Finnish exonyms
Below is a list of Finnish language exonyms for places in non-Finnish-speaking areas:
Note that the Finnish language inflects place names where English use prepositions like in and to. These variants can affect any place name and are inflections, not exonyms. For example Mene Birminghamiin means Go to Birmingham.
General
Foreign place names containing a direction such as South or Upper are often translated, e.g.:
North Carolina → Pohjois-Carolina; Upper Volta → Ylä-Volta
Belgium
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English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Brussels | Bryssel | Brussel | Dutch | |
Bruxelles | French |
China
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Beijing | Peking | |||
Guangzhou | Kanton | |||
Nanjing | Nanking |
Cuba
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Havana | Havanna | La Habana | Spanish |
Cyprus
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Nicosia | Nikosia | Lefkoşa | Turkish | |
Levkosía | Greek |
Denmark
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Copenhagen | Kööpenhamina | København | Danish | |
Jutland | Juutinmaa, Jyllanti | Jylland | Danish |
Egypt
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Alexandria | Aleksandria | Al-Iskandariyya | Standard Arabic | |
Aswan | Assuan | Aswān | Standard Arabic | |
Cairo | Kairo | Al-Qahirah | Standard Arabic | |
Nile river | Niili | an-Nīl | Standard Arabic |
Estonia
Estonian and Finnish are quite closely related and share many words that differ only slightly, such as saar (Estonian) and saari (Finnish) for island. Many Estonian toponyms and even people's names are simply translated into Finnish as if they were Finnish words, creating an unlimited number of potentially existing exonyms. Below are only some frequently encountered examples of these, as well as those where the difference is significant.
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English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Emajõgi | Emajoki | Emajõgi | Estonian | |
Hiiumaa | Hiidenmaa | Hiiumaa | Estonian | |
Lämmijärv | Kuumajärvi | Lämmijärv | Estonian | |
Lake Peipus | Peipsijärvi | Peipsi järv | Estonian | |
Lake Pihkva | Pihkovanjärvi | Pihkva järv | Estonian | |
Lake Ülemiste | Ülemistejärvi | Ülemiste järv | Estonian | |
Naissaar | Naissaari | Naissaar | Estonian | |
Narva river | Narvanjoki | Narva river | Estonian | |
Reval | Rääveli | Reval | Estonian | Archaic |
Saaremaa | Saarenmaa | Saaremaa | Estonian | |
Suur Munamägi | Iso Munamäki | Suur Munamägi | Estonian | |
Tallinn | Tallinna | Tallinn | Estonian | |
Tartu | Tartto | Tartu | Estonian | |
Võrtsjärv | Võrtsjärvi | Võrtsjärv | Estonian |
Finland
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Åland | Ahvenanmaa | Åland | Swedish | |
Bergö | Susiluoto | Bergö | Swedish | |
Brandö | Präntiö | Brandö | Swedish | |
Delet | Teili | Delet | Swedish | |
Hammarland | Hammarlanti | Hammarland | Swedish | |
Karlby | Kaarlenkylä | Karlby | Swedish | |
Kökar | Köökari[1] | Kökar | Swedish | |
Korsnäs | Korsnääsi, Ristitaipale[2] | Korsnäs | Swedish | |
Korsö | Koskenpää | Korsö | Swedish | |
Kumlinge | Kumlinki | Kumlinge | Swedish | |
Lappvesi | Lappvesi | Swedish | ||
Lemland | Lemlanti[3] | Lemland | Swedish | |
Liljendal | Liljentaali | Liljendal | Swedish | |
Lumparland | Lumparlanti[4] | Lumparland | Swedish | |
Mariehamn | Maarianhamina[5] | Mariehamn | Swedish | |
Lumparn | Lumpari | Lumparn | Swedish | |
Sålis | Suolaksi | Sålis | Swedish |
The Swedish names for the above are commonly (if not exclusively) used in modern-day Finnish.[6] Korsnäs in Ostrobothnia should not be confused with other locations in Finland with the same name (see Korsnäs (disambiguation)).
Areas with both Finnish-, and Swedish-speaking inhabitants have endonymic place names in both languages. Due to changing demographics, some monolingually Swedish areas have historical Finnish names inherited from earlier Finnish-speaking inhabitants. For example, Molpe, a village of Korsnäs is Moikipää in Finnish.
