Ladies, what don't you like to be called by men?

[Annamariah]

I'm curious
So you say there's practically no word in Finnish to address women, other than their names? You don't have equivalents in Finnish for "baby", "honey" and the like, as in other languages? In such case, you the Finns must be really polite when talking. Very interesting. Where I live people have lost almost all sense of politeness.
However, I bet there must be a word for saying "lady"... unless there isn't any... is there?

Surely there are words you can use to address people, it's just that they are rarely used. For example Finnish equivalent to "honey" woud be "kulta" ("gold"), but it is mostly used when you're in a relationship.

If a random guy you've never met comes to talk to you, he wouldn't say "Hey babe", he'd probably start with saying simply "Hi". That's what I mean when I say we Finns avoid addressing each other directly.

When in many languages and cultures it's normal to include the other person's name in conversation every once in a while, Finns don't do that. Usually we only use each other's names when we need to get their attention. If I were to meet you, I guess I'd only say "Hi Max" if you were looking in another direction and didn't see me. If you already saw me there, I'd probably just say "Hi" It makes a Finn uncomfortable to talk to someone who repeats your name in every other sentence

And about "lady", there isn't really a word for that in Finnish. When America's Next Top Model format was turned into a Finnish reality show, many of Tyra's lines were directly translated (like "I have eleven beautiful girls standing in front of me..."), and I have to say that many of them sounded really formal and awkward in Finnish (mostly because in Finnish spoken and written language are very different, and the translations were written language). When in the American show the judges often say "Hello ladies", in the Finnish version they had to say "Hei tytöt", "Hi girls" because we don't have that word "lady"

[Maximilianus]

Surely there are words you can use to address people, it's just that they are rarely used. For example Finnish equivalent to "honey" woud be "kulta" ("gold"), but it is mostly used when you're in a relationship.

If a random guy you've never met comes to talk to you, he wouldn't say "Hey babe", he'd probably start with saying simply "Hi". That's what I mean when I say we Finns avoid addressing each other directly.

When in many languages and cultures it's normal to include the other person's name in conversation every once in a while, Finns don't do that. Usually we only use each other's names when we need to get their attention. If I were to meet you, I guess I'd only say "Hi Max" if you were looking in another direction and didn't see me. If you already saw me there, I'd probably just say "Hi" It makes a Finn uncomfortable to talk to someone who repeats your name in every other sentence

And about "lady", there isn't really a word for that in Finnish. When America's Next Top Model format was turned into a Finnish reality show, many of Tyra's lines were directly translated (like "I have eleven beautiful girls standing in front of me..."), and I have to say that many of them sounded really formal and awkward in Finnish (mostly because in Finnish spoken and written language are very different, and the translations were written language). When in the American show the judges often say "Hello ladies", in the Finnish version they had to say "Hei tytöt", "Hi girls" because we don't have that word "lady"

I will have to keep all this in mind. It will help me avoid bad manners if I ever visit Finland

Thank you very much, lady Anna

[Annamariah]

I will have to keep all this in mind. It will help me avoid bad manners if I ever visit Finland

Thank you very much, lady Anna

Don't worry, as long as you speak English I think you'll be forgiven

Now that I've said that people here don't like to address each other directly and therefore words like "babe", "chick" and so on are used, I must admit that there has been a debate much like this topic going on in Finland these past days.

In Finland it is normal to call strange men "uncles" and women "aunts". Not to their face (no one would try to catch your attention by calling "hi aunt!"), but when they are talking about someone to another person. For example in a bus a mother might tell her child to "go sit next to that aunt there". Also people of certain professions are often called aunts or uncles, for example kindergarten teachers, mailmen, lunchladies... Librarians are often called "library aunts".

What causes some debate is that many people feel old when they here someone talk about them this way. I admit it was a shock when I first heard myself being referred to as an aunt when I was only a teenager, maybe 14 years old Now that I work in different libraries I hear myself being called an aunt almost every day and I have gotten used to it, so I don't take any offence. Really, those who refer to me as an "aunt" or a "library aunt" are mostly mothers and fathers who are talking to their children, so it's perfectly understandable. I mean, from a little child's point of view anyone over 12 years old is practically an adult, so it's natural for them to think of them as "aunts" and "uncles".

So I don't mind being called an aunt. Being referred to as a "woman" would sound too cold and clinical, to a child I'm hardly a "girl" anymore (though I feel like one myself and don't mind if older people refer to me as one) and "miss" is just too formal in Finnish.

[Maximilianus]

Don't worry, as long as you speak English I think you'll be forgiven

Now that I've said that people here don't like to address each other directly and therefore words like "babe", "chick" and so on are used, I must admit that there has been a debate much like this topic going on in Finland these past days.

In Finland it is normal to call strange men "uncles" and women "aunts". Not to their face (no one would try to catch your attention by calling "hi aunt!"), but when they are talking about someone to another person. For example in a bus a mother might tell her child to "go sit next to that aunt there". Also people of certain professions are often called aunts or uncles, for example kindergarten teachers, mailmen, lunchladies... Librarians are often called "library aunts".

