Finnish Genealogical Word List: Difference between revisions

From FamilySearch Wiki
VisualWikitext
m (Text replacement - " " to " ")
mNo edit summary
(69 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{FinnishWL-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
This list contains Finnish words with their English translations. The words included here are those that you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Finnish-English dictionary (see the "Additional Resources" section below).  
| link1=[[Genealogical Word Lists|Genealogical Word Lists]]
| link2=
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Finnish Genealogical Word List|Finnish Genealogical Word List]]
}}
Finnish is related to Estonian and distantly related to Hungarian. It is not related to other European languages. The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. Until the end of the 1800s, records were kept in Swedish. For help reading those records, see the [[Swedish Genealogical Word List|Swedish Genealogical Word List]]. Some Latin phrases also appear in older Finnish parish registers. For help, use the [[Latin Genealogical Word List|Latin Genealogical Word List]].  


This list contains Finnish words with their English translations. The words included here are those that you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Finnish-English dictionary (see the "Additional Resources" section at the bottom of this page).  
Finnish is related to Estonian and distantly related to Hungarian. It is not related to other European languages. The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. Until the end of the 1800s, records were kept in Swedish. For help reading those records, see the Swedish Genealogical Word List(31028). Some Latin phrases also appear in older Finnish parish registers. For help, use the Latin Genealogical Word List (34077).  


If you would like to learn more about the language characteristics see the article [[Finnish Language Characteristics|Finnish Language Characteristics]].
=== LANGUAGE CHARACTERISTICS   ===


== Alphabetical Order ==
<br>Variant Forms of Words


Written Finnish uses three letters in addition to the twenty-six letters used in the English alphabet: ä, ö, and for Swedish names, å. Finnish dictionaries and indexes, this word list, and the Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog. Look this term up in the glossary. all use the following alphabetical order:
In Finnish, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who—whose—whom or marry—marries—married are examples of words in English with variant forms.  


a  b  c  d  e  f  g  h  i  j  k  l  m  n  o  p  q  r  s  t  u  v  w  x  y  z  å  ä  ö
As you read Finnish records, be aware that the endings of most words vary with usage. One word in Finnish often translates into English as two or more words. For example, talo (house) changes to talossa (in the house).


The letters v and w are frequently alphabetized as the same letter.
Plurals. Finnish indicates the plural of a word in two ways:


== Key Words ==
    * The letter t is added to nouns that have no other endings. For example, talo (house) becomes talot(houses).
To find and use specific types of Finnish records, you will need to know some key words in Finnish. This section gives key genealogical terms in English and the Finnish words with the same or similar meanings.
    * The letter i is added if the noun has another ending. For example, talossa (in the house) becomes taloissa (in the houses).
 
Possessives. In addition to or instead of using words like my and theirs, Finnish adds endings to words to show possession. If a word already has another ending on it, the possessive ending appears at the end of the word. For example, see how possessives change the words talo (house) and talossa (in the house):
 
    his house hänen talonsa
    in his house hänen talossansa
 
See Table 1 for a more complete description of possessives.
 
Prepositions and postpositions. In English, words like in, on, with, before, and after are prepositions. They come before a noun. For example, in the house.
 
Depending on the various grammar rules, Finnish prepositions may appear in one of three ways:
 
    * They may come before the noun. For example, ennen sotaa (before the war).
    * They may come after the noun. (In this case, it is called a postposition.) For example, sodan jälkeen(after the war).
  * They may be added to the noun. For example Helsinki becomes Helsinkiin (into Helsinki). Table 2, on the next page, contains other examples.
 
Word endings. Endings are also added to words for other grammatical purposes. See Tables 1 and 3 for other examples.
 
Table 1. Possessive Endings
 
Possessive and Ending Meaning Examples: talo (house), talossa (in the house) Translation minun, -ni my talo&nbsp;» minun talonitalo&nbsp;» minun talossani house&nbsp;» my househouse&nbsp;» in my house sinun-, si your (singular) talo&nbsp;» sinun talositalo&nbsp;» sinun talossasi house&nbsp;» your househouse&nbsp;» in your house hänen, -nsa, -nsä or double vowel + n his, her talo&nbsp;» hänen talonsatalo&nbsp;» hänen talossansatalo&nbsp;» hänen talossaan house&nbsp;» his (her) househouse&nbsp;» in his (her) househouse&nbsp;» in his (her) house meidän -mme our talo&nbsp;» meidän talommetalo&nbsp;» meidän talossamme house&nbsp;» our househouse&nbsp;» in our house teidän, -nne your (plural) talo&nbsp;» teidän talonnetalo&nbsp;» teidän talossanne house&nbsp;» your househouse&nbsp;» in your house heidn, -nsa, -nsä or double vowel + n their talo&nbsp;» heidän talonsatalo&nbsp;» heidän talossansatalo&nbsp;» heidän talossaan house&nbsp;» their househouse&nbsp;» in their househouse&nbsp;» in their house


For example, in the first column you will find the English word "marriages". In the second column you will find Finnish words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined,and other words used in Finnish records to indicate marriage.  
Table 2. Prepositional Endings on Nouns


{|
Ending Basic Meaning Example Translation -a, -ä, -ta, -t of, some suku&nbsp;» sukua family&nbsp;» of a family -in by means of, with oma käsi&nbsp;» omin ksin one’s own hands&nbsp;» with one’s own hands -ine + a possessive ending (see Table 1) together with lapsi&nbsp;» lapsinensa or lapsineen child&nbsp;» together with his (her or their) children -ksi changed into, become vaimo&nbsp;» otti vaimoksi wife&nbsp;» took for a wife or became a wife -lla, -llä at, by, in Tampere&nbsp;» Tampereella Tampere&nbsp;» in (at) Tampere -lle to Tampere&nbsp;» Tampereelle Tampere&nbsp;» to Tampere -lta, -ltä from Tampere&nbsp;» Tampereelta Tampere&nbsp;» from Tampere -n of talo&nbsp;» talon väki house&nbsp;» people of the house -na, -nä as lapsi&nbsp;» lapsena child&nbsp;» as a child -ssa, -ssä in Helsinki&nbsp;» Helsingissä Helsinki&nbsp;» in Helsinki double vowel + n into Helsinki&nbsp;» Helsinkiin Helsinki&nbsp;» into Helsinki -sta, -stä from Helsinki&nbsp;» Helsingistä Helsinki&nbsp;» from Helsinki
|-
| '''English'''
| '''Finnish'''
|-
| Banns
| kuulutetut
|-
| baptism
| kastetut, kaste-, ristimä-
|-
| births
| syntyneet, synty-
|-
| burials
| haudatut, hauta-, hauda-
|-
| child  
| lapsi
|-
| christenings
| see baptism
|-
| confirmations
| rippilapset, ripille päässeet
|-
| deaths
| kuolleet, kuoli-
|-
| father
| isä
|-
| husband
| mies, aviomies
|-
| marriages
| vihityt, vihki-, naim-, avio-
|-
| month
| kuukausi, kuu
|-
| mother
| äiti
|-
| name (given name)
| nimi, etunimi, kastenimi, ristimänimi
|-
| name (surname)
| (suku)nimi
|-
| parents
| vanhemmat
|-
|parish
|seurakunta, kunta
|-
| wife
| vaimo, aviovaimo, vo
|-
|year
|vuosi, vuoden, vuonna
|-
|
|}


== General Word List  ==
Table 3. Other Word Endings


This general word list includes words commonly seen in genealogical sources. Numbers, months, and days of the week are listed both here and in separate sections that follow this list.
Ending Basic Meaning Example Translation -t forms a plural talo&nbsp;» talot house&nbsp;» houses -ko, -k indicates a question Helsingissä&nbsp;» Helsingissäkö in Helsinki&nbsp;» in Helsinki? -ton without, -less, un- lapsi&nbsp;» lapseton child&nbsp;» childless -tta, -ttä (on verbs) without nähdä&nbsp;» näkemätt to see&nbsp;» without seeing -n, -t shows a direct object talo&nbsp;» näen talon talo&nbsp;» näen talot house&nbsp;» I see the house house&nbsp;» I see the houses


