Tiistai

Tiistai is the Finnish name for Tuesday, the second day of the week in Finland’s common calendar. In everyday usage, tiistai follows maanantai (Monday) and precedes keskiviikko (Wednesday). The term is part of the Finnish system of weekday names, which largely reflect historical Germanic and Nordic influences.

Etymology and origins: The Finnish word tiistai was borrowed from Swedish tisdag, which itself derives from the Old Norse name Týsdagr for the second day of the week, associated with the god Tyr. Through Swedish influence during the medieval period, these Germanic weekday names were adapted into Finnish, forming the current day-name set used today.

Usage and forms: As a noun, tiistai denotes the day itself. When referring to a specific Tuesday, the adverbial form tiistaina is used, meaning “on Tuesday.” The base noun tiistai appears in calendar labels and scheduling, while phrases like tiistain ilta (Tuesday evening) or tiistain ohjelma (Tuesday’s schedule) illustrate its possessive use. In everyday writing and speech, tiistai is understood as the standard label for the day.

Cultural and linguistic notes: Finnish weekday names are relatively stable across the country and in Finnish-language media. The system connects Finnish to wider Nordic and Germanic linguistic traditions through borrowed forms, while remaining distinctively Finnish in its spelling and usage.

See also: Days of the week in Finnish.