France
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Corsica | Korsika | Corse | French | |
Nice | Nizza | Nice | French | |
Paris | Pariisi | Paris | French |
Germany
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Bavaria | Baijeri | Bayern | German | |
Berlin | Berliini | |||
Danube river | Tonava | Donau | ||
Hamburg | Hampuri | |||
Lübeck | Lyypekki | |||
Prussia | Preussi | Preußen | German | historic state |
Rhine river | Rein | Rhein | ||
Rheinland | Reininmaa | |||
Saxony | Saksi | Sachsen | German |
Greece
Ancient transcriptions that do not reflect modern pronunciation are used in some cases, e.g. Herakleion ("Iraklion").
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Athens | Ateena | Athína | Greek | |
Corfu | Korfu | Kerkýra | Greek | |
Crete | Kreeta | Kríti | Greek | |
Piraeus | Pireus | Piraiás | Greek |
Israel
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Dead sea | Kuollutmeri | Al-Bahr al-Mayyit | Arabic | |
Yam ha-Melah | Hebrew | |||
Jerusalem | Jerusalem | Al-Quds | Arabic | |
Yerushalayim | Hebrew |
Italy
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Pompeii | Pompeiji | Pompeii | Latin | ancient city |
Pompei | Italian | |||
Rome | Rooma | Roma | Italian | |
Sicily | Sisilia | Sicilia | Italian | |
Venice | Venetsia | Venezia | Italian |
Latvia
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Daugava river | Väinäjoki | Daugava | Latvian | |
Daugavpils | Väinänlinna | Daugavpils | Latvian | |
Riga | Riika | Rīga | Latvian | |
Valka | Valga | Valka | Latvian |
Lebanon
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Beqaa Valley | Bekaanlaakso | Wādī l-Biqā' | Arabic | |
Mount Hermon | Hermonvuori | Har Hermon | Hebrew | |
Jabal al-Shaykh, Jabal Haramun | Arabic | |||
Mount Lebanon range | Libanonvuoret | Ṭūr Levnon | Syriac | |
Jabal Lubnān | Arabic | |||
Tripoli | Tripoli, Tripolis | Ṭarābulus | Arabic | |
Tyre | Tyros, Tyyros | Ṣūr | Arabic, Phoenician |
Lithuania
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Vilnius | Vilna | Vilnius | Lithuanian |
Norway
For further names, see : Finnish exonyms for places in Norway
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Alta | Alattio | |||
Bjørnøya | Karhusaari | |||
Bouvetøya | Bouvet'nsaari | |||
Bugøynes | Pyke(ij)ä | |||
Danskøya | Tanskansaari | |||
Dronning Maud Land | Kuningatar Maudin maa | |||
Jakobselva | Annijoki | |||
Karasjok | Kaarasjoki | |||
Kautokeino | Koutokeino | |||
Kirkenes | Kirkkoniemi | |||
Kong Karls Land | Kuningas Kaarlen maa | |||
Kvitøya | Koillismaa | |||
Leavdnja | Lemmijoki | |||
Leavdnjajohka | Lemmijoki | |||
Leavdnjavuotna | Lemmivuono | |||
Lofoten | Lofootit | |||
Malangen | Malankivuono | |||
Nordaustlandet | Koillismaa | |||
Nordraisa | Raisi | |||
Peter I Øy | Pietari I:n saari | |||
Polmak | Pulmanki | |||
Porsanger | Porsanki | |||
Prins Karls Fo | Prinssi Kaarlen etumaa | |||
Prins Harald Kyst | Prinssi Haraldin rannikko | |||
Prins Oscars Land | Prinssi Oscarin maa | |||
Prinsesse Ragnhild Kyst | Prinsessa Ragnhildin rannikko | |||
Sjøyane | Länsimaa | |||
Skibotn | Yykeänperä | |||
Sør-Varanger | Etelä-Varanki | |||
Spitsbergen | Länsimaa | |||
Svalbard | Huippuvuoret | |||
Tana | Teno | |||
Tana bru | Tenon kylä | |||
Tanafjord | Tenonvuono | |||
Tromsø | Tromssa | |||
Vadsø | Vesisaari | |||
Vardø | Vuoreija | Vuorea | Kven | |
Vestfjord | Länsivuono |
Poland
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Kraków | Krakova | Kraków | Polish | |
Warsaw | Varsova | Warzawa | Polish | |
Vistula river | Veiksel | Wisła | Polish |
Portugal
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Lisbon | Lissabon | Lisboa | Portuguese |
Romania
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Bucharest | Bukarest | București | Romanian |
Russia
Note that Finnish was formerly an official language in the Republic of Karelia and is still widely used there, and some places in what was Finnish territory until World War II have been given new Russian names; thus, Finnish names of Karelian places are not all strictly exonyms.
