Sijainen

Sijainen is a Finnish noun meaning a person who temporarily occupies another person’s position or performs their duties while the regular holder is absent or unavailable. The term is used across contexts such as workplaces, schools, sports, and public administration to denote a temporary stand-in rather than a permanent replacement.

Etymology: the word comes from sija, meaning a place or position, with the suffix -inen forming a noun. The literal sense is “one who occupies a place.”

Usage and examples: In schools a sijainen may teach when the regular teacher is on leave. In workplaces, a sijainen fills in for a manager or specialist during a temporary absence. In sports, a sijainen player steps in for an injured or suspended teammate. In public bodies, an acting or interim sijainen may perform duties when the appointed holder is unable to serve temporarily.

Distinctions: Sijainen differs from related terms such as varajäsen (deputy or alternate member) and sijaisuus (the act or condition of substituting). A sijainen emphasizes temporary occupancy of a position, whereas a varajäsen is a formal substitute with defined rights within a structure. Sijaisuus refers to the substitution process itself rather than the person performing the duties.

See also: substitute teacher, acting chairman, deputy member, substitution in organizations.