Tavutussäännöt

Tavutussäännöt, or syllabification rules, are a set of guidelines used to divide words into syllables. In Finnish, these rules are largely predictable and based on the structure of the word. A syllable in Finnish typically consists of a vowel or a vowel followed by one or more consonants. A core principle is that a syllable cannot end in a consonant if the next syllable starts with a consonant. Instead, the consonant is usually moved to the end of the preceding syllable.

When a word contains a double consonant, it is split between syllables. For example, the word "kukka" (flower) is divided as "kuk-ka". Similarly, a consonant cluster at the beginning of a word is typically split, with the first consonant belonging to the preceding syllable if there is one, or forming the beginning of the next syllable if it's the start of the word. Consonant clusters within a word are also divided, often with the first consonant of the cluster going with the preceding vowel.

Vowel length also plays a role. Long vowels, represented by a double vowel, are considered part of a single syllable. Diphthongs, which are combinations of two vowels within a single syllable, are also treated as a single unit. The ultimate goal of tavutussäännöt is to create a smooth and natural pronunciation of words by ensuring that each syllable is easily pronounceable. These rules are fundamental to Finnish spelling, pronunciation, and even aspects of poetry and rhythm.