Wet clothes froze solid.

   2. hard, stiff and uncomfortable (to sit or lie down in)

      Voodi oli kõva. ― The bed was hard.

      Konutas ooteruumi kõval pingil. ― (S)he was sitting on a hard bench in the waiting room.

      kõva mööbel ― hard furniture (= without padding or covering)

   3. (vulgar) erect (penis)
   4. (pornography) hard, hardcore

      kõva porno ― hardcore pornography

2. firm, durable, strong, tough

   Antonym: nõrk

   Karjamaal on kõva aed ümber. ― The pasture has a firm fence around it.

   Katus on veel kõva ega lase vihma läbi. ― The roof is still durable and does not let the rain through.

   Kapil oli kõva lukk, seda ei suudetud lahti murda. ― The cupboard had a firm lock, it could not be broken.

   kõvad närvid ― a strong stomach (literally, “strong nerves”)

   Klaasipuhujal peavad olema kõvad kopsud. ― A glassblower must have strong lungs.

   • 1933, A. H. Tammsaare, chapter II, in Tõde ja õigus V [Truth and Justice] (Tõde ja õigus; V), 2nd edition, Tartu: Noor-Eesti, published 1936, →ISBN, pages 21–22:

     „Kas tõmbad iseoma pikad säärikud jalga?“ küsis isa. „Esiteks pidin küll, aga nüüd mõtlesin ümber. Minu omad peavad küll hästi vett, aga risu ja orkide vastu pole nad kuigi kõvad,“ vastas Indrek.

     "Are you going to put on your own long boots?" his father asked. "At first I was, but now I've changed my mind. Mine hold water well, but they're not very strong against twigs and thistles," Indrek replied.

   • 1894, Juhan Liiv, chapter 8, in Friedebert Tuglas, editor, Vari [Shadow] (Kogutud teoksed; 2)‎, 3rd edition, Tartu: Noor-Eesti, published 1923, →ISBN, page 81:

     „Ma lähen, toon veel puid tulle,“ ütles endine noor poiss, et selle teenistuse eest kuulamise luba saada, sest vanad mehed sundisid alaealisi magama, et nad raskele tööle kõvemad oleksid.

     "I'm going to go get some more firewood," said the former young boy, in order to get permission to listen in for this service, because the old men were forcing the minors to sleep to make them tougher for the hard work.

3. tough, strong, powerful

   kõva mees ― a tough guy

   kõva kondiga metsatööline ― a strong forestry worker (literally, “ with a tough bone”)

   1. forceful, done with force

      kõva hoop vastu ust ― a powerful hit against the door

      Äigas poisile kõva võmmu kuklasse. ― (S)he took a hard swing at the back of the boy's head.

4. firm, tough, strong, steadfast, steady

   kõva majanduslik põhi ― a firm economic base

   Tal on kõrgemal pool kõva seljatagune. ― (S)he has his/her back steadily covered with the higher-ups.

   Tal on kõva usk, et olukord peagi muutub. ― (S)he has a firm belief that things will soon change.

   Asutuses valitseb kõva kord. ― The institution runs a tight ship.

   Majandi juhtimisel oleks vaja kõvemat kätt. ― You need somebody stronger to manage the holding. (literally, “ a stronger hand ”)

   See oli kemplemine kahe kõva vastase vahel. ― It was a scuffle between two tough opponents.

5. severe, strict, harsh, stern, austere, heavy

   Selle eest on kõva karistus. ― There is a severe punishment for this.

   Ta sai kõva peapesu. ― (S)he got a stern talking-to.

   Ütlesin paar kõva sõna. ― I said a few strong words (= swear words).

   kõva kriitika ― harsh criticism

   kõva keeld ― a strict ban

   Kõik teed olid kõva valve all. ― All roads were under heavy surveillance.

6. (chiefly informal) good, high-quality, remarkable

   Ta sai kõva koolihariduse. ― (S)he got a good education.

   Meie kool kuulub kõvemate keskkoolide hulka. ― Our school is one of the best high schools.

   See oli kõva pidu. ― That was a hell of a party.

   Ta tegi kõva karjääri. ― (S)he had a successful career.

   Töömees vajab kõvemat toitu. ― A worker needs something heavier to eat.

   kõva uni ― heavy sleep

   1. (of a person, positive) avid, outstanding, good at a specific field

      Saima on kõva tööinimene. ― Saima is a hard worker.

      Ta on kõva ujuja. ― (S)he's a good swimmer.

      Ta on bioloogias kõva. ― (S)he's a biology whiz.

      Juba koolis olin kõva matemaatik. ― I was already a good mathematician at school.

      Ta on kõva meistrimees. ― He is a masterful craftsman.

      Ta on igati kõva mees omal alal. ― He's a tough guy in his field.

   2. (of a person, negative) inveterate, heavy, tough

      Poiss on kõva kakleja. ― The boy is a tough fighter.

      Tüdruk on kõva kurameerija. ― The girl is very loose (= a prostitute).

      Mees on kõva joodik. ― The man is a heavy drinker.

      Vanamees on kõva ärimees ja hangeldaja. ― The old man is a tough businessman and a wheeler-dealer.