In this list, optional versions of Finnish words or variable endings are given in parentheses. Parentheses in the English column clarify the meaning.<br>
Ending: -lla, -ll followed by a form of the verb olla (to be): on, ei ole, oli, ei ollut, on ollut, or ei ole ollut Basic Meaning: shows possession or ownership (to have)


===A===
Example Translation Anna&nbsp;» Annalla on Anna&nbsp;» Anna has Anna Toivonen&nbsp;» Anna Toivosella oli Anna Toivonen&nbsp;» Anna Toivonen had minä&nbsp;» munulla on ollut I&nbsp;» I have had sinä&nbsp;» sunulla oli you (singular)&nbsp;» you had hän&nbsp;» hänell oli he/she&nbsp;» he/she had me&nbsp;» meillä ei ole ollut we&nbsp;» we have not had te&nbsp;» teillä on you (plural)&nbsp;» you have he&nbsp;» heillä ei ole they&nbsp;» they do not have
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| aamu || morning
|-
| aamulla || in the morning
|-
| aamupäivä || forenoon
|-
| aateli(nen) || noble
|-
| aatelisto || nobility
|-
| aatto || eve
|-
| aika || time, date
|-
| aikainen || early, (a.m.)
|-
| aikaisempi || earlier
|-
| aikakauskirja || periodical
|-
| aikanaan || in due time
|-
| aina || always
|-
| ainoa || only
|-
| aivokuume || encephalitis, inflammation of the brain
|-
| aivotärähdys || concussion
|-
| ajaja || coachman
|-
| ajomies || coachman
|-
| ala, ali || low(er), under
|-
| alaikäinen || minor, underaged
|-
| alla || under
|-
| allekirjoittanut || undersigned
|-
| alue || region, district
|-
| alus || ship
|-
| ammatti || profession, occupation
|-
| annettu || given
|-
| anoppi || mother-in-law
|-
| appi || father-in-law
|-
| appivanhemmat || parents-in-law
|-
| apteekkari || pharmacist, druggist
|-
| arkisto || archive
|-
| arkistoluettelo || archive list
|-
| arvo || title, rank, status
|-
| asema || station, class, standing
|-
| asevelvollinen || conscript soldier
|-
| asiakirja || document, record
|-
| asua || live, reside
|-
| asuinpaikka || place of residence
|-
| asukas || inhabitant, resident, lodger
|-
| asunto || residence
|-
| asutuksen yleisluettelo || general register of inhabitants
|-
| a.u. || illegitimate
|-
| aukko || gap (missing records)
|-
| autio || uninhabited
|-
| avioero || divorce
|-
| avioliiton ulkopuolella || illegitimate, out of wedlock
|-
| avioliitto || marriage
|-
| avioliittoasiakirjat || marriage documents
|-
| aviomies || husband
|-
| avionrikkoja || adulterer
|-
| aviopari || married couple
|-
| aviopuoliso || spouse
|-
| avioton || unmarried, illegitimate
|-
| aviovaimo || wife
|}


===D===
<br>Spelling Changes
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| peltiseppä || tinner, tinsmith
|}


===E===
When an ending is added to a word, the consonants within that word may also change. Consider the following examples:
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| edellinen || former, preceding, previous
|-
| edellä mainittu || above mentioned
|-
| edesmennyt || deceased (adjective)
|-
| edessä || in front of
|-
| Eesti, Viro || Estonia
|-
| eestilänen || Estonian
|-
| ehkä || perhaps
|-
| ehtoo || evening, eve
|-
| ei || no, not
|-
| ei koskaan || never
|-
| eilen || yesterday
|-
| ei mitään || nothing
|-
| ei vielä || not yet
|-
| eläkkeellä oleva || pensioned, retired
|-
| eli || lived, or
|-
| elokuu || August
|-
| eloonjäänyt || surviving, survivor
|-
| elossa || alive
|-
| eläke || pension
|-
| eläkeläinen || pensioned person
|-
| elämäkerta || biography
|-
| elää || to live, living, alive
|-
| ennen || before
|-
| eno || uncle (maternal)
|-
| ensimmäinen || first
|-
| ent. (entinen) || former, previous
|-
| erikoistuomioistuimia || special courts
|-
| erilainen || various
|-
| ero(nnut) || divorce(d)
|-
| erotettu (kirkosta) || excommunicated (from the church)
|-
| esi-isä || ancestor
|-
| esikoinen || firstborn
|-
| esivanhemmat || ancestors
|-
| esteettömyystodistukset || certificates attesting freedom from liability
|-
| esteetön || free of liability, unhindered (to travel, marry, etc.)
|-
| etelä || south
|-
| että || that
|-
| etunimi || given name
|}


===F===
    Letters that Change Examples
{| class="wikitable"
    ht to hd lahti to lahden
! Finnish !! English
  k to (nothing) Ilmajoki to Ilmajoen
|-
  kk to k kirkko to kirkon
| folio || page
  lt to ll ilta to illan
|}
  mp to mm lampi to lammen
  n to s Heinonen to Heinosen
  nk to ng Helsinki to Helsingin
  nt to nn isnt to isnnn
  p to v orpo to orvon
  pp to p pappi to papin
  rk to r Turku to Turun
  rt to rr virta to virran
  s to d or t uusi to uuden, uuteen
  tt to t tytt to tytn
  uku to uvu suku to suvun
  vowel+t to vowel+d iti to idin


===H===
<br>Alphabetical Order
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| hakemisto || register, index
|-
| hallitus || government, administration
|-
| halvaus || stroke, paralysis
|-
| hampaiden puhkeaminen || teething
|-
| harjoittelija || apprentice
|-
| hattumaakari || hatmaker
|-
| hatuntekijä || hatmaker
|-
| hauda(ta) (-ttu) || bury, buried
|-
| hauraus || weakness of old age
|-
| hauta || grave
|-
| hautajaiset || funeral
|-
| hautaus(toimitus) || funeral
|-
| hautausmaa || cemetery
|-
| he || they
|-
| heidän || their, theirs
|-
| heikkous || weakness (of old age)
|-
| heimo || tribe, clan, family
|-
| heinäkuu || July
|-
| helmikuu || February
|-
| hengenahdistus || shortness of breath
|-
| henkikirja || tax list, census
|-
| henkikirjoitus || census
|-
| henkilö || person
|-
| henkilöhakemisto || name index
|-
| henkilötiedot || personal data
|-
| herra || Mr., sir
|-
| Herran ehtoollinen || communion
|-
| herrasväki || gentry, Mr. and Mrs.
|-
| herttua || duke
|-
| herttuakunta || duchy
|-
| herttuatar || duchess
|-
| heti || right away, immediately
|-
| hiippakunta || diocese
|-
| hinkuyskä || whooping cough
|-
| historia || history
|-
| historiakirjat || births, marriages, deaths and moving in /out
|-
| holhokki || minor person under legal guardianship
|-
| holhooja || guardian
|-
| holhous || guardianship
|-
| hopeaseppä || silversmith
|-
| hovioikeus || court of appeals
|-
| hautajaiset || burial
|-
| huhtikuu || April
|-
| hukkunut || drowned, lost
|-
| huomautuksia || remarks
|-
| huomautus || remark
|-
| huomenna || tomorrow
|-
| huonekalupuuseppä || cabinetmaker, furniture maker
|-
| huora || whore
|-
| husaari || light cavalryman
|-
| huutolainen || pauper receiving his sustenance from the parish
|-
| huutolaislapsi || pauper child receiving his sustenance from the parish
|-
| hyvä || good
|-
| hän || he, she
|-
| hänen || his, her, hers
|-
| hätäkaste || emergency baptism
|-
| hääpäivä || wedding day, date
|-
| häät || wedding
|}


