Synnystä

Synnystä is a term encountered in Finnish-language discussions of morality and conscience. In broad use, it is associated with guilt, responsibility, and the moral weight of wrongdoing, and it is most often found in literary, religious, or philosophical contexts rather than everyday speech.

Etymology and form. The word is connected to the Finnish root synt- meaning sin or fault, and it appears in older or more formal language as a noun form that can express origin, cause, or attribution related to moral fault. In modern usage, the more common everyday words for guilt are syyllisyys (guilt) or synti (sin), while synnystä and related forms may appear in poetic or archaic expressions to emphasize the source or consequence of moral failure.

Concept and nuances. Synnystä is typically used to evoke the sense that guilt arises from a transgression and radiates as responsibility or accountability. In ethical discussions, it can distinguish inner remorse from external blame, and it may be invoked in analyses of conscience, repentance, and atonement. Because it leans on a religiously inflected vocabulary, its tone can be solemn or contemplative.

Usage in culture. In Finnish literature and sermons, synnystä may appear in phrases that link acts to their moral consequences, or in discussions about how communities address fault and reconciliation. In contemporary prose, writers might prefer clearer terms like syyllisyys or synti, reserving synnystä for stylistic effect or historical flavor.

See also. Synti, syyllisyys, syyllinen, conscience, guilt, atonement.

Note. Synnystä is a relatively specialized or literary form within Finnish, and its usage is not as widespread as more common terms for guilt.