etana
/ˈetɑnɑ/
The English word 'snail' can be translated into Finnish as etana or kotilo.
Meaning: any animal of the class Gastropoda having a shell (noun)
Ways to say it
| Finnish | IPA |
|---|---|
| etana | /ˈetɑnɑ/ |
| kotilo | /ˈkotilo/ |
The word is used to refer to any animal of the class Gastropoda that possesses a shell.
Which one should you use?
While etana is the common word for a snail, kotilo specifically refers to the animal or the shell itself (the gastropod).
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular noun etana can change depending on its role in a sentence: use etanan for the genitive form (of the snail), etanaa for the partitive singular and etanat for the plural nominative.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈetɑnɑ/
Did you know?
- The word etana may share an ancient root with the Proto-Germanic word for 'to eat', suggesting a linguistic connection to the idea of a 'glutton'.
- The Proto-Finnic origin of etana remains a mystery to linguists, unlike many other common European animal names.
Examples in context
- Bob söi etanan ja oksensi sitten.Bob ate the snail, then vomited.This sentence shows how to use the word etana in a sentence about eating.Tatoeba #3170231 by Silja, translation #542885 by FeuDRenais2
- Olen etana ja etanat eivät koskaan kiirehdi.I am a snail and snails are never in a hurry.This sentence demonstrates the use of etana and its plural form etanat.Tatoeba #8796170 by Orava, translation #2732933 by Hybrid
- Se on etana.It's a snail.This sentence provides a simple way to identify a snail using etana.Tatoeba #10370433 by Thanuir, translation #10371179 by Silja
- Etanoita näkee usein kosteissa metsissä.Snails are often seen in damp forests.
Example conversation
Anna and Juho are walking in a damp garden.
- AnnaKatso, tuossa on iso etana!Look, there is a big snail!
- JuhoOletko varma, että se on etana?Are you sure it is a snail?
- AnnaKyllä, se on selvästi etana.Yes, it is clearly a snail.
- JuhoSe liikkuu todella hitaasti.It moves really slowly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snail” translations and entries etana, kotilo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries etana, kotilo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