      Kes see nii kõva norskaja on? ― Who's that snoring so loud? (literally, “Who is such a heavy snorer?”)

7. (informal) considerable, sizeable, hefty, decent, proper

   kõva peotäis ― a solid handful

   kõva õhtusöök ― a heavy dinner

   Toiduportsjonid olid kõvad. ― The food portions were hefty.

   Tänavu oli kõva räimesaak. ― It was a decent herring season this year.

   Rüüpas pudelist kõva sõõmu. ― (S)he took a considerable swig from the bottle.

   Eile oli kõva võtmine. ― Yesterday was a heavy drinking day.

   1. Emphasizes the (rather large) amount of something.

      Sinna on kõva kilomeeter maad. ― It's a good kilometre to get there.

      Pudeleid on oma kõva tosin. ― There are about a dozen bottles.

      Ettekanne kestis kõva pool tundi. ― The presentation lasted a solid half hour.

      Kõva kolmandik teed on veel käimata. ― A good third of the way is still to go.

      Ta on minust kõva kümme aastat noorem. ― (S)he's a good ten years younger than me.

   2. (of money) big, large, hefty

      kõva raha ― big money

      Tal on kõva sissetulek. ― (S)he has a large income.

      Teenis kõva kopika. ― (S)he earned a pretty penny

      Võttis laenu pealt kõva protsendi. ― (S)he took a hefty percentage on the loan.

      Kaup on hea, kuid hind kõva. ― The product is good, but the price is steep.

8. (informal) hard, big, great, fierce, acute, intense, vehement, incessant

   kõva koduigatsus ― great homesickness

   Tal on rahva hulgas kõva poolehoid. ― (S)he has a lot of support among the people.

   kõva peavalu, köha, palavik ― a strong headache, cough, high fever

   Mul on kõva kahtlus, kas see ikka nii on. ― I strongly doubt that's the case.

   Sellest tuleb kõva pahandus. ― This will be a big trouble.

   Tal oli küll kõva kannatus, kuid lõpuks sai ka see otsa. ― (S)he had a lot of patience, but in the end it ran out.

   kõva kähmlus ― a big fight

   Vaenlane avaldas kõva vastupanu. ― The enemy showed great resistance.

   Paat sai kohe alguses kõva hoo sisse. ― The boat took off quickly right from the start.

   Ta tuli kõva jooksuga. ― (S)he came running fast.

   kõva töö ― hard work

   Bussipeatusse on veerand tundi kõva astumist. ― It's an intense quarter of an hour's walk to the bus stop.

   Enne valimisi tehti kõva kampaaniat. ― There was a lot of campaigning before the elections.

   Ta on kõva isamaalane. ― (S)he's a vehement nationalist.

   Käivad kõvad jutud. ― There's incessant rumours going around.

   1. (of weather) extreme, severe

      kõva pakane ― severe cold

      kõva tuul ― strong wind

      Väljas valitses kõva talv. ― It was harsh winter outside.

      Kõva äike tegi palju kahju. ― Extreme thunderstorms did a lot of damage.

9. (informal, especially alcoholic beverages) strong, hard

   kõva puskar ― strong moonshine

   See naps on hirmus kõva. ― This booze is really hard.

   See oli kõva tubakas. ― That was hard tobacco.

   Võtsin kõva tableti sisse. ― I took a strong pill.

   kõva kõrbelehk ― a strong burning smell

10. (informal) strong, powerful

    Kohtualusel oli kõva alibi. ― The defendant had a strong alibi.

    Tal on kõvad kaardid peos. ― (S)he's got a strong hand (of cards).

11. loud (voice, noise, sound)

    kõva kisa ― hue and cry

    Käis kõva pauk. ― A loud bang went off.

    Mehed rääkisid kõva häälega. ― The men were talking loudly.

12. (sometimes derogatory) with poor hearing or memory

    kõva kuulmisega ― hard of hearing

    Poisil on kõva pea. ― The boy is a bit dense. (literally, “ has a hard head.”)

13. (informal, of water) hard (high on dissolved calcium and other minerals)
14. (informal, phonetics) hard, fortis, voiceless (stops)

    kõva p, t, k ― hard p, t, k (as opposed to "soft" b, d, g)

15. (finance) unregulated, market-rate, unsubsidized, hard

    kõva valuuta ― hard currency

    kõva raha ― unsubsidized financing

• kõva in Sõnaveeb (Eesti Keele Instituut)
• “kõva”, in Eesti keele seletav sõnaraamat [Descriptive Dictionary of the Estonian Language] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2009

From Proto-Finnic *kova.

kõva (genitive kõva, partitive kõvva)

1. hard (not soft)
2. strict
3. harsh

From Proto-Finnic *kova.

• (Luutsa, Liivtšülä) IPA^(key): /ˈkɤvɑ/,
• Rhymes: -ɤvɑ
• Hyphenation: kõ‧va

kõva (comparative kõvapi, superlative kõikka kõvapi)

1. hard (not soft)
2. stiff
3. strong, sturdy
4. harsh, strict

• Hallap, V., Adler, E., Grünberg, S., Leppik, M. (2012) Vadja keele sõnaraamat [A dictionary of the Votic language], 2nd edition, Tallinn