===I===
Written Finnish uses three letters in addition to the twenty-six letters used in the English alphabet: ä, ö, and for Swedish names, å. Finnish dictionaries and indexes, this word list, and the Locality Search of the Family History Library CatalogLook this term up in the glossary. all use the following alphabetical order:
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| ikä || age
|-
| ikäkirjat || church census
|-
| illalla || in the evening
|-
| ilman || without
|-
| ilmoittaa || to declare
|-
| ilta || evening
|-
| iltapäivä || afternoon
|-
| iltapäivällä || in the afternoon
|-
| inventaario || inventory
|-
| irtolainen || vagabond
|-
| iso || large, big, great
|-
| iso-iso-isä || great-grandfather
|-
| iso-iso-äiti || great-grandmother
|-
| isoisä || grandfather
|-
| isorokko || smallpox
|-
| isovanhemmat || grandparents
|-
| isoäiti || grandmother
|-
| isä || father
|-
| isänisä || grandfather (paternal)
|-
| isäntä || proprietor, host, landlord, farmer
|-
| isänäiti || grandmother (paternal)
|-
| isäpuoli || stepfather
|-
| isätön || fatherless
|-
| itse || self
|-
| itsellinen || tenant farmer
|-
| itä || east
|-
| iäkäs || aged
|}


===J===
    a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z å ä ö
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| ja || and
|-
| jalkavaimo || concubine
|-
| jalkaväki || infantry
|-
| johto || administration, leadership
|-
| joka || which, who, every
|-
| jokainen || each, every
|-
| jokavuotuinen || annual
|-
| joki || river
|-
| joskus [1890] luvulla || sometime in the [1890s]
|-
| josta || from which
|-
| joten || thus
|-
| joulu || Christmas
|-
| joulukuu || December
|-
| julistettu (kuolleeksi) || declared (dead)
|-
| juomanpanija || brewer
|-
| juoppous || intoxication
|-
| jälkeen || after
|-
| jälkeenjäänyt || surviving, survivor, retarded
|-
| jälkeläinen || descendant
|-
| jälkimmäinen || latter, last
|-
| jalkinekorjaaja || shoemaker
|-
| järvi || lake
|-
| jäsen(enä) || (as a) member
|-
| jäänyt || left, remaining
|}


===K===
The letters v and w are frequently alphabetized as the same letter.
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| k. (kuollut) || dead
|-
| kaatumatauti || epilepsy
|-
| kado(ta) (-nnut) || lose, lost
|-
| kahdeksan || eight
|-
| kahdeksantoista || eighteen
|-
| kahdeksas || eighth
|-
| kahdeksastoista || eighteenth
|-
| kahdeskymmenes || twentieth
|-
| kahdeskymmenesensimmäinen || twenty-first
|-
| kahdeskymmeneskahdeksas || twenty-eighth
|-
| kahdeskymmeneskolmas || twenty-third
|-
| kahdeskymmeneskuudes || twenty-sixth
|-
| kahdeskymmenesneljäs || twenty-fourth
|-
| kahdeskymmenesseitemäs || twenty-seventh
|-
| kahdeskymmenestoinen || twenty-second
|-
| kahdeskymmenesviides || twenty-fifth
|-
| kahdeskymmenesyhdeksäs || twenty-ninth
|-
| kahdestoista || twelfth
|-
| kaikki || all
|-
| kaima || namesake
|-
| kaivos || mine
|-
| kaivostyöläinen || miner
|-
| kaksi || two
|-
| kaksikymmentä || twenty
|-
| kaksikymmentäkahdeksan || twenty-eight
|-
| kaksikymmentäkaksi || twenty-two
|-
| kaksikymmentäkolme || twenty-three
|-
| kaksikymmentäkuusi || twenty-six
|-
| kaksikymmentäneljä || twenty-four
|-
| kaksikymmentäseitsemän || twenty-seven
|-
| kaksikymmentäviisi || twenty-five
|-
| kaksikymmentäyhdeksän || twenty-nine
|-
| kaksikymmentäyksi || twenty-one
|-
| kaksitoista || twelve
|-
| kakso(nen) (-set) || twin(s)
|-
| kaksoiskappale || duplicate record
|-
| kalastaja || fisherman
|-
| kallio || hill
|-
| kalustoluettelo || inventory
|-
| kankuri || weaver
|-
| kansa || people
|-
| kansalainen || citizen
|-
| Kansallisarkisto || state archives
|-
| kansallisuus || nationality
|-
| kanssa || with
|-
| kantaisä || male progenitor
|-
| kantaäiti || female progenitor
|-
| kantoluettelot || tax assessment rolls
|-
| kappalainen || assistant minister
|-
| kappeli || chapel
|-
| kara(ta) (-nnut) || to run away
|-
| karjakko || milkmaid
|-
| karjapaimen || herdsman
|-
| karkuri || runaway, fugitive, deserter
|-
| kartano || manorial estate
|-
| kartta || map
|-
| kastamaton || unbaptized
|-
| kaste || christening, baptism
|-
| kastekirja || record of baptisms
|-
| kastenimi || given name
|-
| kastettu(t) || baptized, (births)
|-
| kasvain || tumor
|-
| kasvatti(lapsi) || foster child
|-
| kasvattivanhemmat || foster parents
|-
| katselmuspöytäkirjat || visitations
|-
| katu || street
|-
| kauppala || country town
|-
| kauppias || shopkeeper, merchant
|-
| kaupunki || city, town
|-
| kautta || via
|-
| keisari || emperor, czar
|-
| keisarillinen || imperial
|-
| kelloseppä || watchmaker
|-
| keltatauti || jaundice
|-
| kerjäläinen || beggar
|-
| kerta || times
|-
| keskellä || in the middle
|-
| keskenmeno || miscarriage
|-
| keskipäivä || noon, midday
|-
| keskiviikko || Wednesday
|-
| keskiyö || midnight
|-
| keskonen || prematurely born child
|-
| kesä || summer
|-
| kesäkuu || June
|-
| keuhkotauti || consumption, tuberculosis
|-
| kevät || spring
|-
| kieli || language, tongue
|-
| kihlakunnanoikeus || rural district court
|-
| kihlakunta || rural civil district
|-
| kihlattu || engaged, betrothed
|-
| kihlaus || engagement
|-
| keuhkotulehdus || pneumonia
|-
| kihti || gout
|-
| kilometri || kilometer
|-
| kinkeriasiakirjat || catechetical meeting records
|-
| kinkerit || catechetical meeting, household examination
|-
| kirja || book, register
|-
| kirjaaja || register
|-
| kirjansitoja || bookbinder
|-
| kirjanpitäjä || bookkeeper
|-
| kirjasto || library
|-
| kirje(et) || letter(s)
|-
| postinkantaja || mailman
|-
| kirjeenvaihto || correspondence, letters
|-
| kirjuri || clerk, scribe
|-
| kirkko || church
|-
| kirkkoherra || minister, priest
|-
| kirkkoherranvirasto || office of the parish minister
|-
| kirkon asiakirjat || church records
|-
| kirkonkirja || parish register
|-
| kirvesmies || carpenter
|-
| kisälli || journeyman
|-
| kohtaus || seizures, illness
|-
| kolera || cholera
|-
| kolmas || third
|-
| kolmaskymmenes || thirtieth
|-
| kolmaskymmenesensimmäinen || thirty-first
|-
| kolmastoista || thirteenth
|-
| kolme || three
|-
| kolmekymmentä || thirty
|-
| kolmekymmentäyksi || thirty-one
|-
| kolmetoista || thirteen
|-
| kolmoset || triplets
|-
| koneenkäyttäjä || machinist
|-
| korkea || high
|-
| korkea ikä || old (high) age
|-
| korkeinoikeus || supreme court
|-
| kortisto || card index
|-
| kortteli || block
|-
| koska || when, because of
|-
| kot(i) (-ona) || (at) home
|-
| kotimaa || homeland, native land
|-
| asuinpaikka || residence
|-
| kotirouva || housewife
|-
| koulu || school
|-
| kouluasiakirjat || school documents
|-
| kouristus || convulsions, cramps
|-
| kramppi || cramps, convulsions
|-
| kreikkalaiskatolinen, ortodoksi || (Eastern) Orthodox
|-
| kreivi || count (earl)
|-
| krenatööri, jalkaväkimies || infantryman, grenadier
|-
| kristinoppi || (knowledge of) Christian doctrine
|-
| kruunu || crown, state, government
|-
| kuin || as
|-
| kuinka || how
|-
| kuka || who
|-
| kulkuri || vagabond
|-
| kulkutauti || epidemic
|-
| kultaseppä || goldsmith
|-
| kuluva || current
|-
| kummi(t) || sponsor(s), godmother, godfather
|-
| kun(ta) (-nat) || parish(es), commune(s)
|-
| kuningas || king
|-
| kuningaskunta || kingdom
|-
| kuningatar || queen
|-
| kuninkaallinen || royal
|-
| kunniallinen || honest
|-
| kunta || municipality
|-
| kuolema || death
|-
| kuoli || died
|-
| kuoli ilman perillisiä || died without issue (any heir)
|-
| kuolinilmoitus || obituary
|-
| kuolinpesä || death estate
|-
| kuolinsyy || cause of death
|-
| kuolintodistus || death certificate
|-
| kuolleena syntynyt || stillborn
|-
| kuolleet || deaths, death records
|-
| kuollut || dead, died
|-
| kuppa || syphilis
|-
| kurkkumätä || diphtheria
|-
| kuski || coachman
|-
| kuten || as
|-
| kutsu(a) (-ttu) || call(ed)
|-
| kuudes || sixth
|-
| kuudestoista || sixteenth
|-
| kuukausi || month
|-
| kuulustelu || examination
|-
| kuulutetut || banns, marriage intentions
|-
| kuume || fever
|-
| kuuro(mykkä) || deaf (and dumb)
|-
| kuusi || six
|-
| kuusitoista || sixteen
|-
| kylä || village
|-
| kymmenen || ten
|-
| kymmenes || tenth
|-
| käly || sister-in-law
|-
| käräjäkunta || primary rural judicial district, assize division
|-
| käräjät || local court, assizes
|-
| käsikirja || manual
|-
| käsityöläinen || artisan
|-
| kätilö || midwife
|-
| käytös || conduct
|-
| kääntymys || conversion
|-
| köyhä || poor
|-
| köyhäinhoitoasiakirjat || poor relief records
|-
| köyhäintalo || poorhouse
|-
| köyhien luettelot || poor relief records
|}


