Nouns ending in NEN – Ihminen Lautanen Tiainen
In this article, you can find an overview of nouns ending in -nen. These are only a small subset of the large number of words ending in -nen in the Finnish language. Most of those words are adjectives.
Nouns ending in -nen can be regular words without a specific meaning or connotation. In addition, however, the suffix -nen can be a diminutive suffix: it creates new nouns which reflect that the base word is small.
If you’re a beginner, please pay attention to the words marked in green. They are the most common words, so they’re the ones you should learn first.
- Nouns ending in -nen
- Finnish diminutive suffix -nen
1. Nouns ending in -nen
1.1. Nouns ending in -nen which refer to people
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| alainen | underling |
| ihminen | person, human |
| kaksonen, kaksoset | twin(s) |
| kansalainen | citizen, subject |
| kaupunkilainen | townsperson, city dweller, city boy |
| keskonen | premature baby, preemie |
| maalainen | countryman, peasant |
| seuralainen | companion, associate, escort |
| matkaseuralainen | travel companion |
| paskiainen | bastard, asshole |
| rakastavaiset | lovers |
| sijainen | substitute, replacement |
| sulhanen | groom, fiancé |
| ulkomaalainen | foreigner |
| vuokralainen | renter, tenant, lessee |
| alivuokralainen | subtenant, sublessee |
| rikollinen | criminal |
| ulkopuolinen | outsider |
| vihollinen | enemy |
| vapaaehtoinen | volunteer |
| aatelinen | nobleman, highborn |
1.2. Nature Words: Insects
There is a large number of insects that have a name ending in -nen. If you’re a beginner or intermediate student, you can get by learning only the words marked in green.
However, I have decided to add at least a couple more specific names, such as the names of some types of ants and beetles. The Wikipedia page for each should allow you to get more of an idea of which type of insect the words refer to.
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| hyönteinen | insect |
| tuhohyönteinen | pest insect |
| loishyönteinen | parasitic insect |
| myrkkyhyönteinen | venomous insect |
| ampiainen | wasp, yellowjacket |
| hyttynen | mosquito |
| kimalainen | bumblebee |
| muurahainen | ant |
| sokerimuurahainen | black garden ant (Wikipedia) |
| hevosmuurahainen | carpenter ant (Wikipedia) |
| kekomuurahainen | wood ant (Wikipedia) |
| mehiläinen | bee, honeybee |
| kovakuoriainen | beetle (Wikipedia) |
| kaarnakuoriainen | bark beetle (Wikipedia) |
| kultakuoriainen | rose chafer (Wikipedia) |
| lantakuoriainen | dung beetle (Wikipedia) |
| lehtikuoriainen | leaf beetle (Wikipedia) |
| raatokuoriainen | carrion beetle (Wikipedia) |
| sontiainen | dor beetle (Wikipedia) |
| sittiäinen | dor beetle (Wikipedia) |
| vaaksiainen | crane fly (Wikipedia) |
| satiainen | pubic louse (Wikipedia) |
| puutiainen | castor bean tick (Wikipedia) > often punkki |
| perhonen | butterfly |
| sitruunaperhonen | common brimstone (Wikipedia) |
| silkkiperhonen | silkworm, silk moth (Wikipedia) |
| nokkosperhonen | small tortoiseshell (Wikipedia) |
| yöperhonen | moth (Wikipedia) |
| tuhatjalkainen | centipede, millipede (Wikipedia) |
1.3. Nature Words: Birds
Many birds have a name ending in -nen in Finnish. I’m linking to the Wikipedia pages of each bird, because reading a description might help you more than just the English term for each bird.
