Usage notes

• The words sumu, usva and utu all describe "visible water vapor lightly suspended near the ground", but at different degrees. However, they may often be used synonymously with no discretion.

Utu describes very light vapor near the ground, esp. that occurring in the morning and therefore it is translated usually as mist or haze.

Usva describes a bit thicker vapor than utu near the ground, esp. when considering the water travelling conditions. Therefore, it is translated usually as mist, haze or fog.

Sumu describes very thick vapor obscuring the visibility near the ground and thus, it is translated usually as mist or fog.