New URL: http://www.iki.fi/~kartturi/kielet/islenzk.txt


SIMILAR WORDS IN ICELANDIC AND FINNISH
 
Last edited: Feb 16 2006, by Antti Karttunen
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This can be found from http://www.iki.fi/kartturi/kielet/islenzk.txt
A list of "accidentally similar" words between Spanish and Finnish can
be found at http://www.iki.fi/kartturi/kielet/espfin.htm
 
 
Note that there are actually (at least) two lists here, one of
the real or pseudo-cognate words between Icelandic and Finnish,
and one of the words that are written exactly same, but with completely
different meanings.
 
Explanation for the real cognates?
Part of the explanation is that the written Icelandic is very conservative
language, being almost the same as Old Norse, the language spoken
by Vikings. On the other hand, Finnish, although belonging to a
entirely different family of languages (Fenno-Ugric, not Indo-European)
has borrowed a lot of words from various peoples, including the Vikings,
as well as from other Germanic peoples before that. Once borrowed many
words have remained in Finnish almost identical to their form
at the time of borrowing. (E.g. "kuningas" (king), "huora" (whore)
from Old Germanic (???)). So, even although a word has subsequently
changed in German, English and Swedish, it may remain very near to its
old form in Icelandic and Finnish.
 
 
CP = Conjunctive mood, Past tense (Icelandic verbs)
 
Cases of the Icelandic nouns:
 
SG = Singular Genitive       PG = Plural Genitive
SD = Singular Dative         PD = Plural Dative
SA = Singular Accusative     PA = Plural Accusative
 
<- = Singular Genitive, Dative and Accusative form of the noun which
is given in nominative, and maybe also Plural Genitive and Plural Accusative,
if it is masculine noun which in nominative ends with "i", and the
inflected form given ends with "a".
 
Icelandic &     English
Finnish         gloss
 
herra           a lord
keila           a cone
keisari         an emperor
metri           a meter
nunna           a nun
passi           a passport
rakki           a dog (*)
rotta           a rat
tappi           a tap
villi-          wild (in compound words ??? in Icelandic,
                      in Finnish also as an independent adjective.
                      "villirotta" = "a wild rat" ?)

(* in Finnish "rakki" has a pejorative meaning: "cur". "Koira" is usually
 used for dog. From where has English got its "cur"? Maybe both are
originally onomapoetic words, Grrrrr...)
  
Icel.    Finn.
málari  maalari    painter
múrari  muurari    bricklayer                                    _
sútari  suutari    Icel. = tanner, Finn. = shoemaker (cf. Latin sutor)
kamína  kamiina    iron (heating) stove
píka    piika      servant girl, maid (although our Icelandic correspondent claims that "píka" means "cunt". Well the Icelandic-Swedish dictionary I used must be an old one.)
pína    piina      pain, agony
 
 
Icelandic                               Finnish
 
auðn    (wilderness)                    autio (desert(ed) <adj.>)
auga    (eye; hole)                     aukko (hole) (-> Lat. oculus, Esp. hueco)
hampur  (hemp)                          hamppu (hemp)
ilman, ilmun (smell, scent)             ilma  (air) (cf. Swedish lukt - luft)
kaup    (bargain)                       kauppa (bargain, shop)
kekkur  (lump)                          kokkare (lump)
lama    (crippled, lame; to paralyze)   lama (depression <economic>),
                                        lamaantunut (paralyzed, espescially mentally)
laukur  (leek)                          laukka (leek)
merki   (mark, sign)                    merkki (mark, sign)
nautn   (enjoyment)                     nautinto (enjoyment)
rauði   (bog iron ore, limonite)        rauta (iron)
rauður  (red)                           rauta (iron, when rusts gets red)
seiða, seiddi (to conjure; to lure)     seita (Lappish/Sámish sieidda) ???
tap     (loss, defeat)                  tappio (loss, defeat)
vamm    (shame, blot)                   vamma (injury, physical handicap)
 
ilman
ilma -aði v. Swedish dofta (= tuoksua)

