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OT: I just wanted to say that it's sort of funny
in reply to a message by Ylva
that the F is not used in Finnish! So, I'm curious, what's Finland and Finnish in Finnish then?

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Finland is the Swedish and English nameThey don't call their own country Finland but Suomi.There is a small minority of Swedish people living in Finland; Finland was once part of Sweden. We called them Finns, don't know where this name from.- She said he made a racial slur!
- Racial? She is Swedish!
- Maybe he called her Meatball."I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I’ve decided to be spontaneous."
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According to an etymology website fin possibly stems from fen, which means 'marsh'. I think Finland makes sense then in a way if Suomi really means 'land of marshes'or something similar.
edit: spelling
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This message was edited 9/15/2006, 4:03 PM

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It does, according to some theories. As far as I know, the etymology of the word Suomi is still more or less debatable, but some people claim that it's derived from 'suomaa', meaning 'marsh land'.
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'Suomi' is Finland in Finnishand 'suomi' with a small 's' is the Finnish language :).
Suomi means 'marshland' methinks.~ Ivayla,
skillfully disguised as a responsible adult

This message was edited 9/15/2006, 3:23 PM

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Now that you say it, I've seen it on hockey jerseys, on television. Always wondered about that!
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