siunaus
/ˈsiu̯nɑus/
The Finnish word for 'blessing' is siunaus.
siunaus refers to the act of declaring, seeking or bestowing favor. It is used in both religious contexts, such as a priest's blessing and in secular contexts, such as a stroke of good luck. The related verb form is siunata, which means 'to bless'.
Meaning: act of declaring, seeking or bestowing favor (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun siunaus has several forms: siunauksen is the genitive form used to indicate possession or a relationship (of the blessing), and siunaukset is the plural form (blessings). You may also use siunauksia, which is the partitive plural form used when referring to an unspecified amount of blessings or in specific grammatical constructions.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsiu̯nɑus/
When do people say it?
When wishing someone well, you can use Menestystä to wish them success in their endeavors or the informal Onnea to wish them good luck.
Did you know?
- In old Finnish folklore, the act of siunata was sometimes believed to have the power to heal illness or protect livestock from evil spirits.
- In Finnish, the word siunata can be used to describe the act of blessing a person, but it is also used specifically when someone signs themselves with the cross.
- The word siunaus is closely related to the phrase siunaa, which is often used in the Finnish translation of the phrase 'God bless you' after someone sneezes.
Examples in context
- Jumalan siunausta tähän juhlaan!God's blessings on this celebration!
- Olkoon onni myötä koko elämäsi ajan.May luck be with you throughout your life.
- Tämä on suuri siunaus.This is a great blessing.
Example conversation
Mikko and Laura are talking about a new house they just bought.
- MikkoUusi koti on suuri siunaus.The new home is a great blessing.
- LauraOlet oikeassa, Mikko.You are right, Mikko.
- MikkoMeidän pitää olla kiitollisia.We must be grateful.
- LauraSe on totta.That is true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blessing” translations and entries siunaus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
