The Finnish language is quirky and poetic. It has no gendered pronouns and no distinct future tense. It’s also fit for purpose, up there in the cold. The vocabulary is rich with words for snow, forest, quiet and things relating to sauna. It also boasts a goodly number of words that don’t translate directly into English. Here’s a selection.
Avanto
A hole in the ice, either naturally formed or deliberately created.
Hyppytyynytyydytys
The pleasure of sitting on a bouncy cushion. Look Mum, no vowels! [Ed: Good luck with that pronunciation.]
Kaamos
The polar night: a time in winter when the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon.
Kalsarikännit
Drinking alone at home in your underwear, with no intention of going out.
Kotoisa
Similar to the Danish word Hygge meaning cozy, homely snug.
Kyykkyviini
Cheap wine you squat to grab off the bottom shelf. Literally “squat wine”.
Lintukoto
Literally “bird home”. Refers to any safe and carefree place. Because Finland is a relatively safe and wealthy country, Finns sometimes fondly refer to their home country as lintukoto.
Löyly
The steam generated by throwing water on hot rocks in a sauna or the heat of the sauna.
Lohturuoka
Comfort food. Warmth, carbs and often a connection to childhood.
Mökki
A modest countryside cabin, central to Finnish summer culture. More than a house – it's a way of being.
Myötähäpeä
Vicarious embarrassment; feeling ashamed for someone else, even if they themselves are oblivious.
Pilkunnussija
Literally "comma fucker" – a pedantic grammar corrector.
Peräkamaripoika
Literally “back bedroom boy”. An adult male who lives with his parents and is typically single and unemployed.
Poronkusema
A traditional unit of distance, it measures how far a reindeer can travel without needing to pee: approximately 7.5 km.
Reipas
Someone who has an energetic and enthusiastic attitude. A can do person.
Ryyppyreissu
A dedicated drinking trip, often messy.
Saunatonttu
The sauna elf who protects the sauna. One must behave or risk angering it.
Sisu
Grit, resilience, and perseverance, especially in the face of adversity. Sisu is a cultural concept and considered by Finns to be their national characteristic.
Tuliainen
A little something for the host when visiting their house: ground coffee, baked goods candy for the kids.
Väsyttää
To feel sleepy or tired.
Vittuuntua
To become pissed off or really annoyed.
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References
finnishpod101.com/blog/2019/06/28/untranslatable-finnish-words
matadornetwork.com/read/15-fascinating-untranslatable-finnish-words-need-english
howtopronounce.com/finnish/hyppytyynytyydytys
Images
1. Finnish flag
2. Avanto. Credit: NorthOutdoor.com
3. Homer learns about kalsarikännit in Season 35 of The Simpsons
4. Kyykkyviini means "squat wine". Cheap plonk on the bottom shelf.
5. Löyly. Photo by HUUM on Unsplash
6. Poronkusema. Credit: ididnthavemyglasseson.com
7. Saunatonttu means sauna elf
8. Sisu is a 2022 Finnish historical action thriller film
