paahtoleipä
/ˈpɑːhtoˌlei̯pæ/
The Finnish word for toast (the food) is paahtoleipä.
In Finnish, paahtoleipä refers specifically to toasted bread. If you are referring to the action of browning something over a fire, you would use the verb paahtaa. If you are looking for the English sense of a toast (a salutation or drinking gesture), you would use different terms such as juoda malja, skoolata or kilistää.
Meaning: toasted bread (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of paahtaa, meaning to roast or toast and leipä, meaning bread.
Which one should you use?
Use the nominative form paahtoleipä when you are referring to the concept of toast or a single whole piece of toast. Using leipä alone refers to general bread.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing an indefinite amount of toast, such as 'some toast' or 'a slice of toast', use the partitive form paahtoleipää. To indicate possession or to show that something belongs to the toast, use the genitive form paahtoleivän.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɑːhtoˌlei̯pæ/
When do people say it?
When making a toast (a salutation), you can use the formal phrase Kohottakaamme lasimme! to mean 'Let's raise our glasses!' In informal settings, the common way to say 'Cheers!' is Kippis!
Did you know?
- The verb paahtaa can be used as a slang term to describe someone who is extremely tired or 'burnt out'.
- The verb paahtaa is used not only for bread but also to describe the feeling of the sun 'scorching' the skin during a hot summer day.
- While paahtoleipä is the food, the social act of making a toast uses juoda malja, which literally means 'to drink a cup'.
Examples in context
- Paahtoleipä on palanut mustaksi.The toast has burned black.This sentence describes toast that has burned.Tatoeba #2838308 by Kalle63, translation #38295 by handsomelyian
- Sinun täytyy syödä paahtoleipäsi.You must eat your toast.This sentence is an instruction to eat your toast.Tatoeba #2839045 by Kalle63, translation #2718077 by Hybrid
- Tom söi kolme munaa ja siivun paahtoleipää.Tom ate three eggs and a slice of toast.This sentence describes eating a slice of paahtoleipää.Tatoeba #3170045 by Silja, translation #1027051 by CK
- Kippis onnen päiville! Kiitos kauniista juhlasta!Cheers to happy days! Thank you for this beautiful celebration!
- Maljanne nostan menestyksellenne. Onnea uusista saavutuksista!I raise my glass to your success. Congratulations on your new achievements!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Juho are preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
- LauraHaluatko paahtoleipää aamupalaksi?Do you want some toast for breakfast?
- JuhoKyllä, ottaisin mielelläni kaksi siivua.Yes, I would love two slices.
- LauraLaitan paahtoleivän heti leivinjärjestimeen.I'll put the toast in the toaster right away.
- JuhoKiitos, Laura!Thanks, Laura!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toast” translations and entries paahtoleipä, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