===L===
Finnish Genealogical Word List
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| laakso || valley
|-
| laamanni(n)oikeus || lower court of appeal
|-
| lahja || gift, donation
|-
| lahjoitus || donations
|-
| laillinen || legal, legitimate
|-
| laiskanlukijat || lazy readers
|-
| laiva || boat
|-
| laki || law
|-
| lamp. (lampuoti) || tenant farmer
|-
| lanko || brother-in-law
|-
| lap(si) (-set) || child(ren)
|-
| lapsenlapsi || grandchild
|-
| lapseton || childless
|-
| lapsihalvaus || polio
|-
| lasinleikkaaja || glass cutter, glazier
|-
| lastenkirjat || preconfirmation roll
|-
| lastenkoti || orphanage
|-
| Latvia || Latvia
|-
| Latvialainen || Latvian
|-
| lauantai || Saturday
|-
| lautamies || juror
|-
| lavantauti || typhoid fever
|-
| leipuri || baker
|-
| leski || widow, widower
|-
| levyseppä || sheet metal worker
|-
| Liettua || Lithuania
|-
| liettualainen || Lithuanian
|-
| linna || castle, jail
|-
| lki. (leski) || widow, widower
|-
| loinen || dependent lodger
|-
| lois. || dependent lodger
|-
| lokakuu || October
|-
| luettelo || list, index, directory
|-
| lukkari || cantor, parish clerk
|-
| luku || number
|-
| lukutaito || ability to read, literacy
|-
| lunastus || fee
|-
| luona || at
|-
| luonnollinen kuolema || natural death
|-
| luostari || monastery
|-
| lupa || permission
|-
| luterilainen || Lutheran
|-
| luumätä || caries, bone rot
|-
| lähellä || near
|-
| lähtenyt || departed
|-
| länsi || west
|-
| läpi || through
|-
| läsnä || present
|-
| läsnäolo || presence
|-
| lääkäri || physician
|-
| lääni || county
|-
| lääninhallitus || county government
|-
| löytölapsi || foundling
|}


===M===
<br>Table of Contents Language Characteristics Additional Resources Key Words General Word List
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| maa || land, country, earth
|-
| maakirja || land record
|-
| maakunta || province
|-
| maakunta-arkisto || provincial archives
|-
| maalaiskunta (mlk.)|| rural municipality near a city (civil administration unit) [https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maalaiskunta]
|-
| maalari || painter
|-
| maaliskuu || March
|-
| maanantai || Monday
|-
| maanjako-oikeuden asiakirjat || documents of parcelling of land
|-
| maanmittari || surveyor
|-
| maanviljelijä || farmer
|-
| maaseurakunta (msk., msrk.) || rural parish (church administration) equivalent to Swedish: ''landsförsamling'' [https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaseurakunta]
|-
| maasta muuttanut || emigrated
|-
| maattu nainen || woman who has had illicit relations
|-
| maine(todistus) || (certificate of) character
|-
| mainittu || said, stated
|-
| maistraatti || city administration, magistrate
|-
| majatalo || inn
|-
| makkarantekijä || sausage maker
|-
| maksatauti || liver disease
|-
| manttaali || assessment unit of land
|-
| manttaaliluettelo || tax list, census
|-
| marraskuu || November
|-
| matruusi || sailor
|-
| me || we
|-
| meidän || our, ours
|-
| mekaanikko || machinist
|-
| mennyt(aika) || the past
|-
| meri || sea
|-
| merimies || sailor
|-
| merkintä || entry, remark
|-
| merkitty || entered, noted
|-
| mestari || master, expert
|-
| metsä || forest
|-
| metsänhoitaja || forester
|-
| metsästäjä || hunter
|-
| miehistö || crew
|-
| mies || man, husband
|-
| miespuolinen || male
|-
| miilunpolttaja || charcoal burner
|-
| miksi || why
|-
| mikä || what, which
|-
| miniä || daughter-in-law
|-
| minun || my, mine
|-
| minuutti || minute
|-
| minä || I
|-
| missä || where
|-
| mitätön || minor, insignificant
|-
| m.n. (maattu nainen) || woman who has had illicit relations
|-
| molemmat || both
|-
| molempien || belonging to both
|-
| monenlainen || various
|-
| morsian || bride, fiancée
|-
| morsiuspari || bridal couple
|-
| muistiinpano || record, note, entry
|-
| mummo || grandmother
|-
| muonamies || farmworker receiving wages in commodities
|-
| murha(ttu) || murder(ed)
|-
| mutta || but
|-
| muurari || mason, bricklayer
|-
| muut asiakirjat || miscellaneous documents
|-
| muutt(i) (-anut) || moved
|-
| muuttaneet || moving record
|-
| muuttokirja || certificate of moving
|-
| mylly || mill
|-
| mylläri || miller
|-
| myrkytys || poisoning
|-
| myöhäinen || late (p.m.)
|-
| myös(kin) || also
|-
| mäkitupalainen || cottager
|-
| mökki || cottage
|}


===N===
Ä Numbers Dates
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| naapuri || neighbor
|-
| nahkuri || tanner
|-
| naida || to marry
|-
| naimaton || single, unmarried
|-
| naimattomana || unmarried (at the given time)
|-
| naimisissa || married
|-
| nainen || woman
|-
| naispuolinen || female
|-
| neiti || Miss
|-
| neitsyt || virgin
|-
| neljä || four
|-
| neljäs || fourth
|-
| neljästoista || fourteenth
|-
| neljätoista || fourteen
|-
| nikkari || carpenter
|-
| nimetön || anonymous, unknown, unnamed
|-
| nimi || name
|-
| nimismies || rural police chief
|-
| noin || approximately
|-
| Norja || Norway
|-
| norjalainen || Norwegian
|-
| notariaatti || notary
|-
| numero || number
|-
| nuo || those
|-
| nuohooja || chimney sweeper
|-
| nuorempi || (the) younger
|-
| nuori(n) || young(est)
|-
| nuorimies || youth, unmarried man, bachelor
|-
| nuori piika || maid, unmarried woman
|-
| nuori poika || youth, unmarried man, bachelor
|-
| nuorukainen || young man
|-
| nykyinen || present, current
|-
| nälkä || hunger
|}


