Lähetti

Lähetti is a Finnish term with two primary uses. In everyday language, it is best known as the third-person singular past tense of the verb lähettää, meaning to send. For example, Hän lähetti kirjeen eilen. This verb form appears in ordinary sentences describing actions of sending letters, packages, or messages.

As a noun, lähetti refers to a messenger or courier, but this use is rare in modern Finnish and tends to appear mainly in historical or formal contexts. In compound terms, it can denote a person who delivers messages or items, for example postilähetti, meaning a postal courier. In contemporary speech, more common designations for a postal worker or courier are postimies, postinjakaja, or jakelija.

Etymology and connections: the noun is derived from the same root as the verb lähettää (to send), linked to the idea of someone who performs sending or delivering. The noun form is not as productive in modern Finnish as the verb, and it is primarily encountered in historical texts or fixed expressions.

Usage and notes: In modern Finnish, the verb lähetää is used for general sending, while the noun lähetti is limited to certain compound terms or older literature. For most practical purposes, readers will encounter the word as a verb form rather than as a standalone noun. Related terms include lähettää, lähetys (a sending or mission), and lähetysten concepts such as lähetystö (embassy) in related semantic fields.