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Etymology

huhta (“cleared field in slash-and-burn cultivation”) +‎ kuu (“month”), named so because it was around the time of year when the trees and plants to be burned to make a swidden were left to dry.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈhuhtiˌkuː/, [ˈhuht̪iˌkuː]
• Rhymes: -uː
• Hyphenation(key): huhti‧kuu

Noun

month
Previous: maaliskuu
Next: toukokuu
huhtikuu

1. April (month)

Usage notes

“in April” is expressed with the inessive case (huhtikuussa).

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *nakradak, of unknown ultimate origin. Cognates include Estonian naerma, Karelian nakrua.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈnɑu̯rɑːˣ/, [ˈnɑ̝u̯rɑ̝ː(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -ɑurɑː
• Hyphenation(key): nau‧raa

Verb

nauraa (intransitive)

1. to laugh [with allative or partitive ‘at’] nauraa katketakseen ― to laugh one's head off, split one's sides
2. to laugh off [with allative]
   Jos sää on huono, minä vain nauran sille.
   If the weather is bad, I'll just laugh it off.

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *soomi, probably from earlier *sämä and related to Proto-Samic *sāmē (see the Proto-Finnic entry for more details and references). The name originally referred only to the area now known as Southwest Finland (Finnish Varsinais-Suomi (literally “Finland Proper”)). Cognates include Estonian Soome, Ingrian Soomi, Livonian sūom, Votic soomi and (borrowed) Northern Sami Suopma. First attested in 811 in Royal Frankish Annals as an anthroponym (personal name).

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈsuo̯mi/, [ˈs̠uo̞̯mi]
• Rhymes: -uomi
• Hyphenation(key): Suo‧mi

Proper noun

Suomi

1. (uncountable) Finland (a country in Northern Europe) Synonyms: Suomenmaa, Suomen tasavalta
   Suomi on tasavalta.
   Finland is a republic.
2. a Finnish surname

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *hihtädäk, probably onomatopoeic. Compare Karelian hiihteä and Veps hihtta.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈhiːhtæːˣ/, [ˈhiːçt̪æː(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -iːhtæː
• Hyphenation(key): hiih‧tää

Verb

hiihtää.

1. (intransitive, transitive) to ski

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Etymology

Formed with the suffix -nko from a root of unknown origin, for which proposed etymologies include:

• from earlier *auderinko, derived from auer.
• from a Baltic language (compare Lithuanian aušrà (“dawn”)).

Originally an innovation of the western dialects of Finnish (replacing päivä). Attested in written sources since the 1500s.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈɑu̯riŋko/, [ˈɑ̝u̯riŋko̞]
• Rhymes: -ɑuriŋko
• Hyphenation(key): au‧rin‧ko

Noun

aurinko

1. the Sun
   Synonyms: (colloquial) arska, (archaic) päivä
2. a sun
3. (in compounds) solar, sun-, helio-

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Etymology 1

Borrowed from Old Swedish korper (compare Swedish korp), from Old Norse korpr.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈkorpːi/, [ˈko̞rpːi]
• Rhymes: -orpːi
• Hyphenation(key): korp‧pi

Noun

korppi

1. common raven, Corvus corax.
2. any raven

Etymology 2

Clipping of korpraali +‎ -i, influenced by korppi (“raven”).

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈkorpːi/, [ˈko̞rpːi]
• Rhymes: -orpːi
• Hyphenation(key): korp‧pi

Noun

korppi

1. (military slang) Synonym of korpraali (“lance corporal”).

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *häirit'äk, from earlier *šajri-/šäjri-, borrowed from Proto-Germanicsairijaną (compare Icelandic særa).

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈhæi̯ritæˣ/, [ˈhæi̯rit̪æ(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -æiritæ
• Hyphenation(key): häi‧ri‧tä

Verb

häiritä (transitive, usually atelic)

1. to disturb, bother, bug
   ei saa häiritä ― do not disturb 
2. to disrupt
2. to jam (block or confuse a radio or radar signal)

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *varis, from Proto-Uralic *warᴈ. Cognates include Estonian vares, Veps variš, Karelian varis, Erzya варака (varaka), Moksha варси (varsi) and Hungarian varjú. Likely an onomatopoeic word, compare Russian воро́на (voróna).

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈʋɑris/, [ˈʋɑ̝ris̠]
• Rhymes: -ɑris
• Hyphenation(key): va‧ris

Noun

varis

1. hooded crow, grey crow, Corvus cornix
2. corvid, crow (any bird of the genus Corvus)

Usage notes

Until recently carrion crow (nokivaris, which is rarely seen in Finland but common in England) was believed to be just a black variant of hooded crow or grey crow (which is common in Finland but less common in England). Therefore many dictionaries give "carrion crow" as translation for varis.

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *etelä (“south, southwest”)(compare Estonian edel (“southwest”)). Equivalent of esi- (“front”) +‎ -lä, named so because dwellings tended to be built facing south (as that is where the sun shines from at noon in northern Europe).