auki -a -ar m. lisäys
aur -s -ar m. savi, loka, muta; sora; äyri
hakk/a -aði v. hakata
han/i -a -ar m. hana
haukur -s -ar m. haukka
kass/i -a -ar m. laatikko
kaupa keypti keypt v. ostaa
kis/a -u -ur f. kissa
kommúnist/i -a -ar m. kommunisti
kost/ur -ar -ir m. keino; mahdollisuus; etu, voitto; ravinto (kosti = Pl. Akk.)
kunt/a -u -ur f. vittu
kus/i -a -ar m. sonnivasikka, mullikka
lamp/i -a -ar m. lamppu
leika lék lékum leikið v. leikkiä
leik/ur -s -ar m. leikki
narr/a -aði v. narrata = to tell (childish) lies, to pull one's leg (c.f. Engl. narrate, Esp. narrar, Lat. narrare ???)
naut -s ~ n. sonni; pl. nautaeläin (bull, bovine animal)
piss/a -aði v. pissata
rúsin/a -u -ur f. rusina
sauma -aði v. ommella
saum/ur -s m. ommel, sauma
taut -s n. keino (koma engu tauti við e-n = ei saa jtkta käyttämään järkeään).
túlk/a -aði v. tulkata
túlk/ur -s -ar m. tulkki
valta völtu völtur f. jyrä
valtar/i -a -ar m. höyryjyrä  (valtari? Waltari?)

