noun Uncommon

Finn

FIHN

Finn (noun) means a person from Finland, or someone of Finnish ethnic background. Example: “My grandmother was a Finn who emigrated to Canada in the 1950s.”

noun

A person from Finland, or someone of Finnish ethnic background.

"My grandmother was a Finn who emigrated to Canada in the 1950s."

"The sauna tradition is deeply important to most Finns."

How to use Finn

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA native or citizen of Finland, or a person of Finnish descent.

Common pairings

a Finn Finns and Swedes ethnic Finn

Word forms

Finns plural, Finns plural

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My grandmother was a _____ who emigrated to Canada in the 1950s.

Etymology

From Old English Finnas (“the Sami”) (plural), from Old Norse finnr (“a hunter-gatherer”), from Proto-Germanic *finnaz (which see for more). Possibly originally meaning a ‘finder’ of food, referring to nomadic hunter-gatherers, particularly the Sami.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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finnish person Finlander

Rhymes for Finn

inn linn jinn Winn

See all rhymes for Finn →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Finn” mean?

The word “Finn” means a person from Finland, or someone of Finnish ethnic background. In plain terms, a native or citizen of Finland, or a person of Finnish descent.

How do you pronounce “Finn”?

“Finn” is pronounced FIHN (/ˈfɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “Finn” in a sentence?

Here is “Finn” used in a sentence: “My grandmother was a Finn who emigrated to Canada in the 1950s.”

What is another word for “Finn”?

Words with a similar meaning to “Finn” include Finlander.

What part of speech is “Finn”?

“Finn” is a noun.

Is “Finn” a common word?

“Finn” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between Finn and Finnish?

Finn is a noun referring to a person from Finland or of Finnish ethnic background, while Finnish is the adjective used to describe things related to Finland, such as Finnish culture or the Finnish language. You would say 'she is a Finn' but 'she speaks Finnish.'

Is Finn always capitalized?

Yes, Finn is a proper noun referring to a nationality or ethnic group, so it is always capitalized in standard English writing, just like other demonyms such as Swede or Norwegian.

Does Finn refer only to citizens of Finland?

Finn can refer to someone from Finland, but it is also used more broadly for people of Finnish ethnic background even if they live elsewhere or hold a different citizenship.