Netti

Netti is the Finnish colloquial term for the Internet. It is widely used in everyday language and media as a shorthand for the global network that connects computers, servers and users. The word is a shortened form of Internet and reflects Finnish phonology and word formation. Since the 1990s, as Finland expanded access to dial-up and later broadband, netti became the common everyday term, while official contexts may use Internet or verkkopalvelut.

Netti encompasses activities such as browsing, email, online services, social media, streaming, and cloud-based applications. In Finnish, it features in many compound words and phrases, including nettiyhteys (internet connection), nettipalvelut (online services), and netissä (online, on the net). The term is used across generations, though some discussions about digital policy or education may favor the formal Internet.

In contemporary Finland, netti usage is high, with broad internet penetration and a wide range of digital services available to households. Policy and media coverage address issues common to internet use, such as privacy, data protection, cybersecurity, and digital literacy. The linguistic term netti remains stable but is increasingly complemented by direct renderings of Internet or verkkopalvelut in formal writing.