Poikkeussanat

Poikkeussanat, or exception words, are a set of Finnish words that do not follow the regular rules of Finnish grammar and spelling. These words are often of foreign origin or have been adopted into the Finnish language without adhering to the standard phonetic and orthographic conventions. The term "poikkeussanat" was coined by linguist Paavo Tervonen in the 1950s to describe these irregular words.

The most well-known example of a poikkeussana is "bussi," which is derived from the English word "bus." Despite its foreign origin, "bussi" has been integrated into the Finnish language and is used in everyday speech. Other examples include "taxi," "pizza," and "jazz," which have been adopted into Finnish without significant changes to their spelling or pronunciation.

Poikkeussanat are not limited to loanwords from other languages. Some Finnish words that have been influenced by other languages or have unique historical origins also fall into this category. For instance, the word "sauna" has a unique etymology and does not follow the typical Finnish phonetic rules.

The use of poikkeussanat has been a subject of debate among linguists and language enthusiasts. While some argue that these words enrich the Finnish language by incorporating new vocabulary, others contend that they can lead to inconsistencies and confusion in the language. Despite these debates, poikkeussanat continue to be an integral part of the Finnish language, reflecting its dynamic and evolving nature.