Joki

Joki is the Finnish word for a river, a natural watercourse that typically flows from higher to lower ground and discharges into a larger body of water such as a lake or sea. In Finnish geography, joki covers rivers of all sizes, from small streams to major waterways, and it appears in many place descriptions of the landscape.

Etymology and cognates: Joki is of Finnic origin and has cognates in related Finnic languages, notably Estonian jõgi. The exact historical development is debated, but the term is widely attested in Finnish.

Usage and naming: In ordinary text, joki is a common noun and is not capitalized unless it begins a sentence. In proper names, joki can be part of river names formed by combining a stem with joki, such as Kymijoki (the Kymi River) and Oulujoki (the Oulu River). These compound forms are used to designate specific rivers rather than the general concept.

Surname usage: Joki is also used as a Finnish surname, appearing independently of the geographic term in personal names.

See also: list of rivers in Finland.