Lähisõnu

Lähisõnu (cognates) are words in related languages that originate from a common ancestor and retain related meanings. In the Finnic languages, such as Estonian and Finnish, cognates often exhibit regular sound correspondences that reflect their shared Proto-Finnic origin.

Lähisõnu are identified by comparing phonology, morphology, and etymology; etymological dictionaries and historical reconstructions help distinguish cognates from loanwords, which are borrowed from another language and may not preserve original sound patterns. Cognates typically show systematic correspondences in sound changes across languages and can illuminate how words developed over time.

Common Estonian–Finnish cognate pairs include maa (land) in both languages; vesi (water) in Estonian and vesi in Finnish; koti (home) in Finnish and the Estonian form kodu (home). Other examples are mees/mies (man) and elu/elämä (life), both illustrating how related roots evolve with language-specific changes while preserving core meaning.

Cognates play a significant role in linguistic reconstruction, comparative Finnic studies, and etymological research. They help linguists trace historical connections between languages, identify phonological and semantic shifts, and map the spread and contact of language groups. While cognates share ancestry, they are distinct from true loanwords, which may adopt foreign forms and meanings without reflecting regular internal sound correspondences.