What causes some debate is that many people feel old when they here someone talk about them this way. I admit it was a shock when I first heard myself being referred to as an aunt when I was only a teenager, maybe 14 years old Now that I work in different libraries I hear myself being called an aunt almost every day and I have gotten used to it, so I don't take any offence. Really, those who refer to me as an "aunt" or a "library aunt" are mostly mothers and fathers who are talking to their children, so it's perfectly understandable. I mean, from a little child's point of view anyone over 12 years old is practically an adult, so it's natural for them to think of them as "aunts" and "uncles".

"Aunt" and "uncle" are terms very much used in Spain as well (it would be "tía" and "tío" in Spanish, respectively). But in Spain it's even used to address people directly, so you can hear indirect address going like "who's that uncle over there?" and direct address of the type "hey you, uncle, come over here!".

In my country the same goes on with "vieja" and "viejo" which, put into plain English, mean "old woman" and "old man". Terms even used (especially used) among teenagers talking to/about each other, maybe because they want to "grow old" faster? Who knows... what I believe is that being called an "old woman" when you are clearly young is weirder than being called an "aunt"

At least you Finns still observe more politeness in your language habits

Being referred to as a "woman" would sound too cold and clinical, to a child I'm hardly a "girl" anymore (though I feel like one myself and don't mind if older people refer to me as one) and "miss" is just too formal in Finnish.

I feel the same about being called "man" myself. Thanks so much for sharing a piece of your country's culture, "aunt Anna"

[Janine]

Beauty and the Beast!
I began a title revolution
Wait until I come up with new revolutionary threads... next episode next week, same time, same channel

Yeah, really! My friend is having such a fun time with his new title - he even roars like a beast. Yes, see what you started, Max! By the way, you can refer to me as 'beauty' anyday of the week, too... I rather like it.

I call my grand-daughter a variety of endearing names - precious, beautiful, blue eyes, sweet pea, sweetie pie, cutie pie....but then, she is only one years old.

[Maximilianus]

Yeah, really! My friend is having such a fun time with his new title - he even roars like a beast. Yes, see what you started, Max! By the way, you can refer to me as 'beauty' anyday of the week, too... I rather like it.

Okay "beauty", I will call you "beauty"... but don't call me "beast", deal? ... not even once in a week... it doesn't have the same appeal....

[Janine]

Okay "beauty", I will call you "beauty"... but don't call me "beast", deal? ... not even once in a week... it doesn't have the same appeal....

oh OK......grrrrr......

[Maximilianus]

oh OK......grrrrr......

[Annamariah]

"Thanks so much for sharing a piece of your country's culture, "aunt Anna"

Anytime To me one of the best things about an international forum like this is the opportunity to learn more about different countries and cultures "Aunt Anna" or "Anna-täti" just loves learning new things

[Maximilianus]

Anytime To me one of the best things about an international forum like this is the opportunity to learn more about different countries and cultures

To me too

"Aunt Anna" or "Anna-täti" just loves learning new things

So does "Uncle Max" .... would that be "Max-setä" in Finnish? Is "setä" the Finnish word for "uncle"?

[Annamariah]

To me too

So does "Uncle Max" .... would that be "Max-setä" in Finnish? Is "setä" the Finnish word for "uncle"?

Yup, that's it "Setä" is the form of "uncle" you can use referring to any male, but when it comes to real relatives, "setä" is always your father's brother. Mother's brother would be called "eno", but that word is never used in addressing strangers. "Täti", however, applies to both parent's sisters. I don't really have any idea why there is a difference between maternal and paternal uncles but all aunts have the same name...

[Faineant]

...

"Round here we call them birds, not *****es"

Ha!

This is rather ridiculous.

[Maximilianus]

Yup, that's it "Setä" is the form of "uncle" you can use referring to any male, but when it comes to real relatives, "setä" is always your father's brother. Mother's brother would be called "eno", but that word is never used in addressing strangers. "Täti", however, applies to both parent's sisters. I don't really have any idea why there is a difference between maternal and paternal uncles but all aunts have the same name...

"eno" also means "a large river", right? Like "Lätäseno"?

[Annamariah]

"eno" also means "a large river", right? Like "Lätäseno"?

In Laplandish language, yes, a big or a fast-flowing, rapid river Someone's been doing some research

Eno meaning mother's brother might come from a word "enä" which means "big", referring to mother's brother's importance children's lives in past days. (Word "enä" doesn't exist by itself, but it's in words like "enemmän" and "enää", "more" and "anymore")

(I really should get an etymological dictionary of my own )

[Maximilianus]

In Laplandish language, yes, a big or a fast-flowing, rapid river Someone's been doing some research

I've been researching because I'm curious
So Lapland is the Northern province, right? Laplandish would be a Finnish dialect? Are there many dialects there?

Eno meaning mother's brother might come from a word "enä" which means "big", referring to mother's brother's importance children's lives in past days. (Word "enä" doesn't exist by itself, but it's in words like "enemmän" and "enää", "more" and "anymore")

(I really should get an etymological dictionary of my own )

Finnish sounds as an interesting tongue. Professor Tolkien once said he had become "quite intoxicated with its sounds". I suppose that's why he picked it to be somewhat a basis for his Quenya.
Is it true that Finnish stresses words always on the first syllable? Are there any exceptions?