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈetelæ/, [ˈe̞t̪e̞læ]
• Rhymes: -etelæ
• Hyphenation(key): ete‧lä

Noun

etelä

1. south

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Etymology

From Russian со́боль (sóbolʹ, “sable”),[1] from Old East Slavic соболь (sobolĭ).

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈsopuli/, [ˈs̠o̞puli]
• Rhymes: -opuli
• Hyphenation(key): so‧pu‧li

Noun

sopuli

1. lemming (several rodents in the family Cricetidae, especially those of the tribe Lemmini)
2. lemming, true lemming (any rodent of the genus Lemmus)
3. Norway lemming, Lemmus lemmus
   Synonym: tunturisopuli
4. lemming (a member of a group given to conformity or groupthink; used especially of journalists)

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Etymology

From päivän (“of the day”) +‎ tasaus (“equalisation”).

Pronunciation.

• IPA(key): /ˈpæi̯ʋænˌtɑsɑus/, [ˈpæi̯ʋæn̪ˌt̪ɑ̝s̠ɑ̝us̠]
• Rhymes: -ɑsɑus
• Hyphenation(key): päivän‧tasa‧us

Noun

päiväntasaus

1. (astronomy) equinox

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *kevät, from Proto-Uralic *keŋä.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈkeʋæt/, [ˈk̟e̞ʋæt̪]
• Rhymes: -eʋæt
• Hyphenation(key): ke‧vät

Noun

season
Previous: talvi
Next: kesä
kevät

1. spring, springtime (season of the year)

Usage notes

As with all four seasons in Finnish, the adessive case (keväällä) is normally used when talking about events that will take place or took place in (the) spring. The essive case (keväänä) is used instead, however, if there is a determiner like tämä (“this”), viime (“last”) or ensi (“next”); this does not apply when e.g. specifying the year (adessive case is used). As usual, other uses, e.g. when postponing events (allative) or with asti (“until”) (illative), may use other locative cases.
...tapahtui keväällä ―
...happened in the spring
...tapahtui vuoden 2017 keväällä ―
...happened in the spring of (the year) 2017,
...happened in spring 2017
...tapahtui viime keväänä ―
...happened last spring

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Etymology

kalsari- (“underpants”) +‎ känni (“intoxication”)

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈkɑlsɑriˌkænːi/, [ˈkɑ̝ls̠ɑ̝riˌk̟ænːi]
• Rhymes: -ænːi
• Hyphenation(key): kal‧sari‧känni

Noun

kalsarikänni
(slang)

1. (often in the plural) Getting drunk in one's underpants at home, usually alone.
   Mitä teit perjantaina? —Olin niin väsynyt, että menin kotiin ja vedin kalsarikännit. What did you do on Friday? —I was so tired that I went home and got drunk alone.

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *onni, of uncertain further etymology.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈonːi/, [ˈo̞nːi]
• Rhymes: -onːi
• Hyphenation(key): on‧ni

Noun

onni

1. happiness, pleasure, contentment, gratification, bliss
   Near-synonym: ilo
2. joy, delight, pleasure (a person, thing or action that causes enjoyment)
   Synonym: ilo
3. luck, fortune [with inessive ‘with (something)’]
   Minulla oli onni selvitä ehjin nahoin. I was fortunate to have survived in one piece.

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Etymology

Borrowed from Old Swedish trumba (compare modern Swedish trumma). Doublet of trumpetti.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈrumpu/, [ˈrumpu]
• Rhymes: -umpu
• Hyphenation(key): rum‧pu

Noun

rumpu

1. drum (musical instrument)
2. cylinder (usually rotating, such as in a washing machine)
3. culvert (channel crossing under a road or railway for the draining of water)
   Synonym: siltarumpu

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Etymology

peli +‎ -ata

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈpelɑtɑˣ/, [ˈpe̞lɑ̝t̪ɑ̝(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -elɑtɑ
• Hyphenation(key): pe‧la‧ta

Verb

pelata

1. (transitive) to play (participate in (a sport or game))
2. (intransitive, colloquial) to work, to function (operate normally)
3. (archaic, transitive) to play (music)
   Synonym: soittaa
4. (archaic, intransitive) to play (of music)
   Synonym: soida

Usage notes

pelata is used for playing organized and rule-bound games, whereas the verb for playing at "children's games" with no rules or set objectives is leikkiä. Likewise, the noun leikki denotes "children's games" and peli organized games with rules.

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Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈsoi̯tin/, [ˈs̠o̞i̯t̪in]
• Rhymes: -oitin
• Hyphenation(key): soi‧tin

Etymology 1

soittaa +‎ -in

Noun

soitin

1. musical instrument, instrument
2. player (any device that repeats recorded sound).
   DVD-soitin ― DVD player

Etymology 2

Verb

soitin

1. first-person singular past indicative of soittaa

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Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German spel, from Proto-West Germanic *spil, Doublet of pila.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈpeli/, [ˈpe̞li]
• Rhymes: -eli
• Hyphenation(key): pe‧li

Noun

peli

1. game (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment)

2. (sports) match, game; (tennis) game

3. (especially in compounds) tool, means, implement, vehicle
   ajopeli, kulkupeli, ankkuripeli ― (dialectal or humorous) vehicle; (dialectal or humorous) vehicle; anchor windlass

4. (slang) wheels (automobile)
   Kiva peli!
   Nice wheels!