===O===
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| oikea || right (direction)
|-
| oikeus || right, court
|-
| oli || was
|-
| olivat || were
|-
| olla || to be
|-
| olosuhteet || circumstances
|-
| oluenpanija || brewer
|-
| oma || own (adjective)
|-
| omaa sukua || maiden name, née
|-
| omainen || relative
|-
| omaisuus || property
|-
| omistaa || to have, to own
|-
| omistaja || owner
|-
| on || is
|-
| opettaja || teacher
|-
| opiskelija || student (at university)
|-
| oppilas || student (grades 1 to 12), apprentice
|-
| orpo || orphan
|-
| ortodoksi || orthodox
|-
| o.s. (omaa sukua) || maiden name, née
|-
| osa || volume, part
|-
| osoitehakemisto || directory
|-
| ote || extract
|-
| ottolapsi || adopted child
|-
| ottovanhemmat || adoptive parents
|-
| ovat || are
|}


===P===
This word list includes only the words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For more help, use a Finnish-English dictionary. Several such dictionaries are available at the Family History LibraryLook this term up in the glossary. in the Scandinavia collection. Their call numbers begin with 494.541321. The following dictionary is also available on microfilmLook this term up in the glossary. for use in Family History CentersLook this term up in the glossary.:
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| paikka(kunta) || place, locality
|-
| paikkakuntahakemisto || gazetteer
|-
| paitatehtailija || shirt maker, shirt manufacturer
|-
| pakolainen || refugee, fugitive
|-
| palo || fire
|-
| palvelija || servant
|-
| palvelu(s) || service
|-
| papintodistus || official certificate of birth, marriage, or death
|-
| pappi || clergyman, priest
|-
| pappila || rectory, parsonage
|-
| pappilan asiakirjat || records of the parsonage
|-
| pastori || pastor
|-
| pastorinkanslia || office of the parish minister
|-
| peltiseppä || tinner, tinsmith
|-
| penkkijärjestys || pew lists
|-
| perhe (suku) || family
|-
| perhehistoria (sukuhistoria) || family history
|-
| perheluettelo (sukuluettelo) || family register
|-
| perikunta || the heirs
|-
| perillinen || heir
|-
| perinnönjako || distribution of an inheritance
|-
| perintö || inheritance
|-
| perintötila || family (or inherited) estate
|-
| perjantai || Friday
|-
| peru(n)kirjat || private inventories of the deceased\'s property
|-
| perunjakokirjat || private inventories of the deceased\'s property
|-
| perunkirjoitus || estate inventory, probate
|-
| pieni || little, small
|-
| piika || maid, unmarried woman
|-
| pikkulapsi || infant
|-
| pikkuserkku || second cousin
|-
| pitäjä(läinen) || parish(ioner)
|-
| pitäjänkokousten pöytäkirjat || minutes of parochial meetings
|-
| pohjoi(s-) (-nen) || north
|-
| poika || boy, son
|-
| poikamies || bachelor
|-
| pois || away
|-
| poismennyt || deceased (adjective)
|-
| pojan poika || grandson, son\'s son
|-
| pojan tytär || granddaughter, son\'s daughter
|-
| polveutua || descend from
|-
| pormestari || mayor
|-
| porvari || burgher, tradesman, middle class citizen
|-
| posteljooni || mailman
|-
| preussilainen || Prussian
|-
| prinsessa || princess
|-
| prinssi || prince
|-
| protestantti || protestant
|-
| punainen || red
|-
| punatauti || dysentery
|-
| puolalainen || Polish (of Poland)
|-
| puolenpäivän aikaan || at noon
|-
| -puoli (ending) || step, half
|-
| puoliso || spouse
|-
| pursimies || boatswain
|-
| puuseppä || carpenter, joiner
|-
| puutarhuri || gardener
|-
| pyhä || holy, sacred, saint
|-
| pyhäkoululapset || Sunday School children
|-
| päin || toward
|-
| päivä(nä) || day
|-
| päivämäärä || date
|-
| päivätyöläinen || day laborer
|-
| pääkirja || communion book
|-
| pääsiäinen || Easter
|-
| pöytäkirja || minutes
|}


===R===
Alanne, V. S. Suomalais-englantilainen suursanakirja [Great Finnish-English Dictionary]. 3rd ed. Porvoo: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, 1968. (FHL film 1224706 item 3.)  
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| raastu(pa) (-vanoikeus) || city court
|-
| raatihuone || town hall
|-
| raatimies || council man, municipal judge
|-
| raha(määrä) || money (sum of)
|-
| rahvas || people, peasantry
|-
| raja || border
|-
| rakastajatar || concubine
|-
| rakennusmestari || contractor, builder
|-
| rakuuna || light cavalryman
|-
| rampa || crippled
|-
| raskaana || pregnant
|-
| ratsumestari || cavalry captain
|-
| ratsumies || cavalryman
|-
| ratsutilallinen || holder of farm obliged to furnish a cavalryman
|-
| ratsuväki || cavalry (men)
|-
| rautaseppä || iron smith
|-
| rautatie || railroad
|-
| rehellinen || honest
|-
| rekisteri || register, index
|-
| renki || youth, unmarried man, farmhand
|-
| rikollinen || criminal
|-
| rikos(luettelo) || misdemeanor (list)
|-
| ripitysluettelo || absolution list
|-
| rippikirja || communion book
|-
| rippilapset || confirmations
|-
| ripuli || diarrhea
|-
| risti(ä) (-itty) || baptize(d)
|-
| ristimäaika || baptism date
|-
| ristimänimi || Christian name, first name
|-
| ritari || knight
|-
| rokko || (small) pox
|-
| rokotetut || vaccinations
|-
| rouva || Mrs., wife
|-
| rovasti(kunta) || dean(ery)
|-
| ruhtinaskunta || principality
|-
| rulla || record, roll
|-
| rumpali || drummer
|-
| ruokamyrkytys || food poisoning
|-
| ruotsalainen || Swede, Swedish
|-
| Ruotsi || Sweden
|-
| ruotu || district maintaining a foot soldier
|-
| ruotusotilas || foot soldier
|-
| ruotuvaivainen || pauper, dependent on the \"ruotu\"
|-
| rusthollari || holder of farm obliged to furnish a cavalryman
|-
| rutto || plague
|-
| ruukki || foundry, mill, industry
|-
| ruumis || corpse
|-
| rykmentti || regiment
|-
| rälssi || tax exempt, nobility
|-
| rälssitila || tax exempt farm
|-
| räätäli || tailor
|}


===S===
Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject Search of the Family History Library Catalog under FINNISH LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES or in the Locality Search under FINLAND - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES - DICTIONARIES.
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| s. (syntynyt) || born
|-
| saapuneet || arrived, moved in
|-
| saapuneet asiakirjat || correspondence, letters
|-
| saapunut || arrived
|-
| saha || sawmill
|-
| sairas || sick (person)
|-
| sairaus || sickness
|-
| sakkoluettelot || lists of fines
|-
| saksalainen || German
|-
| sama || same
|-
| sanakirja || dictionary
|-
| sanomalehti || newspaper
|-
| sanottu || said, stated
|-
| satulantekijä || saddle maker
|-
| savenvalaja || potter
|-
| se || it
|-
| seitsemän || seven
|-
| seitsemäntoista || seventeen
|-
| seitsemäs || seventh
|-
| seitsemästoista || seventeenth
|-
| sekä || and, also
|-
| sen || its
|-
| seppä || smith
|-
| seppä || blacksmith
|-
| serkku || cousin
|-
| setä || uncle (paternal)
|-
| seura || society (genealogical)
|-
| seuraava || next
|-
| seurakunta || parish (religious)
|-
| seutu || region, vicinity
|-
| siellä || there
|-
| siirtolainen || emigrant, immigrant
|-
| siirtolaisrekisteri || emigration records
|-
| siirtolaisuus || immigration
|-
| siirtolaisuus || emigration
|-
| sikotauti || mumps
|-
| sikäläinen || of that place
|-
| silta || bridge
|-
| sinun || your, yours (singular)
|-
| sinä || you (singular)
|-
| sisar || sister
|-
| sisarenpoika || nephew, sister\'s son
|-
| sisarentytär || niece, sister\'s daughter
|-
| sisarpuoli || half-sister, stepsister
|-
| sisarukset || siblings
|-
| sisko || sister
|-
| sisäinen || inside
|-
| sisällysluettelo || register, index
|-
| sisältö || contents
|-
| siviilirekisteri || civil registration
|-
| sivu || page
|-
| sokea || blind
|-
| sokeritauti || diabetes
|-
| sorvari || turner
|-
| sota || war
|-
| sotamies || soldier
|-
| sotaväki || troops, army
|-
| sotilas || soldier, military
|-
| suku || family
|-
| sukua(olla) || related
|-
| sukukirjat || lineage books
|-
| sukulainen || relative
|-
| sukulaisuus || relationship
|-
| sukunimi || surname
|-
| sukupolvi || generation
|-
| sukupuoli || sex
|-
| sukupuolitauti || venereal disease
|-
| sukupuu || family tree, pedigree
|-
| sukuselvitys || report of family relationships
|-
| sukutaulu || genealogical table
|-
| sukutiede || genealogy
|-
| sukututkimus || genealogical research
|-
| sukututkimusseura || genealogical society
|-
| sulhanen || bridegroom, fiancé
|-
| sunnuntai || Sunday
|-
| suomalainen || Finnish
|-
| Suomi || Finland
|-
| suorittaa || perform
|-
| suostumus || consent
|-
| suuri || big, great
|-
| suutari || shoemaker
|-
| sydänvika || heart trouble
|-
| syksy || autumn
|-
| sylilapsi || baby, infant
|-
| synnytys || childbirth
|-
| syntymä || birth
|-
| syntymäaika || date of birth
|-
| syntymäpaikka || place of birth
|-
| syntymätodistus || birth certificate
|-
| syntyneet || births, birth records
|-
| syntynyt || born, maiden surname
|-
| syyskuu || September
|-
| syytinki || allowance, person receiving allowance
|-
| syöpä || cancer
|-
| säteri || tax exempt estate
|-
| sääty (läinen) || station, class, standing (person of)
|}


