Finn

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
Svenska
Swedish
Français
French
Español
Spanish
Deutsch
German
Português
Portuguese
/fɪn/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A person from Finland, or someone of Finnish ancestry when ethnicity rather than citizenship is the point.

Examples

  • One Finn on our team speaks five languages.
  • Her mother is a Finn, though she grew up in Sweden.
  • Every Finn in the survey knew the song.
  • Several Finns in the community still speak the language at home.
  • I met a Finn on the ferry to Stockholm.

Similar words

person from Finland
Finnish descendant
person of Finnish ancestry
inhabitant of Finland
Finlander
native of Finland
citizen of Finland
ethnic Finn
person of Finnish descent

Meanings

Person from Finland

noun
everyday
neutral
A person who comes from Finland or lives there.

Examples

  • She is a Finn from Oulu.
  • The Finns celebrated Independence Day together.
  • I met a Finn on the ferry to Stockholm.
  • One Finn on our team speaks five languages.
  • Every Finn in the survey knew the song.

Similar words

Person of Finnish descent

noun
everyday
neutral
A person identified by Finnish ancestry, especially when ethnic background matters more than citizenship.

Examples

  • Her mother is a Finn, though she grew up in Sweden.
  • The archive tracks families with one Finn parent.
  • He describes himself as a Finn by ancestry rather than by citizenship.
  • Several Finns in the community still speak the language at home.
  • The novel follows a young Finn in nineteenth-century Karelia.

Similar words

Etymology

Recorded in English before the 12th century. Merriam-Webster traces the word to Swedish Finne and older Swedish forms, related to Old Norse Finnar and Old English Finnas. Older Germanic usage could point more broadly to northern peoples before the modern meaning narrowed to people from Finland.

FAQ

What does Finn mean?

It usually means a person from Finland, and in some contexts it also means someone of Finnish ancestry.

Is Finn a noun or an adjective?

Finn is a noun for a person. Finnish is usually the adjective, and it is also the name of the language.

What is the plural of Finn?

The regular plural is Finns.

What is the difference between Finn and Finnish?

Finn names a person, while Finnish usually describes something from Finland or names the language.

Does Finn always refer to citizenship?

No. In some contexts it can refer to Finnish ancestry or ethnic background rather than nationality alone.

Should Finn be capitalized?

Yes. It is a demonym, so standard English writes it with a capital F.

Where does the word Finn come from?

English recorded it before the 12th century, from Swedish and related older Germanic forms such as Old Norse Finnar and Old English Finnas.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...