Nuppi

Nuppi is a Finnish noun meaning a small rounded projection used as a control or fastener. In English, it is often translated as knob or button, depending on context. The word is commonly found in technical and everyday language to refer to parts on devices, appliances, vehicles, and machinery that can be turned or pressed.

In usage, nuppi typically denotes a control you interact with by turning or pressing. Common examples include volume knobs, power knobs, and other rotating or pushable controls described as nuppi in manuals or product descriptions. In contrast, the term nappi is more often used for a clothing button or simple pushbuttons, though there can be overlap in casual writing.

Etymology and nuance: nuppi is a native Finnish term within the semantic field of small rounded protrusions used for adjustment or activation. The exact historical development is not widely documented in popular sources, but the word is well established in contemporary Finnish.

Grammar and variation: the singular form is nuppi and the plural is nupit. The genitive form is nupin. In many technical contexts, nuppi appears in compounds such as säätönuppi (adjustment knob) or äänenvoimakkuuden nuppi (volume knob). While nappi and nuppi can appear in related contexts in everyday language, nuppi often carries a nuance of a turning or knob-like control rather than a simple pushbutton. See also: button, knob, rotary control.