Sinkku

Sinkku is a Finnish noun that denotes a person who is not in a romantic relationship or not married. It is gender-neutral and used to describe both men and women. In everyday language, sinkku can refer to a single person in general or to the single lifestyle. For example, “Olen sinkku” means “I am single.” The term is common in dating discourse, media, and social conversation, and it often carries informal or lighthearted connotations rather than a legal status. It is not a synonym for divorced or widowed; those statuses are described with terms like avioeronnut or leskeksi respectively. The concept can be extended into compounds such as sinkkuelämä to mean the single life or the state of being single.

Etymology and usage notes: sinkku is a loanword in Finnish, likely derived from the English word single or the Swedish singel, and adapted to Finnish phonology and spelling. It has become a standard, neutral term in contemporary Finnish and is used across age groups in casual speech, media, and popular culture.

Cultural context: Being sinkku is a common theme in Finnish pop culture, dating contexts, and everyday life, reflecting a social status rather than a moral or legal condition. The term appears in conversations about relationships, dating apps, and lifestyle discussions, and is also seen in media titles and expressions such as sinkkuelämää, the Finnish title adaptation of Sex and the City. See also: single, bachelor, dating.