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| varpunen | sparrow (Wikipedia) |
| punavarpunen | common rosefinch (Wikipedia) |
| pikkuvarpunen | Eurasian tree sparrow (Wikipedia) |
| tiainen | tit (Wikipedia) |
| sinitiainen | Eurasian blue tit (Wikipedia) |
| töyhtötiainen | European crested tit (Wikipedia) |
| talitiainen | great tit (Wikipedia) |
| kuusitiainen | coal tit (Wikipedia) |
| rautiainen | dunnock (Wikipedia) |
| pyrstötiainen | long-tailed tit (Wikipedia) |
| metsäkirvinen | tree pipit (Wikipedia) |
| urpiainen | common redpoll (Wikipedia) |
| kottarainen | common starling (Wikipedia) |
| pääskynen | swallow (Wikipedia) > also: pääsky |
| kyyhkynen | dove, pidgeon (Wikipedia) > also: kyyhky |
| hippiäinen | goldcrest (Wikipedia) |
| peipponen | common chaffinch (Wikipedia) |
| pulmunen | snow bunting (Wikipedia) |
1.4. Miscellaneous Nature Words
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| selkärankainen | vertebrate (animal) (Wikipedia) |
| tuholainen | vermin, pest |
| loinen | parasite, leech |
| neulanen | needle-like leaf (of a conifer tree) |
| kuusenneulanen | spruce needle |
| männynneulanen | pine needle |
| saniainen | fern (plant) |
| nokkonen | nettle, stinging nettle (Wikipedia) |
| rautanokkonen | dwarf nettle, small nettle (Wikipedia) |
| laiskiainen | sloth |
| hevonen | horse |
| merihevonen | seahorse |
| ankanpoikanen | duckling |
| linnunpoikanen | baby bird, nestling, chick |
| kananpoikanen | chick, baby chicken |
| kissanpoikanen | kitten |
| ankeroinen | eelworm |
| äyriäinen | crustacean, shellfish |
| mönkiäinen | creepy-crawly |
1.5. Food-Related Nouns Ending in -nen
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| aamiainen | breakfast |
| illallinen | dinner, supper (evening meal) |
| karviainen | gooseberry (Wikipedia) |
| lautanen | plate, saucer, dish |
| makeinen | candy, sweet, caramel |
| (munan)valkuainen | egg white |
| (munan)keltuainen | egg yolk |
| ohukainen | pancake, crepe |
| veriohukainen | blood pancake (Wikipedia) |
| pinaattiohukainen | spinach pancake (Wikipedia) |
| alunen | coaster, mat, underlay |
1.6. Bodypart Nouns Ending in -nen
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| eturauhanen | prostate, prostate gland |
| kilpirauhanen | thyroid, thyroid gland |
| rintarauhanen | mammary gland |
| hikirauhanen | sweat gland |
| sylkirauhanen | salivary gland |
| imurauhanen | lymph gland |
| kyynelrauhanen | tear gland |
| rauhanen | gland, secretory organ |
| silmänvalkuainen | white of the eye |
| munuainen | kidney |
| mustuainen = pupilli | pupil (of eye) |
| ihohuokonen | skin pore |
| rystynen, rystyset | knuckle(s), knuckle joint(s) |
1.7. Other Miscellaneous Nouns Ending in -nen
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| aapinen | ABC-book, primer |
| hakanen | small hook, fastener, clasp |
| hetkinen | moment, a short while |
| hiukkanen | particle; mote, speck |
| pölyhiukkanen | speck of dust |
| alkeishiukkanen | elementary particle (physics) |
| säteilyhiukkanen | radiation particle, photon |
| kankkunen | hangover |
| keijukainen | fairy, sprite, pixie (also keiju) |
| koillinen | north-east |
| koulukiusaaminen | school bullying |
| kulkunen | jingle bell, small bell |
| kuukautiset | menstruation, period |
| kuvajainen | reflection, mirror image; illusion |
| käteinen | cash, money |
| lapanen, lapaset | mitten(s), glove(s), usually made from whool |
| laskiainen | Shrovetide, Shrove Tuesday (holiday) |
| lentolehtinen |
flyer, leaflet |
| loppiainen | Epiphany (holiday) |
| maahinen | gnome, imp, dwarf |
| osaaminen | know-how, expertise, competence |
| painajainen | nightmare |
| pakkanen | frost, cold weather |
| pohjoinen | north |
| päällinen | cover, spread, covering |
| rappunen, rappuset | stair step, stairway |
| rukkanen, rukkaset | mitten(s), glove(s), usually made from leather |
| sananen | small conversation, have a word with someone |
| sähikäinen | firecracker, banger |
| tapaaminen | appointment, meeting |
| tuliainen | small gift, souvenir |
| tuokkonen | punnet, small birch bark basket |
| ukkonen | thunder, thunderstorm |
| uutinen | news item, announcement |
| uutiset | newscast, the news (tv) |
| eteinen | hallway, entry hall |
| jättiläinen |
giant |
| kylkiäinen | freebie, giveaway |
2. Finnish Diminutive Suffix
2.1. Diminutive Nouns Expressing Smallness
Finnish utilizes the suffix –nen to create new nouns that convey that an object is small. For example, kirja means book, while the diminutive kirjanen means a small, often thin, book, which is generally nothing more than a leaflet.