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *pitkä, derived from Proto-Uralic *pide. The comparative, superlative and many derived forms are derived from the original stem pide-.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈpitkæ/, [ˈpit̪k̟æ]
• Rhymes: -itkæ
• Hyphenation(key): pit‧kä

Adjective

pitkä (comparative pidempi or pitempi, superlative pisin)

1. long (having great length)
   Antonym: lyhyt
   pitkä keppi ― long stick

2. long (having great duration)
   Antonym: lyhyt
   Siitä on pitkä aika, kun heräsin.
   It's been a long time since I woke up.

3. tall (of a person: having a great vertical extent)
   Antonyms: lyhyt, pätkä
   Near-synonym: korkea (“tall, high”) (not of people)
   pitkä mies ― tall man

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Etymology

From Low German; see German Low German moin. Has also been compared with moro, suggesting a connection with Swedish morgon, but this is now considered unlikely.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈmoi̯/, [ˈmo̞i̯]
• Rhymes: -oi
• Hyphenation(key): moi

Interjection

moi

1. hi, hello

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Etymology 1

From Proto-Finnic *hooli, possibly a Baltic loan; compare Lithuanian žala (“damage, harm”).[1] Related to Estonian hool, Ingrian hooli, Karelian huoli.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈhuo̯li/, [ˈhuo̞̯li]
• Rhymes: -uoli
• Hyphenation(key): huo‧li

Noun

huoli

1. worry, concern [with elative ‘about’]
2. (in expressions) care
   pitää huolta ― to take care (of)

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *soittadak. Equivalent to soida (“to make a sound, ring”) +‎ -ttaa (causative aspect).

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈsoi̯tːɑːˣ/, [ˈs̠o̞i̯t̪ːɑ̝ː(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -oitːɑː
• Hyphenation(key): soit‧taa

Verb

soittaa

1. (transitive) to play (produce music using a musical instrument; use a device to hear a recording) [with adessive ‘with’]
   Hän soittaa kitaraa. (e.g. as a hobby)
   She plays the guitar.
   Hän soittaa kitaralla. (e.g. right now, playing a piece of music with a guitar)
   She is playing (a song with) the guitar.
   Hän on soittanut tämän konserton jo monta kertaa.
   He has already played this concerto many times.
   Radio soittaa paljon rock-musiikkia.
   Radio plays a lot of rock music.
   Soita vielä yksi kappale!
   Play one more song!
   Tämän sävellyksen voi soittaa pianolla.
   This piece of music can be played on the piano.
2. (intransitive) to phone, call [with allative or illative]
   soittaa (puhelimella) jollekin ― to call someone (on the phone)
   Soitan sinulle illalla.
   I'll call you tonight.
3. (transitive, usually atelic) to ring, toll (a bell; also idiomatically in the expression soittaa kelloa) soittaa kelloa ― to ring a bell
   soittaa ovikelloa ― to ring a doorbell
4. (archaic, figurative) to drive, ride (now chiefly in idiomatic expressions, such as yhtä soittoa)

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Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *sairas, borrowed from Proto-Germanic *sairaz, compare Swedish sår, English sore.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈsɑi̯rɑs/, [ˈs̠ɑ̝i̯rɑ̝s̠]
• Rhymes: -ɑirɑs
• Hyphenation(key): sai‧ras

Adjective

sairas (comparative sairaampi, superlative sairain)

1. ill, sick

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Etymology

Unknown. Often thought to derive from Proto-Finnic *omëna, but the only certain cognates with this form are Ingrian omena and Karelian omena.[1] Estonian õun and Livonian umārz are also often thought to be related, but the words cannot go back to a common protoform. A theory posits that the word is borrowed from an Indo-Iranian language (compare Yidgha [script needed] (åmuno), [script needed] (amun, “apple”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈomenɑ/, [ˈo̞me̞nɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -omenɑ
• Hyphenation(key): ome‧na

Noun

omena

1. apple

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Etymology

Probably borrowed from Swedish rosk (“filth, garbage”). First mention in a Finnish dictionary was in 1787.

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈroskɑ/, [ˈro̞s̠kɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -oskɑ
• Hyphenation(key): ros‧ka

Noun

roska

1. (collective, often in the plural) litter, trash, rubbish, refuse Voisitko viedä roskat?
   Could you take out the trash?
   Heitä vain roskiin. Just toss it in the trash.
2. a piece of litter
3. (figurative) rubbish, trash (worthless artistic, literary, or musical material or similar)
   Tuo peli on täyttä roskaa. That game is complete rubbish.

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