===T===
<br>Return to top of page
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| tahtoa || to want
|-
| tai || or
|-
| taiteilija || artist
|-
| takana || behind
|-
| talo || house
|-
| talollinen || farmer
|-
| talonpoika || peasant farmer
|-
| talous || household
|-
| talousapulainen || housemaid
|-
| talvi || winter
|-
| tammikuu || January
|-
| tap(paa) (-ettu) || murder(ed)
|-
| tapaturma || accident
|-
| tarkastuspöytäkirjat || visitations
|-
| taulu(kko) || table, chart
|-
| tauti || disease
|-
| te || you (plural)
|-
| tehdas || factory
|-
| teidän || your, yours (plural)
|-
| testamentti || will, testament
|-
| teurastaja || butcher
|-
| tie || road
|-
| tiedottaja || informant
|-
| tiilentekijä || brickmaker
|-
| tiistai || Tuesday
|-
| tila || house, farm
|-
| tilallinen || farm owner
|-
| tilikirjat || record of accounts
|-
| tilattomat || landless population
|-
| todistaja || witness
|-
| todistus || certificate, evidence
|-
| toimeentulo || livelihood
|-
| toimi || occupation
|-
| toimittaa || perform
|-
| toinen || other, second
|-
| toisella nimellä || alias, a.k.a.
|-
| -ton (ending) || without, not
|-
| tontti || parcel
|-
| tori || market
|-
| torppari || crofter, tenant farmer
|-
| torstai || Thursday
|-
| toukokuu || May
|-
| tsaari || czar
|-
| tuhkarokko || measles
|-
| tulehdus || inflammation
|-
| tulipalo || fire
|-
| tulirokko || scarlet fever
|-
| tulli || customs
|-
| tullut (+ -sta or -lta) || came (from)
|-
| tuntematon || unknown
|-
| tunti || hour
|-
| tuomari || judge
|-
| tuomio || judgment
|-
| tuomioistuin || court
|-
| tuomiokirkko || cathedral
|-
| tuomiokunta || judicial district
|-
| tupa || cottage, house
|-
| turvotus || swelling, edema
|-
| tynnyrintekijä || cooper, barrel maker
|-
| tyttären poika || grandson, daughter\'s son
|-
| tyttären tytär || granddaughter, daughter\'s daughter
|-
| tyttö || girl, daughter
|-
| tytär || daughter
|-
| työläinen || laborer
|-
| työmies || laborer
|-
| työntekijä || laborer
|-
| täkäläinen || of this place
|-
| tällä paikkakunnalla || in this place
|-
| tämä || this
|-
| tämä paikka || this place
|-
| tänään || today
|-
| täti || aunt
|-
| täysi-ikäinen || of legal age
|-
| täällä || here
|}


===U===
<br>KEY WORDS
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| ukko || old man
|-
| ulko || outer
|-
| ulkoluku || reciting from memory
|-
| ulkomaalainen || foreign, strange
|-
| ummetus || constipation
|-
| usein || often
|-
| uskonto || religious affiliation
|-
| uudisasukas || settler
|-
| uusi || new
|}


===V===
To find and use specific types of Finnish records, you will need to know some key words in Finnish. This section gives key genealogical terms in English and the Finnish words with the same or similar meanings.  
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| v. (vihitty) || married
|-
| vaakuna || coat of arms
|-
| vaakunaoppi || heraldry
|-
| vaari || grandfather
|-
| vahtimestari || caretaker
|-
| vaimo || wife, married women
|-
| vainaja || deceased, (the) late
|-
| vaivainen || poor, sickly
|-
| vaivaisrahat || poor relief accounts
|-
| vaivaisruodut || poor relief records
|-
| vaivaistalo || poorhouse
|-
| vajaamielinen || mentally defective
|-
| vakituinen || permanent, regular
|-
| valokuvaaja || photographer
|-
| valtakunta || state, empire
|-
| valtio || state
|-
| Valtionarkisto || state archives
|-
| valuri, valimon työntekijä || foundry worker
|-
| vanha || old
|-
| vanhapoika || bachelor
|-
| vanhemmat || parents
|-
| vanhempi || (the) older
|-
| vanhin || oldest, elder
|-
| vanhus || old person
|-
| vanhuus || old age
|-
| vanki || prisoner
|-
| vankila || prison
|-
| vapaa || free
|-
| vapaaherra(tar) || baron(ess)
|-
| vapaasääty || nobility
|-
| varas || thief
|-
| varkaus || theft
|-
| varrella || by, at side
|-
| varten || for the purpose of
|-
| vartija || warden
|-
| vasen || left (direction)
|-
| vaskiseppä || coppersmith
|-
| vastaanotettu || received
|-
| vastanainut || newlywed
|-
| vastasyntynyt || newborn
|-
| vasten || against
|-
| vatsatauti || stomach disease
|-
| vauva || baby
|-
| vauva(na) || (as an) infant
|-
| veli || brother
|-
| velipuoli || half-brother
|-
| veljenpoika || nephew, brother\'s son
|-
| veljentytär || niece, brother\'s daughter
|-
| velka || debt
|-
| Venäjä || Russia
|-
| venäläinen || Russian
|-
| verensyöksy || hemorrhage
|-
| verenvuoto || hemorrhage
|-
| veritulppa || blood clot
|-
| vero || tax
|-
| verotus || taxation
|-
| vesipöhö || dropsy, edema
|-
| vesirokko || chicken pox
|-
| vielä || still
|-
| vieras(seurakuntalainen) || guest, person not of a given parish
|-
| vierasseurakuntalaisten historiakirjat || registers of members of other parishes
|-
| vihityt || marriages, marriage records
|-
| vihkiminen || marriage (ceremony)
|-
| vihkimäsopimus || marriage contract
|-
| vihkimätodistus || marriage certificate
|-
| vihreä || green
|-
| viides || fifth
|-
| viidestoista || fifteenth
|-
| viikko || week
|-
| viime || last, past
|-
| viisi || five
|-
| viisitoista || fifteen
|-
| virasta eronnut || retired
|-
| virasto || office, department
|-
| virka || office, position, occupation
|-
| virkaa tekevä || officiating, deputy
|-
| virkamies || public official
|-
| virkatodistus || official certificate (of birth, marriage, or death)
|-
| Viro || Estonia
|-
| virolainen || Estonian
|-
| vouti || bailiff, overseer (historical governor)
|-
| v.t. (virkaa tekevä) || officiating, deputy
|-
| vuoden ikäinen || years of age
|-
| vuokralainen || lodger
|-
| vuori || mountain
|-
| vuorokausi || twenty-four hours
|-
| vuosi || year
|-
| vuosi(päivä) (-juhla) || anniversary
|-
| vuosikymmen || decade, decennial
|-
| vuosisata || century
|-
| vuosittain(en) || yearly
|-
| vuotias || years old
|-
| väestö(rekisteri) || population (registry)
|-
| väestönlaskenta || census
|-
| väki || people, folk, crew, forces
|-
| väliaikainen || temporary
|-
| välillä || between
|-
| välittömästi || immediately, direct
|-
| värjääjä || dyer
|-
| vävy || son-in-law
|}


