Lühis

Lähis is a Finnish noun that denotes a close relative or a person in the closest degree of kinship. The term is rooted in the lähi- prefix, meaning near or close, and is used in both everyday language and formal contexts to refer to those who are most closely related to an individual.

In practice, the exact scope of who counts as a lähis can vary by context and law. Commonly, it refers to immediate family members such as a spouse or registered partner, children, and parents, as well as siblings. In some contexts, the category may extend to other close relatives such as grandparents or certain other relatives who have a significant kinship tie. The precise definition is often determined by the applicable legal, administrative, or institutional rules governing a situation like inheritance, healthcare, or social services.

Lähis is frequently encountered in discussions about rights, duties, and information sharing within close family networks. In healthcare, for example, a lähis may be consulted for consent or to receive information when a patient cannot make decisions. In inheritance matters, the term helps to identify prioritised relatives in the absence of a will. The usage of lähis thus intersects with terms such as lähisukulainen (close relative) and lähisuhde (close relationship), which describe related concepts in kinship and social context.

See also: lähisukulainen, lähisuhde, sukulaisuus, perhe.