Word    Icelandic               Finnish

ala     to feed; to rear, breed:area; begin!
        föda; uppföda, fodra, göda
alin    cubit, ell (measure)   :lowest
f.      aln
anna    to have strength enough to do smthg (Finn. "jaksaa"): give!
arka    to jog/trot (along)    :timid
auki    addition, increase     :open <adv.>
aula    <- "auli" simpleton    :vestibule (Finn. aulis = alacritous, generous)
auma    misery                 :clamp <agricult.>
aura    to gather, pile up     :plough; aura
eira                           :district in Helsinki
elli    old age                :girl's name
erja    to plough              :girl's name
espa    to irritate, infuriate :nick name for Esplanadi street in Helsinki
frakki  frenchman; overcoat    :tailcoat
haka    yaw                    :hook
haki    hook                   :(he) fetched, brought
halla   to lean (Sv. luta)     :frost
halli   tilt; loss             :hall; grey seal
hama    turn one's back on wind:distant (poetical, used with time, e.g.: past, future)
hana    so (int) (Also <- hani):water tap, faucet
hani    water tap, faucet      :"honey", darling (slang)
hanki   handle; hindrance      :snow (drift); get (it)!
hanna   to shape, design       :girl's name
harmi   SD "harmur" sorrow     :annoyance
hauki   SD "haukur" hawk       :pike (in Finnish hawk is "haukka")
heila   (<- "heili")           :boy/girldfriend
heili   brain                  :-- "" --
hella   flat stone; to pour    :stove
herja   to harry, wage war     :insult
hilla   shelf; to loom         :cloudberry
hitu    <- "hita" heating      :a little bit
horna   PG "horn" horn         :inferno
humma   to hum, mumble         :horsey
hylki   capsule, case, tank    :(he) rejected
ilman   (sense of) smell; perfume:genitive of ilma (air); without
jakki   coat, jacket           :yak (animal); jack <electr.>
jaska   to wear out            :boy's name
jolla   go out on the drinking spree: jollyboat, yawl (Fin. juhlia = celebrate)
kakka   to gather, pile up     :poo-poo (children language for excrement)
kala    to freeze              :fish
kalla   to call                :calla <bot.>
kalsa   SG "kalsi" cold weather:cold, chilly (weather)
kampa   SG of "kampi"          :comb
kampalampi deep sea shrimp     :"comb pond", "a pond of combs"
kampi   person with long beard :crank (handle)
kana    SG of "kani"           :hen, chicken (also figuratively)
kaneli  SD of "kanel" cinnamon :cinnamon
kani    american, yankee <coll>:rabbit
kanna   jug, can; to explore   :carry! (in Finnish can is "kannu")
kappa   <- "kappi"             :measure of volume (about gallon); cloak
kappi   champion, hero, warrior:stiffener, counter (of shoe); deckhouse <nav.>
kara                           :spindle, shaft; stem (of fruit)
kari    SD "kar" vat, tub      :rock (under the water), skerry; also boy's name
karri                          :boy's name
karta                          :avoid!
kasa    to bury                :heap
kassa   <- "kassi"             :cash
kassi   box                    :bag
kasta   to cast, throw         :dip! baptize!
kauna   sore, boil             :grudge
kelli                          :sprawl! (he) sprawled
kelta                          :yellow <in compound words>
keppi                           stick
keri    SD "ker" vat, tub      :wind (up)! (he) wound (it)
kettu   <- "ketta" female cat  :fox (in Finnish female cat is "katti")
kippi                           tipper; kip <gym>
kirnu                           churn
kisa    cat                     competition (in Finnish cat is "kissa")
kokki   SD of kokkur = cook     cook
kola                            (snow) pusher (not dealer of cocaine!)
koli                            mountain in eastern Finland
kolli                           tomcat; parcel (in trains)
koma                            coma <opt>
kompa                           witty remark; pun
koni                            hack, nag <pejorative from horse>
koppi                           box, cabin, hut
kopti                           Copt
kosti                           (he) revenged; man's name
koti                            home
kunta   cunt <vulg.>            municipality (-> county ?)
kusi    bull calf               piss <vulg.>
kuski   SD "kusk" speck of dust:driver
kuti    small knife            :bullet
kyni    SD "kyn" kin           :pluck! (he) plucked
laki    psalterium             :law; summit (of a mountain)
lakka   to lacquer; to seal    :lacquer; cloudberry
lalli   rogue; bogey, spook    :man's name (the slayer of St. Henrik)
lampi   lamp                   :pond (Finnish "lamppu" is lamp).
laski                          :(he) counted
lasta   to blame; to slander   :spatula; (Finnish "lastata" is to load).
lauma   slip (in secrecy)      :herd
lauta   "laut" PG (a hollow)   :board
leiki   SD "leikur" game, play :play! (Finnish "leikki" is a game)
leisti                          ???
leka    to leak, drop          :sledgehammer
lerki   larch (Larix)          :lap up!
lilja                           lily
lima                            slime
linna                           castle
lista                           list; lath
listi                           behead!
loka                            mud
loki                            log
lokki                           gull
loppu                           end
makki                           human excrement used as fertilizer
malla                           girl's name; mountain in western Lappland
mamma                           mommy <children's language>
mana                            the Underworld (archaic)
manna                           manna
mara                            nickname from Martti (man's name)
mari    SD "mar" horse; bruise :girl's name; one of the Fenno-Ugric peoples
mauri                           man's name, a moor (saracen)
meri    mare (female horse)    :sea (Finnish "meri" = Latin "mare"!) (Mong. mori = horse) What this has to do with nightmares, cauchemars?
merja                           girl's name
messu                           Mass; message <computer slang>
milli                           millimeter; million marks <slang>
minni                           "Minni Hiiri" = Minnie Mouse
