Finnish Wedding Vocabulary – Häät Häiden Häissä
This article contains Finnish wedding vocabulary. The word häät is a plurale tantum word. It will always appear in the plural, except at the beginning of compound words. You can find many such compound words in this article (e.g. hääjuhla, hääpuku).
Random Important Vocabulary
One important thing you should realize is that häät “wedding” refers to the event of getting married: the wedding ceremony and party. The word avioliitto, in contrast, refers to the marriage, the bond between people.
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| kihlaus | engagement |
| vihkiäiset | wedding ceremony |
| häät | wedding |
| hääjuhla | wedding party |
| kirkkohäät | church wedding |
| siviilihäät | civil wedding |
| maistraatti | registry office |
| kristillinen avioliitto | Christian marriage |
| siviiliavioliitto | civil marriage |
| esteettömyystodistus | clearance certificate |
| avioeste | wedding impediment |
| avioliitto | marriage |
| avioelämä | married life |
| avioehto | prenup |
| avioehtosopimus | marriage contract |
| avioero | divorce |
| hääpäivä | wedding anniversary |
| hopeahäät | silver wedding (25 y.) |
| kultahäät | golden wedding (50 y.) |
| timanttihäät | diamond wedding (60 y.) |
People Involved in Weddings
While the words aviomies and aviovaimo exist, in everyday language, the prefix avio- gets dropped, so “husband and wife” is just mies ja vaimo.
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| morsian | bride |
| sulhanen | groom |
| hääpari | wedding couple |
| vihkipari | wedding couple |
| morsiuspari | wedding couple |
| aviomies | husband |
| aviovaimo | wife |
| puoliso | spouse |
| morsiusneito | bridesmaid |
| kaaso | maid of honor |
| bestman | best man |
| todistaja | witness |
| häävieraat | wedding guests |
| vieraat | guests |
| hääseurue | wedding parties |
| hääväki | wedding guests |
| pappi | priest |
Wedding Outfits and Accessories
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| musta puku | black suit |
| hääpuku | wedding dress |
| häämekko | wedding dress |
| morsiuspuku | bridal gown |
| vihkipuku | wedding gown |
| morsiushuntu | veil |
| morsiuskimppu | bridal bouquet |
| morsiusvihko | bridal bouquet |
| morsiuskruunu | bridal crown |
| hääkampaus | wedding hairdo |
| vihkisormus | engagement ring |
| hääsormus | wedding ring |
Wedding Program and Traditions
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| hääbudjetti | wedding budget |
| hääjärjestelyt | wedding arrangements |
| hääohjelma | wedding program |
| hääsuunnittelija | wedding planner |
| hääpäivä | wedding day |
| juhlapaikka | wedding venue |
| juhlasali | reception hall |
| hääateria | wedding reception meal |
| hääkakku | wedding cake |
| pitopalvelu | catering service |
| hääkutsu | wedding invitation |
| häämusiikki | wedding music |
| häätanssi | wedding dance |
| häävalssi | wedding waltz |
| puhe | speech |
| hääkoristeet | wedding decorations |
| hääkuva | wedding photograph |
| häälahja | wedding present |
| hääyö | wedding night |
| häämatka | honeymoon |
| hääperinne | wedding tradition |
| polttarit | hen/stag party |
| juhannustaiat | midsummer magic |
| morsiamen luovutus | the walk down the isle |
| sukkanauhan heitto | garter toss |
| morsiamen ryöstö | robbery of the bride |
| hääkellot soivat | the wedding bells ring |
Wedding Related Verbs in Finnish
No Finnish wedding vocabulary list would be complete with a list of useful verbs!
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| kosia | to propose |
| mennä kihloihin | to get engaged |
| olla kihloissa | to be engaged |
| haluta naimisiin | to want to get married |
| mennä naimisiin | to get married |
| solmia avioliitto | to get married |
| vihkiä | to wed people |
| mennä hyviin naimisiin | to be lucky to get such a good partner |
| mennä toisiin naimisiin | to get married for the second time |
| mennä uusiin naimisiin | to get married again |
| mennä avioon | to marry |
| astua avioon | to enter a marriage |
| karata mennäkseen naimisiin | to elope |
| olla naimisissa | to be married |
| olla avioliitossa | to be married |
| olla aviossa jkn kanssa | to be married to someone |
| kutsua vieraat | to invite the guests |
| viettää häitä | to celebrate a wedding |
| olla häissä | to be at a wedding |
| viettää häät perhepiirissä | to have the wedding with family only |
| pitää häät sisätiloissa | to have the wedding indoors |
| suunnitella häitä | to plan the wedding |
| laatia vieraslista | to create the guest list |
| laatia hääbudjetti | to set up the wedding budget |
| varata kirkko | to book the church |
| lähettää hääkutsut | to send the wedding invitations |
| sovittaa morsiuspuku | to try on the wedding gown |
| vaatia avioero | to demand a divorce |
| purkaa avioliitto | to terminate the marriage |
| erota | to divorce |
That’s all for this article on basic Finnish wedding vocabulary! I plan on writing a related article with some explanations of the traditions related to getting married.
You may also want to check out my list of plural imperatives related to planning a wedding!
