KielI

Kieli is a Finnish noun with two primary senses: it can mean both the anatomical organ in the mouth (the tongue) and the abstract notion of language or a language variety. In everyday Finnish, the term is thus used for both senses.

As a word for language, kieli forms many common compounds and phrases. Examples include äidinkieli (native language), toinen kieli (a second language), kielitaito (language proficiency), and kielitiede (linguistics). The phrase virallinen kieli refers to an official language, and language policy discussions often use terms like kielipolitiikka and kielellinen monimuotoisuus. In Finland, Finnish and Swedish are regarded as official languages, a fact that shapes public administration and education.

As an anatomical term, kielen is the muscular organ that lies on the floor of the mouth. It is essential for speech, swallowing, and tasting. The tongue’s surface is covered with taste buds and is highly flexible, capable of complex movements that aid articulation and food handling. The word also appears in various scientific and medical descriptions, including discussions of tongue anatomy, taste, and related disorders.

Grammar and declined forms are an integral part of its usage. The nominative singular is kieli; the genitive is kielen; the partitive is kieltä; the plural is kielet. These forms support a wide range of syntactic constructions in Finnish.

Kieli remains a basic, frequently used word in education, media, and everyday speech, illustrating how a single term spans both bodily function and human communication.