===Y===
For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriages. In the second column you will find Finnish words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined,and other words used in Finnish records to indicate marriage.
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| yhdeksän || nine
|-
| yhdeksäntoista || nineteen
|-
| yhdeksäs || ninth
|-
| yhdeksästoista || nineteenth
|-
| yhdestoista || eleventh
|-
| yhteinen || together, belonging to both
|-
| yhteiskunta || community
|-
| yksi || one
|-
| yksitoista || eleven
|-
| yleinen || general, common
|-
| yli, ylä || over, upper, ended
|-
| ylkä || bridegroom
|-
| ylä || upper
|-
| ympärillä || around
|-
| yskä || cough (noun)
|-
| ystävä || friend
|-
| yö || night
|}


===Ä===
    English Finnish
{| class="wikitable"
    banns kuulutetut
! Finnish !! English
  baptism kastetut, kaste-, ristimä-
|-
  births syntyneet, synty-
| äidinisä || grandfather (maternal)
  burials haudatut, hauta-, hauda-
|-
  child lapsi
| äidinäiti || grandmother (maternal)
  christenings (See baptism.)
|-
  confirmations rippilapset, ripille päässeet
| äiditön || motherless
  deaths kuolleet, kuoli-
|-
  father isä
| äiti || mother
  husband mies, aviomies
|-
  marriages vihityt, vihki-, naim-, avio-
| äitipuoli || stepmother
  month kuukausi, kuu
|-
  mother äiti
| äpärä || illegitimate child
  name (given name) nimi, etunimi, kastenimi, ristimänimi
|}
  name (surname) (suku)nimi
  parents vanhemmat
  parishs seurakunta, kunta
  wife vaimo, aviovaimo
  year vuosi, vuoden, vuonna


<br>Finnish Genealogical Word List


== Months ==
<br>Table of Contents Language Characteristics Additional Resources Key Words General Word List
{| class="wikitable"
! Finnish !! English
|-
| Tammikuu || January
|-
| Helmikuu || February
|-
| Maaliskuu || March
|-
| Huhtikuu || April
|-
| Toukokuu || May
|-
| Kesäkuu || June
|-
| Heinäkuu || July
|-
| Elokuu || August
|-
| Syyskuu || September
|-
| Lokakuu || October
|-
| Marraskuu || November
|-
| Joulukuu || December
|}


== Additional Resources ==
Ä Numbers Dates


This word list includes only the words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For more help, use a Finnish-English dictionary. Several such dictionaries are available at the FamilySearch LibraryLook this term up in the glossary. in the Scandinavia collection. Their call numbers begin with 494.541321. The following dictionary is also available on microfilmLook this term up in the glossary. for use in FamilySearch CentersLook this term up in the glossary.
GENERAL WORD LIST


Alanne, V. S. {{FSC|226548|item|disp=''Suomalais-englantilainen suursanakirja'' (Great Finnish-English Dictionary)]. 3rd ed. Porvoo: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, 1968}}. FS Library film [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSDM-L9YQ-C?i=74&cat=226548 1224706 item 3].  
This general word list includes words commonly seen in genealogical sources. Numbers, months, and days of the week are listed both here and in separate sections that follow this list.  


Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under FINNISH LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES or in the Locality Search under FINLAND - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES - DICTIONARIES.
In this list, optional versions of Finnish words or variable endings are given in parentheses. Parentheses in the English column clarify the meaning.  
=== Online Resources ===
'''Historismi.net'''
*[https://historismi.net/tools1.html Lyhenteitä ja termejä (Abbreviations and terms)]
*[https://historismi.net/tools2.html Ammatit A-K (Professions, A-K)]
*[https://historismi.net/tools3.html Ammatit L-Ö (Professions, L-Ö)]
*[https://historismi.net/tools4.html Kuolinsyyt (Causes of death)]


== References ==
<br>Return to top of page


Family History Department. ''Genealogical Word List: Finnish''. by the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, 1997
<br>A


[[Category:Finland Language and Handwriting]]
    aamu morning
[[Category:Word_List]]
    aamulla in the morning
  aamupäivä forenoon
  aateli(nen) noble
  aatelisto nobility
  aatto eve
  aika time, date
  aikainen early, (a.m.)
  aikaisempi earlier
  aikakauskirja periodical
  aikanaan in due time
  aina always
  ainoa only
  aivokuume encephalitis, inflammation of the brain
  aivotärähdys concussion
  ajaja coachman
  ajomies coachman
  ala, ali low(er), under
  alaikäinen minor, underaged
  alla under
  allekirjoittanut undersigned
  alue region, district
  alus ship
  ammatti profession, occupation
  annettu given
  anoppi mother-in-law
  appi father-in-law
  appivanhemmat parents-in-law
  apteekkari pharmacist, druggist
  arkisto archive
  arkistoluettelo archive list
  arvo title, rank, status
  asema station, class, standing
  asevelvollinen conscript soldier
  asiakirja document, record
  asua live, reside
  asuinpaikka place of residence
  asukas inhabitant, resident, lodger
  asunto residence
  asutuksen yleisluettelo general register of inhabitants
  a.u. illegitimate
  aukko gap (missing records)
  autio uninhabited
  avioero divorce
  avioliiton ulkopuolella illegitimate, out of wedlock
  avioliitto marriage
  avioliittoasiakirjat marriage documents
  aviomies husband
  avionrikkoja adulterer
  aviopari married couple
  aviopuoliso spouse
  avioton unmarried, illegitimate
  aviovaimo wife

Revision as of 08:02, 25 September 2009

This list contains Finnish words with their English translations. The words included here are those that you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Finnish-English dictionary (see the "Additional Resources" section below).

Finnish is related to Estonian and distantly related to Hungarian. It is not related to other European languages. The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. Until the end of the 1800s, records were kept in Swedish. For help reading those records, see the Swedish Genealogical Word List(31028). Some Latin phrases also appear in older Finnish parish registers. For help, use the Latin Genealogical Word List (34077).

LANGUAGE CHARACTERISTICS  [edit | edit source]


Variant Forms of Words

In Finnish, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who—whose—whom or marry—marries—married are examples of words in English with variant forms.

As you read Finnish records, be aware that the endings of most words vary with usage. One word in Finnish often translates into English as two or more words. For example, talo (house) changes to talossa (in the house).

Plurals. Finnish indicates the plural of a word in two ways: 

   * The letter t is added to nouns that have no other endings. For example, talo (house) becomes talot(houses).
   * The letter i is added if the noun has another ending. For example, talossa (in the house) becomes taloissa (in the houses).

Possessives. In addition to or instead of using words like my and theirs, Finnish adds endings to words to show possession. If a word already has another ending on it, the possessive ending appears at the end of the word. For example, see how possessives change the words talo (house) and talossa (in the house): 

   his house 	hänen talonsa
   in his house 	hänen talossansa

See Table 1 for a more complete description of possessives.

Prepositions and postpositions. In English, words like in, on, with, before, and after are prepositions. They come before a noun. For example, in the house.

Depending on the various grammar rules, Finnish prepositions may appear in one of three ways: 

   * They may come before the noun. For example, ennen sotaa (before the war).
   * They may come after the noun. (In this case, it is called a postposition.) For example, sodan jälkeen(after the war).
  * They may be added to the noun. For example Helsinki becomes Helsinkiin (into Helsinki). Table 2, on the next page, contains other examples.

Word endings. Endings are also added to words for other grammatical purposes. See Tables 1 and 3 for other examples.

