Climbing (kiipeily) is perhaps not the most common hobby around, but it can be an exciting (jännittävä) adventure (seikkailu). If your hobby is climbing, this page might offer you some help with Finnish climbing vocabulary.
Learn more about how to use the verb “harrastaa” and other sports on my website as well!
Some Basic Finnish Climbing Vocabulary
Finnish |
English |
Finnish |
English |
kiipeily |
climbing |
korkea |
high |
kiipeilyseinä |
climbing wall |
kiipeilyhalli |
climbing hall |
ylös |
up(wards) |
jännitys |
excitement |
vaara |
danger |
riski |
risk |
vuori |
mountain |
kallio |
rock |
vuoren huippu |
top of the mountain |
kallioseinämä |
the face of a rock |
vuoristo |
mountain range |
maisema |
view |
Kiipeilylajit – Types of Climbing
Climbing can be done in different environments both inside and outside. It can also come with some other challenges, such as ice climbing and speed climbing. We’re not always going up either!
Finnish |
English |
seinäkiipeily |
wall climbing |
kalliokiipeily |
rock climbing |
boulderointi |
bouldering |
urheilukiipeily |
sport climbing |
trädikiipeily |
traditional climbing |
tekninen kiipeily |
aid climbing |
vapaakiipeily |
free climbing |
vuorikiipeily |
mountaineering |
jääkiipeily |
ice climbing |
kilpakiipeily |
climbing competition |
nopeuskiipeily |
speed climbing |
alaköysikiipeily |
lead climbing |
yläköysikiipeily |
top-rope climbing |
köysilaskeutuminen |
rappelling, abseiling |
big wall -kiipeily |
big wall climbing |
Alppikiipeily |
Alpine climbing |
Varusteet ja Välineet – Equipment and Tools
The different types of climbing require different levels of equipment, where the more difficult the climb is the more gear you will need – both to keep yourself safe and to actual advance while climbing. The gear list below isn’t complete, but it lists some important equipment!
Finnish |
English |
välineistö |
equipment |
turvallisuusvälineet |
safety equipment |
mankka |
magnesium carbonate, chalk |
magnesiumkarbonaatti |
magnesium carbonate, chalk |
mankkapussi |
chalk bag |
kypärä |
helmet |
kiipeilykengät |
climbing shoes |
valjaat |
harness |
istumavaljaat |
sit harness |
köysitikkaat |
rope ladder |
nauhatikkaat |
tape ladder |
kiipeilyköysi |
climbing rope |
dynaaminen köysi |
dynamic rope |
jalkalenkki |
foot loop |
varmistuslaite |
belay device |
haka |
clasp, piton |
porahaka, porahaat |
bolt, bolts |
sulkurengas |
carabiner (locker) |
ruuvisulkurengas |
screw locker carabiner |
jousihaka |
carabiner |
nauhalenkki |
sling |
kiila |
nut |
jatko |
quickdraw |
crashpad, pädi |
crashpad, bouldering mat |
kantahuukki |
heelhook |
varvashuukki |
toehook |
ankkuri |
anchor |
yläankkuri |
top anchor |
jääruuvi |
ice screw |
jäärauta |
crampon |
jäähakku |
ice axe |
laskeutumiskahdeksikko |
figure 8 rappel device |
frendi, kamu |
friend |
camalot |
camalot |
prusik-narulenkki |
Prusik rope loop |
prusik-solmu |
Prusik knot |
Verbejä ja Ihmisiä – Verbs and People
I always like to include a small list of useful verbs and the names of people involved in the activity of a page. Kiipeilijä kiipeilee ja varmistaja varmistaa! 😉
Finnish |
English |
Verbejä |
Verbs |
kiipeillä (as a hobby) |
to climb |
kiivetä (once) |
to climb |
ylittää |
to traverse, pass |
valloittaa huippu |
to conquer the peak |
nousta huipulle |
to rise to the top |
roikkua paikalleen |
to hang in place |
liidata |
to rappel, to lead |
pudota |
to fall |
ylettyä otteeseen |
to reach a handhold |
nousta ylös |
to rise |
laskea alas |
to lower |
varmistaa |
to belay |
laskeutua |
to rappel |
Finnish |
English |
Ihmisiä |
People |
kiipeilijä |
climber |
aloittelija |
beginner |
kiipeilykaveri |
climbing partner |
kilpakiipeilijä |
competing climber |
köysistö |
rope team |
varmistaja |
belayer |
spottaaja |
spotter |
Muita Sanoja – Other Words
Below, you can find some other important climbing words that didn’t quite make any of the lists above. If you like seeing how words are adapted into language when borrowed, you can find some pretty interesting loanwords that have been finnishized here. A slab becomes släbi, a move become muuvi and a sloper becomes sloupperi. Too lazy to invent their own words, or going with the new winds of fashion? I’m not judging!
Finnish |
English |
beta |
beta |
lihas, lihakset |
muscle, muscles |
krimppaus |
crimping |
liidaus |
lead climbing |
vaikeustaso |
difficulty grade |
köydenpituus |
rope length, pitch length |
kallioreitti |
route |
kallionseinämä |
rock wall |
matala reitti |
low route |
vaikea reitti |
difficult route |
on-sight |
on sight |
flash |
flash |
red point |
redpoint |
kruksi |
crux |
Finnish |
English |
kiipeilytekniikka |
climbing technique |
kiipeilyliike |
climbing move |
dynaaminen liike |
dynamic movement |
dyno |
dyno |
muuvi |
move |
kiipeilyote |
climbing hold |
pintsi |
pinch |
saideri |
sidepull |
sloupperi |
sloper |
släbi |
slab |
spottaus |
spotting |
lista |
edge |
cräkki, halkeama |
crack |
ständi |
stand |