missi                           the winner of a beauty contest
moka                            mistake, a screw-up <slang>
mokka                           suede (leather)
monta                           many
mora                            Swedish knife
mulla                           mulla on = I've got <coll.>
muna                            egg
muni                            lay eggs! make a blunder!
murra                           break!
murti                           (he) broke
narri                           a fool
nauta                           bovine (animal), neat
nauti                           enjoy
nisti                           junkie <slang>
nyt                             now
oka                             thorn
okra                            ochre
opi                             learn!
pakka                           pack
pakki                           mess kit; back up gear
panna                           to put
panta                           collar
pappa   "pappi" SG,SD,SA,PG & PA  "grandpa"; an old man (somewhat pejoratively)
pappakassi                      "grandpa's bag"
pappi   paperboard              priest (in Finnish paperboard is "pahvi")
para                            wealth-bringing spirit (in Finnish mythology)
parta                           beard
pata                            pot, casserole; spade
patti                           burl; stalemate
peli                            game; play
penni   pen                     penny
pentu   "penta" SG (spot)       puppy, kitten, cub (Spot is a puppy, isn't he? C.f. Spanish "pinta")
pera    (pear; glow bulb)       scale and gut a fish!
peru    SG of "pera"            take back! retract! (one's words)
petti                           (he) deceived
pikku   ???                     small, piccolo
pillu   "pilla" SG (pill)       pussy, cunt (but not so harsh as "vittu")
pipari  "pipar" SD (pepper)     ginger biscuit
pissa                           pee, piss
poka                            pickup (usually one-night) <slang>
polki                           trample! pedal!
postilla book of sermons        by mail (adessive of "posti" -> post, mail)
potta                           potty
pressa                          slang for "presidentti", president
ranka                           stem
raspi                           rasp file
rata                            track
rauma                           strait <arch.>; town at west coast of Finland
reima                           brisk; man's name
reki                            sleigh
rekki                           horizontal bar <gym>
rima                            lath; crossbar
risa    <- "risi" giant        :broken <coll.>
risti   <- "rista" to rip open :cross
ritari  secretary; writer      :knight
rokki   SD "rokkur" spinning-wheel (in Finnish "rukki"):Rock music <coll.>
rommi   SD "romm" rum          :rum
rukka                          :poor
rulla                          :roller, reel
ruma                           :ugly
rumba                          :rumba (dance); hustle and bustle <coll.>
rupla                          :rouble
ryki    it smoked (rjúka CP)  :(he) hawked (his throat)
sakka                          :sediment, dregs, lees, grounds
sala    sale                   :a secret, mystery
salat   salad; lettuce         :plural of "sala"
salata  Pl.G of salat          :to hide, conceal, keep secret
sali                           :hall
salla                          :mountain in eastern Lappland; girl's name
salli                          :allow! girl's name
sama                           :same
saman                          :genitive of "sama"
sanka                          :handle (of a kettle), bail (of a bucket)
seimi                          :manger; day nursery
selja                          :elder
sitra                          :zither <mus. instrument>
sokka                          :cotter
sopi    gulp; drop             :(he) agreed
soppa   dough; mash, pulp      :soup; mess <coll.>
soppi   SD "soppur" ball       :corner, nook
sora    <- "sori" dregs, slag  :gravel
sorti   black colour; dark; fog:(he) oppressed
sukka                          :sock, stocking
sulla                          :"sulla on" = you've got <coll.>
sussu                          :moll, gal <slang>
sykki   it sank (sökkva CP)    :(it) throbbed
taka                           :back, rear (used in compound words)
takka                          :fireplace
takki                          :coat
tapa                           :habit; kill!
tauti                          :disease
tina                           :tin
toti                           :toddy ("rommitoti" = rum toddy)
tunnu   <- "tunna" barrel,vessel:ei tunnu = doesn't feel
tuska   rag; coward; to jostle :agony, pain
typpi   knob; tip              :nitrogen
vakka                          :basket; bushel
vala                           :oath; cast!
valta   steamroller; to roll   :power, authority
vana                           :wake (of a ship for example) (old in Estonian, vain in Spanish)
vanki                          :prisoner
vara                           :allowance, margin; spare (in compound words)
varan                          :genitive of "vara"
vasa                           :calf (of reindeer), fawn (of moose)
velli                          :gruel
veri    SD "ver" sea           :blood (in Finnish sea is "meri", and world is "maailma" (maa+ilma = land+air). The etymology of German "Welt", English "world", Icelandic/Old Norse "???" is also interesting. Is it "veröld"* ? sea+age ???)
verka                          :broadcloth; baize (of snooker table)
veski                          :toilet <coll.>
vespa                          :vespa-scooter
vessa                          :toilet <coll.>
vika                           :fault; last <coll.>
vikuri  SD "vikur" pumice stone:jibber
vikurit                        :jibbers, plural of vikuri
vilja                          :corn, grain
villa   to deceive, mislead    :wool
vitja                          :chain
vitka                          :inertia
ylti    it rolled (velta CP)   :(he) reached
 
LISTAN LOPPU - THE END OF THE LIST