Events Celebrations – Always Plural Finnish Words – Plurale Tantum
January 2, 2020
May 31, 2021
“Plurale tantum” words are words that are always plural, despite their meaning being singular. You have these words in many languages, such as “scissors” and “pants” in English.
In Finnish, many celebrations, events and ceremonies are “plurale tantum” words. It doesn’t, however, mean that all celebrations are referred to in the plural. For example, Christmas is the singular joulu, while pre-Christmas parties can be the plural pikkujoulut. We’re using the T-plural as the basic form for these words, but they do inflect in all the plural cases!
This article is part of a larger series on plurale tantum words. You can also check out Wiktionary’s alphabetic plurale tantum word list.
Table of Contents
- Large scale events and celebrations
- Festivals
- Political events and elections
- Formal events and ceremonies
- Sport competitions
- Other larger scale events
- Smaller scale evens and celebrations
- Family celebrations
- Gatherings with friends and neighbors
- School and work events
- Informal dance parties
- Traditional events and celebrations
1. Large Scale Events and Celebrations
The following categories all have in common that there is a large number or a mass of people participating in them at the same time. Exactly how large the number of participants is depends on the event. Usually a lot of the people involved are strangers to each other.
1.1. Festivals
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| festivaalit | festival |
| festarit | festival |
| elokuvajuhlat | film festival |
| elokuvafestivaalit | film festival |
| filmifestivaalit | film festival |
| filmijuhlat | film festival |
| rockfestarit | rock festival |
| oopperafestivaalit | opera festival |
| oopperajuhlat | opera festival |
| herättäjäjuhlat | annual Christian Awakening summer festival |
1.2. Political Events and Elections
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| kuntavaalit | municipal election |
| kunnallisvaalit | municipal election |
| hallitusvaalit | governmental election, election of the board of directors |
| parlamenttivaalit | parliamentary election |
| eduskuntavaalit | parliamentary election |
| presidentinvaalit | presidential election |
| kirkollisvaalit | church election |
| seurakuntavaalit | church election |
| EU-vaalit | election of the European Parliament |
| eurovaalit | election of the European Parliament |
| vaalivalvojaiset | political party event when the votes are being counted |
| protestivaalit | election with a lot of protest votes |
| hallitusneuvottelut | government formation negotiations |
| rauhanneuvottelut | peace talks, peace negotiations |
1.3. Formal Events and Ceremonies
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| avajaiset | formal opening ceremony |
| open house ‑kutsut | cocktail- tm. tilaisuus, which guests can arrive to when they see fit |
| cocktailkutsut | cocktail party |
| kokkarit | cocktail party (spoken) |
| vastaanottajaiset | reception, social (formal) welcoming event |
| illallistanssiaiset | ballroom dance party including a banquet |
| iltakutsut | social gathering starting in the evening, soiree |
| juhlapäivälliset | banquet, formal ceremonial dinner |
| konserttitanssiaiset | charity dance party with a large orchestra |
| paljastajaiset | reveal ceremony, event held to reveal e.g. a statue |
| julkistajaiset | social event at the launch of something (e.g. book) |
| virkaanasettajaiset | ceremony of placing someone into office, inauguration (pope, professor, president) |
| virkaanastujaiset | ceremony of placing someone into office |
| rikkojaiset | event during which a record is attempted to be broken |
| kruunajaiset | coronation ceremony |
1.4. Sport Competitions
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| olympialaiset | the Olympics |
| olympialaiskisat | the Olympic games |
| olympiakisat | the Olympic games |
| kesäolympialaiset | summer Olympics |
| talviolympialaiset | winter Olympics |
| talvikisat | winter Olympics |
| paralympialaiset | Paralympics |
| hiihtokilpailut | cross-country skiing competition |
| hiihtokisat | cross-country skiing competition |
| ravikilpailut | horse (harness) racing event |
| ravit | horse (harness) racing event |
| kuninkuusravit | harness racing contest for Finnhorse breed horses |
| iltaravit | horse racing event held in the evening |
1.5. Other Larger Scale Events
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| asuntomessut | trade fair about houses and home decorations |
| arpajaiset | raffle, lottery (of things or money) |
| raha-arpajaiset | lottery draw with monetary prizes |
| joulumarkkinat | Christmas fair, Christmas market |
| joulumyyjäiset | Christmas market (usually with home-made thing, can be a fundraiser) |
| myyjäiset | rummage sale of home-made or donated items, usually fundraiser |
| maistajaiset | tasting event |
| viininmaistajaiset | wine tasting event |
| silakkamarkkinat | an annual fair where Baltic herring is sold (link) |
2. Smaller Scale Events and Celebrations
The following events and celebrations have a smaller number of participants, though the exact amount differs per events. Generally, the participants know one another. They might belong to the same family, social circle or environment.
