Arvonimi

Arvonimi is a Finnish term meaning a title of respect or honorific. In sociolinguistics and etiquette, it refers to a word or phrase that signals social rank, formality, or courtesy when referring to a person. An arvonimi may be a simple courtesy title such as herra (Mr.) or rouva (Mrs.), a professional or academic title such as tohtori (Doctor) or professori (Professor), or a traditional noble or ceremonial designation that historically indicated status.

In use, arvonimi accompanies the name and helps establish the social relationship between speaker and addressee. In Finnish, the most common pattern is to place the arvonimi before the surname: Herra Virtanen, Rouva Virtanen, Neiti Virtanen. Some fields also use titles adjacent to the name in formal writing, for example Professori Virtanen or Tohtori Virtanen.

Arvonimet occur in many languages and cultures, often reflecting hierarchies, professional roles, or hereditary rank. While noble or aristocratic titles are less common in contemporary Finland, arvonimet persist in professional, ceremonial, and formal social contexts. The choice of arvonimi depends on factors such as formality, the relationship between people, regional conventions, and the setting.