| Finnish | English | Finnish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| hitu | bit, small piece | hitunen | tiny bit, smidgen |
| hiukka | tiny bit | hiukkanen | super tiny bit |
| kirja | book | kirjanen | booklet, leaflet, pamphlet |
| kukka | flower | kukkanen | small flower |
| kuppi | cup | kupponen | small cup, cuppa (of coffee) |
| lappu | paper note | lappunen | small slip of paper |
| lehti | newspaper | lehtinen | leaflet, pamphlet |
| lintu | bird | lintunen | birdie, little bird |
| lippu | ticket, coupon | lippunen | small slip of paper |
| muru | morsel, crumb | murunen | small morsel, crumb |
| namu | candy, sweet | namunen | small piece of candy |
| osa | part, section | osanen (osaset) | small part, fragment |
| pala | piece, chunk | palanen | bit, scrap, small piece |
| suupala | bite, mouthful | suupalanen | small mouthful |
| poika | boy | poikanen | small boy |
| rahtu | crumb, smidge | rahtunen | tiny speck |
| rako | crack, opening | rakonen | small narrow slit, crack |
| rippu | pinch, nugget | rippunen | tiny pinch, tiny amount |
| ropo | coin, penny | roponen | tiny amount of money |
| teko | action, act | tekonen | small misdeed |
| tilkka | splash, drop | tilkkanen | small splash, dram |
| vene | boat | venonen | small boat (poetry) |
| vihko | notebook | vihkonen | booklet, leaflet, pamphlet |
2.2. Diminutive Nouns Expressing Endearment
Words can also get the suffix -nen in order to create diminutive nouns that convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. These are mainly used when speaking straight to the person, and usually require the possessive suffix -ni. In English, you will often find more creative names such as “sweetie pie” and “sugar plum”.
These term of endearment are usually used in a playful manner. This is especially important to note because not everyone has the right sense of humor for some of these. For example, calling your wife muoriseni or eukkoseni can be considered tactless because eukko means “hag, witch, old woman”.
| Finnish | English | Finnish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| veli | brother | veliseni | my dear brother |
| ystävä | friend | ystäväiseni | my old (dear) friend |
| muru | darling, dear | muruseni | my dear sweetheart |
| kulta | darling, love | kultaseni | my sweetheart, my love |
| kyyhky | dove | kyyhkyläiseni | my little dove (lover, partner) |
| lintu | bird | lintuseni | my little bird, birdie (child or lover) |
| muori | old mother, grandma | muoriseni | my dear wife |
| eukko | old woman, hag | eukkoseni | my dear wife |
| ukko | old man | ukkoseni | my dear old husband |
The following group of words are used in literary sources, such as poems and songs, rather than in everyday life. These words sound a little fancy. They aren’t used that often in everyday speech except when wanting to sound more poetic.
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| pienokainen | small (cute) baby, infant |
| lapsukainen | small child |
| lapsonen | small child |
| kaunokainen | beauty, young pretty woman |
| neitokainen | damsel, maiden, young woman |
| neitonen | damsel, maiden, young woman |
| nuorukainen | youngster, lad, young man |
Check out these other sources too:
- Palomäki.info: Käänteissanakirjan -n-loppuiset sanat
- Wiktionary: Finnish nainen-type nominals
- VISK: Vierassanoissa yleinen johdostyyppi
This article only contains nouns ending in –nen. This is just one article in a series of many, which all tackle a different type of words ending in -nen. More articles will follow soon!