2.1. Family Celebrations
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| ristiäiset | christening, baptism ceremony and party |
| nimiäiset | baby’s naming ceremony (link) |
| polttarit | bachelor party, bachelorette party (link) |
| kihlajaiset | engagement party |
| vihkiäiset | wedding ceremony |
| kirkkovihkiäiset | wedding ceremony in church |
| siviilivihkiäiset | wedding ceremony at the registry office |
| häät | wedding |
| kirkkohäät | church wedding, white wedding |
| hopeahäät | 25th wedding anniversary, silver wedding |
| kultahäät | 50th wedding anniversary, golden wedding |
| timanttihäät | 60th wedding anniversary, diamond wedding |
| kaksoishäät | double wedding |
| syntymäpäivät | birthday party |
| synttärit | birthday party (spoken) |
| syntymäpäiväkutsut | birthday party |
| nimipäiväkekkerit | name day party (link) |
| ruumiinvalvojaiset | deathwatch, wake for deceased person |
| hautajaiset | funeral |
2.2. Gatherings with friends and neighbors
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| tupaantuliaiset | housewarming party |
| pullakahvit | gathering , event where coffee and pastries are offered |
| känttykahvit | gathering , event where coffee and pastries are offered |
| kahvikestit | gathering , event where coffee and pastries are offered |
| kahvikutsut | gathering , event where coffee and pastries are offered |
| kotikutsut | home party |
| istujaiset | small and intimate social gathering, get-together |
| illanistujaiset | small and intimate social gathering in the evening |
| illatsut | small and intimate social gathering in the evening |
| varpaiset | home gathering with friends right after a baby is born |
| varpajaiset | home gathering with friends right after a baby is born |
| nyyttikestit | potluck gathering (guests bring food to share) (link) |
| nyyttärit | potluck gathering (guests bring food to share) (spoken) |
| ruokapidot | social gathering where food is being offered |
| rääppiäiset | leftovers party after a large event |
| valvojaiset | event where people stay awake (new year, elections) |
| pikkujoulut | pre-Christmas party (link) |
| lastenkutsut | playdate |
| herrakutsut | social gathering with only men invited |
| naamiaiset | masquerade, masked ball |
| pikatreffit | speed date |
| sokkotreffit | blind date |
| senssit | date with a lover or potential lover |
| syystalkoot | joined effort of locals to clean up neighborhood in autumn |
| siivoustalkoot | joined effort of locals to clean up neighborhood (link) |
| talkootanssit | dance held at the end of a joined effort |
| kirkkokahvit | coffee meeting in or relating to a church |
| kissanristiäiset | many trivial, pointless events in a row |
| syömingit | big feast with lots to eat |
| juomingit | drinking party (lots of alcohol) |
| ryyppäjäiset | drinking party (lots of alcohol) |
2.3. School and Work Events
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| penkinpainajaiset | celebration of final day of study at a high school (link) |
| penkkarit | celebration of final day of study at a high school (spoken) |
| lakkiaiset | high school graduation party in the evening |
| vanhojentanssit | fancy high school sophmore dance event (link) |
| valmistujaiset | general term for graduation parties |
| päättäjäiset | closing ceremony; graduation ceremony |
| lopettajaiset | closing ceremony; graduation ceremony |
| väittäjäiset | public debate where a doctoral candidate defends his thesis towards an opponent |
| päättäjäiskekkerit | party held after a doctoral defense |
| kamppiaiset | party held after a doctoral defense |
| harjannostajaiset | party for construction workers when a house has been completely built (link) |
| harjakaiset | party for construction workers when a house has been completely built |
| kaupantekiäiset | celebration held to celebrate a finished trade or purchase |
| lähtiäiset | farewell party |
| läksiäiset | farewell party |
| erojaiset | farewell party |
| läksiäiskahvit | social event with coffee to honor someone leaving |
2.4. Informal Dance Parties
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| tanssit | event where there is dancing |
| bileet | party (spoken) |
| bailut | party with dancing (spoken) |
| hipat | party (spoken) |
| kotihipat | home party (spoken) |
| hilut | party (spoken) |
| kekkerit | party, kegger |
| kemut | party (e.g. teenagers, getting drunk) |
| keimit | party (spoken) |
| karkelot | party with dancing (spoken) |
| jortsut | dance party (spoken) |
| pippalot | party (spoken) |
| pirskeet | party (spoken) |
| reivit | rave party (all night dance party filled with electronic dance music) |
| ravet | rave party |
| teknobileet | techno party |
| jamit | jam session |
| riekkujaiset | negative term for noisy, destructive parties |
2.5. Traditional Events and Celebrations
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| juhannustanssit | dance event held around Midsummer Day |
| lavatanssit | ballroom dance, often partly outside at Midsummer |
| latotanssit | dance event held in a barn |
| päivätanssit | daytime dance event |
| rapujuhlat | crayfish party (link) |
| rapukestit | crayfish party |
| tappajaiset | event to celebrate a kill (such as of game) |
| siantappajaiset | event celebrating the kill of a pig |
| peijaiset | event celebrating the kill of an animal (link) |
| karhunpeijaiset | event celebrating the kill of a bear |
That’s it for this vocabulary list of plurale tantum words that refer to events, celebrations and parties. Hopefully this list helps you on your road to mastering Finnish. Next, find out more about:
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