Politics! It’s something we should all be interested in. Here’s your chance to learn some words related to the government and styles of governing.
Yhteiskunta – Society
| Finnish |
English |
| hallita |
to govern |
| hallitus |
government |
| valtio |
nation |
| valtiollinen |
national |
| valtiollistaa |
to nationalize |
| valtiomies |
statesman |
| valtionapu |
government subsidy |
| valtionrahasto |
state funds |
| valtiontalous |
national economy |
| yhteiskunnallinen |
civil |
| yhteiskuntaluokka |
social class |
| yhteiskuntatiede |
sociology |
Valtiojärjestelmä – Government system
| Finnish |
English |
| demokratia |
democracy |
| diktatuuri |
dictatorship |
| keisarinkunta |
empire |
| kuningaskunta |
monarchy |
| monarkia |
monarchy |
| tasavalta |
republic |
| totalitarismi |
totalitarianism |
| tyrannia |
tyranny |
| valtakunta |
kingdom |
| yksinvalta |
autocracy |
Hallitsija – Ruler
| Finnish |
English |
| aatelisto |
nobility |
| diktaattori |
dictator |
| keisari |
emperor |
| kreivi |
count/earl |
| kuningatar |
queen |
| kuningas |
king |
| kuninkaallinen |
royal |
| papisto |
clergy |
| perillinen |
heir |
| porvaristo |
bourgeoisie |
| presidentti |
president |
| prinsessa |
princess |
| prinssi |
prince |
| prinssihallitsija |
prince regent |
| ruhtinas |
prince |
| tyranni |
tyrant |
| valtaistuin |
throne |
| yksinvaltias |
autocrat |
| talonpoikaissääty |
peasantry |
| rahvas |
common people |
Ministeriö – Government departments
| Finnish |
English |
| pääministeri |
prime minister |
| ulkoasiainministeri |
minister of foreign affairs |
| valtiovarainministeri |
minister of finance |
| ulkomaankauppaministeri |
minister of foreign trade |
| opetusministeri |
minister of education |
| kulttuuriministeri |
minister of culture |
| oikeusministeri |
minister of justice |
| sisäasiainministeri |
minister of internal affairs |
| ympäristöministeri |
minister of environment |
| asuntoministeri |
minister of housing |
| puolustusministeri |
minister of defence |
| maa- ja metsätalousministeri |
minister of agriculture and forestry |
| liikenneministeri |
minister of transport |
| kauppa- ja teollisuusministeri |
minister of trade and industry |
| sosiaali- ja terveysministeri |
minister of health and social affairs |
| työministeri |
minister of employment |
Politiikka – Politics
| Finnish |
English |
| eduskunta |
parliament |
| eduskuntavaalit |
parliamentary election |
| edustajanpaikka |
seat |
| ehdokas |
candidate |
| enemmistö |
majority |
| ennakkoäänestys |
advance voting |
| iskulause |
slogan |
| kansanedustaja |
member of parliament |
| keskusvirasto |
national board |
| kunnallisvaalit |
municipal elections |
| kunnanvaltuusto |
municipal council |
| lautakunta |
board / commision |
| läänihallitus |
provincial government |
| oikeisto |
conservatives / right wing |
| oppositio |
opposition |
| presidenttivaalit |
presidential elections |
| puolue |
political party |
| poliitikko |
politician |
| poliittinen |
political |
| täysistunto |
plenum |
| valtuutettu |
representative |
| vapaamielinen |
liberal |
| vasemmisto |
left wing |
| veto-oikeus |
veto |
| vähemmistö |
minority |
| äänestys |
the voting |
| äänioikeus |
right to vote |
In addition to this general article about politics, I have a more in-depth article about elections and voting. Check that one out next!
Thank you for this – something that doesn’t seem to be taught in many languages so nice to see it here. Probably a bit advanced for me but I had a look because it’s a subject I’m interested in.
Couple of questions:
1. Is it more common to refer to foreign political parties in their native name or translate them? French seems to translate the major ones, Dutch seems to leave them with their native names (at least for the UK) . Finnish wiki seems to use translations but I wondered what your thoughts were (so would I say “minä äänestän Labour” or “minä äänestän työväenpuolue”)? And have I got those sentences right (I took the translation of Labour Party from Finnish Wikipedia but I’m not confident about the rest)?
2. How would you say you were a member or activist of a political party?
Thank you!