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English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Apatity | Apatiitti | |||
Arkhangelsk | Arkangeli, Vienankaupunki | |||
Belomorsk | Sorokka | |||
Beloostrov | Valkeasaari | |||
Gatchina | Hatsina | |||
Gubanicy | Kupanitsa | |||
Hogland, Gogland | Suursaari | |||
Ivangorod | Iivananlinna | |||
Izhora | Inkere | |||
Kamennogorsk | Antrea | |||
Kandalakshi | Kantalahti, Kannanlahti | |||
Kem | (Vienan) Kemi | |||
Kingisepp | Jaama | |||
Kirovsk | Hiipinä | |||
Kobrino | Koprina | |||
Kola | Kuola | |||
Kolpany | Kolppana | |||
Koltushi | Keltto | |||
Kondopoga | Kontupohja | Kondupohju | Karelian | |
Koporka | Kaprionjoki | |||
Koporye | Kaprio | |||
Kostomuksha | Kostamus | Koštamuš | Karelian | |
Kotlin | Retusaari | |||
Kotly | Kattila | |||
Kovdor | Koutero | |||
Kovdozero | Kananen | |||
Kronshtadt | Kronstadt, Kronstatti | |||
Kuyto | Kuittijärvet | |||
Kuzyomkino | Kosemkina, Narvusi | |||
Lake Ilmen | Ilmajärvi | |||
Lake Kolvitskoye | Kolvitsanjärvi | |||
Lake Kovdozero | Koutajärvi | |||
Lake Keret | Kierettijärvi | |||
Lake Lämmi | Kuumajärvi | Tyopoloye ozero | Russian | |
Lake Ladoga | Laatokka, Nevajärvi | |||
Lake Leksozero | Lieksajärvi | |||
Lake Lovozero | Luujärvi | |||
Lake Nyuk | Nuokkijärvi | |||
Lake Onega | Ääninen, Äänisjärvi | Änine, Änižjärv | Veps | |
Oniegu(-järve) | Karelian | |||
Lake Pyaozero | Pääjärvi | |||
Lake Segozero | Seesjärvi | |||
Lake Syamozero | Säämäjärvi | Seämärvi | Karelian | |
Lake Topozero | Tuoppajärvi | |||
Lake Tolvayarvi | Tolvajärvi | |||
Lake Tulos | Tuulijärvi | |||
Lake Yaglyarvi | Ägläjärvi | |||
Lake Yanisyarvi | Jänisjärvi | |||
Lake Vodlozero | Vodlajärvi | |||
Lake Vygozero | Uikujärvi | |||
Lembolovo | Lempaala | |||
Lisino | Liissilä | |||
Lodeynoye Pole | Lotinapelto, Pellonlinna | |||
Luga | Laukaa, Ylä-Laukaa | |||
Markovo | Markkova, Loppi, Lopenkolkka | |||
Martyshkino | Tyrö | |||
Medvezhyegorsk | Karhumäki | Karhumägi | Karelian | |
Moloskovitsy | Valkeakirkko, Moloskovitsa | |||
Moscow | Moskova | Moskva | Russian | |
Murmansk | Muurmanni, Muurmanski | |||
Nikel | Nikkeli, Kolosjoki | |||
Nikulyasy | Miikkulainen | |||
Novaya Ladoga | Uusi-Laatokka, Uusi Laatokankaupunki | |||
Novosyolki | Novasolkka | |||
Nyenschantz | Nevanlinna | Nyenskans, Nyen | Swedish | Former Swedish Ingrian town and fortress |
Olonets | Aunuksenkaupunki, Aunuksenlinna, Aunus | Anuksenlinnu | Karelian | |
Onega | Ääninen | |||
Oranienbaum | Kaarosta | |||
Osinovaya Rossha | Haapakangas | |||
Pechenga | Petsamo | |||
Pechory | Petseri | |||
Petergof | Pietarhovi, Kuusoja | |||
Petrozavodsk | Petroskoi; Äänislinna | Latter name used during 1941–1944 | ||
Povenets | Poventsa | Povenča | Karelian | |
Priozersk | Käkisalmi | |||
Pskov | Pihkova | |||
Pudozh | Puudosi, Puutoinen, Puudoži | Pudož | Veps | |
Puudoži | Karelian | |||
Repino | Kuokkala | |||
Ropsha | Ropsu | |||
Ryabovo | Rääpyvä | |||
Saint Petersburg | Pietari | Sankt Peterburg | Russian | |
Segezha | Sege(h)e, Seke(h)e | |||
Seskar | Seiskari | |||
Siberia | Siperia | Sibír' | Russian | |
Sestroretsk | Siestarjoki | |||
Shlisselburg | Pähkinälinna, Pähkinäsaari | Schlüsselburg | German | |
Shlisselburg Fortress | Pähkinäsaaren linna | Oreshek | Russian | |
Skvoritsy | Skuoritsa, Kuoritsa | |||
Slavyanka | Venjoki | |||
Soikino | Soikkola | |||
Sosnovy Bor | Uustia | |||
