Finnish
/ˈfɪnɪʃ/noun
Relating to Finland, its people, or the Finnish language.
Did you know?The English word comes through Old English and Old Norse from a Germanic name for the Finns, while the deeper origin of that ethnonym is still debated by historical linguists.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*Finnoz / *Finna-
“A name for the Finns or a related northern people”
Old Norse
ON
Finnr
“A Finn; also a label used in Norse sources for Sami and other northern peoples”
Old English
OE
Finnas
“The Finns or northern peoples known to the Anglo-Saxons”
Middle English
English
finnissh / fynyssh
“Pertaining to the Finns or Finland”
Modern English
English
Finnish
“Relating to Finland or the Finnish language”