Understanding place names in Finnish

Place names in Finland are very literal, frequently constructed with a suffix which is a noun, which describe exactly what the surrounding are is like. The following list is common place-suffixes which will be used throughout this blog, it should help the reader visualise what some of the unusual words mean. The words in brackets are the phonetic pronunciation.

-järvi: lake (yar-vi)
-joki: river (yo-ki)
-lahti: bay (lah-te)
-niemi: cape (ni-ay-me)
-ranta: beach (ran-ta)
-saari: island (sah-ri)
-suo: marsh (su-o)
-vaara: ridge (var-ah)
-salmi: strait or narrow (sahl-mi)
-suu: mouth, as in of a river (soo)
-koski: waterfall (o as in oval)
-kylä: village (kew-lah)
-ylä: meaning upper (ew-lah)
-ala: meaning lower (ah-la)
-pohjola: north (poh-yoy-la)
-etelä: south (ay-tel-ah)

y is pronounced ew
ä is pronounced like the a in apple
ö is prounced err
a is pronounced like the a in car


3 comments:

  1. Then, there are many place names that are from Western/Central Europe, or linked there. Example of this is Harjavalta, which contains a homonym for an Old German walda, currently wald, which means "power" or "might".

    The beginning can be found in, for example, karja, and there's a speculation that a Central European warrior-king called something like Khariowalda is the one who's given the name. The area has emerged in the Bronze Age as a fertile planting ground. And the amount of "karja" used to symbolise one's status more directly than modern people realise, I guess. Thus, a name for a place that was very desirable, and likely belonged to the most prestigious family, gets a likely name, both parts denoting status and might.

    Then there are names like Untamala, which refers to an old Finnish proper name Untamo, which is found in, e.g. Kalevala. A modern speculation is, that Western Finland, the Finland Proper is the Kalevala country instead of Carelia, which was traditionally used probably for political reasons, to show that historically it is a part of Finland. There are many such place names in South-western Finland.

    Anyhow, history is interesting, and old place names are very interesting indeed.

    Oh, and in Finnish, a is pronounced like the "a" in "car"; it's an open vowel.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the input. Car would probably be a better example than Air. History is a very interesting subject, Finnish history is amazing but has not really had much exposer in the English speaking world.

      Delete
  2. Are you interested in investing online? Are you losing trades to your trade broker? Have you being scammed by those so called money rippers that called themselves Account Managers? I will tell you this, never believe in any of their posts claiming to be an account manager because I had believed and trusted them until I got scammed of all my saving. Someone introduced me to Mrs sophia a recovery expert who helped me in getting my lost fund back you too can reach out to liam sophia if you want to recovere your lost investment to these scammers email her via: liamsophia39@gmail.com or whatsapp +1 (814)503-0528

    ReplyDelete