Table 1. Possessive Endings

Possessive and Ending Meaning Examples: talo (house), talossa (in the house) Translation minun, -ni my talo » minun talonitalo » minun talossani house » my househouse » in my house sinun-, si your (singular) talo » sinun talositalo » sinun talossasi house » your househouse » in your house hänen, -nsa, -nsä or double vowel + n his, her talo » hänen talonsatalo » hänen talossansatalo » hänen talossaan house » his (her) househouse » in his (her) househouse » in his (her) house meidän -mme our talo » meidän talommetalo » meidän talossamme house » our househouse » in our house teidän, -nne your (plural) talo » teidän talonnetalo » teidän talossanne house » your househouse » in your house heidn, -nsa, -nsä or double vowel + n their talo » heidän talonsatalo » heidän talossansatalo » heidän talossaan house » their househouse » in their househouse » in their house

Table 2. Prepositional Endings on Nouns

Ending Basic Meaning Example Translation -a, -ä, -ta, -t of, some suku » sukua family » of a family -in by means of, with oma käsi » omin ksin one’s own hands » with one’s own hands -ine + a possessive ending (see Table 1) together with lapsi » lapsinensa or lapsineen child » together with his (her or their) children -ksi changed into, become vaimo » otti vaimoksi wife » took for a wife or became a wife -lla, -llä at, by, in Tampere » Tampereella Tampere » in (at) Tampere -lle to Tampere » Tampereelle Tampere » to Tampere -lta, -ltä from Tampere » Tampereelta Tampere » from Tampere -n of talo » talon väki house » people of the house -na, -nä as lapsi » lapsena child » as a child -ssa, -ssä in Helsinki » Helsingissä Helsinki » in Helsinki double vowel + n into Helsinki » Helsinkiin Helsinki » into Helsinki -sta, -stä from Helsinki » Helsingistä Helsinki » from Helsinki

Table 3. Other Word Endings

Ending Basic Meaning Example Translation -t forms a plural talo » talot house » houses -ko, -k indicates a question Helsingissä » Helsingissäkö in Helsinki » in Helsinki? -ton without, -less, un- lapsi » lapseton child » childless -tta, -ttä (on verbs) without nähdä » näkemätt to see » without seeing -n, -t shows a direct object talo » näen talon talo » näen talot house » I see the house house » I see the houses

Ending: -lla, -ll followed by a form of the verb olla (to be): on, ei ole, oli, ei ollut, on ollut, or ei ole ollut Basic Meaning: shows possession or ownership (to have)

Example Translation Anna » Annalla on Anna » Anna has Anna Toivonen » Anna Toivosella oli Anna Toivonen » Anna Toivonen had minä » munulla on ollut I » I have had sinä » sunulla oli you (singular) » you had hän » hänell oli he/she » he/she had me » meillä ei ole ollut we » we have not had te » teillä on you (plural) » you have he » heillä ei ole they » they do not have


Spelling Changes

When an ending is added to a word, the consonants within that word may also change. Consider the following examples: 

   Letters that Change 	Examples
   ht 	to hd 	lahti 	to lahden
  k 	to (nothing) 	Ilmajoki 	to Ilmajoen
  kk 	to k 	kirkko 	to kirkon
  lt 	to ll 	ilta 	to illan
  mp 	to mm 	lampi 	to lammen
  n 	to s 	Heinonen 	to Heinosen
  nk 	to ng 	Helsinki 	to Helsingin
  nt 	to nn 	isnt 	to isnnn
  p 	to v 	orpo 	to orvon
  pp 	to p 	pappi 	to papin
  rk 	to r 	Turku 	to Turun
  rt 	to rr 	virta 	to virran
  s 	to d or t 	uusi 	to uuden, uuteen
  tt 	to t 	tytt 	to tytn
  uku 	to uvu 	suku 	to suvun
  vowel+t 	to vowel+d 	iti 	to idin


Alphabetical Order

Written Finnish uses three letters in addition to the twenty-six letters used in the English alphabet: ä, ö, and for Swedish names, å. Finnish dictionaries and indexes, this word list, and the Locality Search of the Family History Library CatalogLook this term up in the glossary. all use the following alphabetical order: 

   a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z å ä ö

The letters v and w are frequently alphabetized as the same letter.

Finnish Genealogical Word List


Table of Contents Language Characteristics Additional Resources Key Words General Word List

Ä Numbers Dates

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

This word list includes only the words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For more help, use a Finnish-English dictionary. Several such dictionaries are available at the Family History LibraryLook this term up in the glossary. in the Scandinavia collection. Their call numbers begin with 494.541321. The following dictionary is also available on microfilmLook this term up in the glossary. for use in Family History CentersLook this term up in the glossary.:

Alanne, V. S. Suomalais-englantilainen suursanakirja [Great Finnish-English Dictionary]. 3rd ed. Porvoo: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, 1968. (FHL film 1224706 item 3.)

Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject Search of the Family History Library Catalog under FINNISH LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES or in the Locality Search under FINLAND - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES - DICTIONARIES.


Return to top of page


KEY WORDS

To find and use specific types of Finnish records, you will need to know some key words in Finnish. This section gives key genealogical terms in English and the Finnish words with the same or similar meanings.

For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriages. In the second column you will find Finnish words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined,and other words used in Finnish records to indicate marriage. 

   English 	Finnish
   banns 	kuulutetut
  baptism 	kastetut, kaste-, ristimä-
  births 	syntyneet, synty-
  burials 	haudatut, hauta-, hauda-
  child 	lapsi
  christenings 	(See baptism.)
  confirmations 	rippilapset, ripille päässeet
  deaths 	kuolleet, kuoli-
  father 	isä
  husband 	mies, aviomies
  marriages 	vihityt, vihki-, naim-, avio-
  month 	kuukausi, kuu
  mother 	äiti
  name (given name) 	nimi, etunimi, kastenimi, ristimänimi
  name (surname) 	(suku)nimi
  parents 	vanhemmat
  parishs 	seurakunta, kunta
  wife 	vaimo, aviovaimo
  year 	vuosi, vuoden, vuonna


Finnish Genealogical Word List


Table of Contents Language Characteristics Additional Resources Key Words General Word List

Ä Numbers Dates

GENERAL WORD LIST

This general word list includes words commonly seen in genealogical sources. Numbers, months, and days of the week are listed both here and in separate sections that follow this list.

In this list, optional versions of Finnish words or variable endings are given in parentheses. Parentheses in the English column clarify the meaning.


Return to top of page


A 

   aamu 	morning
   aamulla 	in the morning
  aamupäivä 	forenoon
  aateli(nen) 	noble
  aatelisto 	nobility
  aatto 	eve
  aika 	time, date
  aikainen 	early, (a.m.)
  aikaisempi 	earlier
  aikakauskirja 	periodical
  aikanaan 	in due time
  aina 	always
  ainoa 	only
  aivokuume 	encephalitis, inflammation of the brain
  aivotärähdys 	concussion
  ajaja 	coachman
  ajomies 	coachman
  ala, ali 	low(er), under
  alaikäinen 	minor, underaged
  alla 	under
  allekirjoittanut 	undersigned
  alue 	region, district
  alus 	ship
  ammatti 	profession, occupation
  annettu 	given
  anoppi 	mother-in-law
  appi 	father-in-law
  appivanhemmat 	parents-in-law
  apteekkari 	pharmacist, druggist
  arkisto 	archive
  arkistoluettelo 	archive list
  arvo 	title, rank, status
  asema 	station, class, standing
  asevelvollinen 	conscript soldier
  asiakirja 	document, record
  asua 	live, reside
  asuinpaikka 	place of residence
  asukas 	inhabitant, resident, lodger
  asunto 	residence
  asutuksen yleisluettelo 	general register of inhabitants
  a.u. 	illegitimate
  aukko 	gap (missing records)
  autio 	uninhabited
  avioero 	divorce
  avioliiton ulkopuolella 	illegitimate, out of wedlock
  avioliitto 	marriage
  avioliittoasiakirjat 	marriage documents
  aviomies 	husband
  avionrikkoja 	adulterer
  aviopari 	married couple
  aviopuoliso 	spouse
  avioton 	unmarried, illegitimate
  aviovaimo 	wife

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Finnish_Genealogical_Word_List&oldid=214868"