List of English words of Finnish origin

The Finnish language has lent few loanwords to the English language; Finnish is rather a net importer of words from English.

However the following words of Finnish origin are some examples:

Widespread

The most commonly used Finnish word in English is sauna, which has also been loaned to many other languages.

Specialized

Words derived from Finnish used in more specialized fields:

aapa mire - a marsh type, in biology
palsa - low, often oval, frost heaves occurring in polar and subpolar climates
pulk - a type of toboggan (derivative of word pulkka)
puukko - traditional Finnish sheath knife
Rapakivi granite - a granite rock in petrology

Cultural

In English, Finnish words used with reference to the Finnish culture, but not nativized in English and not used in other contexts:

sisu - the Finnish state of mind about strong character and 'grim forbearance,' has been documented in English since at least 1940.
kantele - a Finnish zither
motti - a Finnish military tactic
salmiakki - a salty liquorice and popular Finnish candy

See also

External links

For a list of words relating to English-language terms derived from the Finnish language, see the English terms derived from Finnish category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Finnish

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