Staraya Ladoga | Laatokankaupunki, Laatokanlinna, Vanha-Laatokka | |||
Stolbovo | Stolbova | |||
Svetogorsk | Enso | |||
Svir | Syväri | |||
Syas | Säsjoki | |||
Tikhvin | Tihvinä | |||
Tikhvinka river | Tihvinänjoki | |||
Toksovo | Toksova | |||
Tyaglino | Tääkeli, Tääkkeli | |||
Volkhov | Olhava | |||
Vuoly | Vuole | |||
Vyborg | Viipuri | Viborg | Swedish | |
Vyborgskiy zaliv | Viipurinlahti | |||
Vyg | Uikujoki | |||
Yarvosol | Järvisaari | |||
Zelenogorsk | Terijoki | |||
Zemlyanoye | Pummanki | |||
Zherebyatki | Serepetta |
Saudi Arabia
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Mecca | Mekka | Makkah | Arabic | |
Riyadh | Riad | Riyaḍ | Arabic |
Serbia
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Belgrade | Belgrad | Beograd | Serbian |
South Africa
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Cape Town | Kapkaupunki | |||
Cape of Good Hope | Hyväntoivonniemi |
Spain
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Tenerife | Teneriffa | Tenerife | Spanish |
Sweden
Northern Sweden has a Finnish/Meänkieli-speaking minority and thus some place names are derived from Finnish, making them not exonyms.
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Dalecarlia | Taalainmaa | Dalarna | Swedish | |
Gällivare | Jällivaara, Jellivaara | Gällivare | Swedish | Jellivaara is the Meänkieli form |
Haparanda | Haaparanta | Haparanda | Swedish | Founded with Finnish name |
Jokkmokk | Jokimukka | Jokkmokk | Swedish | |
Kalix | Kainuu | Kalix | Swedish | |
Kiruna | Kiiruna | Kiruna | Swedish | |
Luleå | Luulaja | Luleå | Swedish | |
Piteå | Piitime | Piteå | Swedish | |
Scania | Skoone | Skåne | Swedish | |
Stockholm | Tukholma | Stockholm | Swedish | |
Övertorneå | Matarenki | Övertorneå | Swedish | |
Umeå | Uumaja | Umeå | Swedish | |
Uppsala | Upsala | Uppsala | Swedish |
Switzerland
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Geneva | Geneve | Genf | German | |
Genève | French |
Syria
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Damascus | Damaskos | Dimašq | Arabic | |
Latakia | Lattakia | Al-Laḏiqiyah | Arabic |
Turkey
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Istanbul | Konstantinopoli | İstanbul | Turkish | historic |
Konstantinoúpolis | Greek | |||
Troy | Troija | Truva (Troya) | Turkish | ancient city |
Ukraine
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Kharkiv | Harkova | Kharkiv | Ukrainian | |
Kyiv | Kiova | Kyiv | Ukrainian | |
Poltava | Pultava | Poltava | Ukrainian |
United Kingdom
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
London | Lontoo | London | English |
United States
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---|---|---|---|---|
English name | Finnish name | Endonym | Notes | |
Name | Language | |||
Hawai'i | Havaiji | Hawai'i | Hawai'ian |
See also
References
- Suomen kunnat: Kökar
- http://www.genealogia.fi/seurakunnat/srk?CMD=SRK&ID=228&TYPE=HTML&LANG=EN
- "Verbix". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
- Lumpari World Water Features Database | WorldCityDB.com Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
- Svenska Ortnamn i Finland Archived 2007-11-13 at the Wayback Machine, The Research Institute for the Languages of Finland, see "Mariehamn"
- Svenska Ortnamn i Finland Archived 2007-11-13 at the Wayback Machine, The Research Institute for the Languages of Finland, see "Korsnäs" and "Liljendal".