eväli

Eväli is a Finnish term that describes a snack or light meal taken between larger meals, typically during a break in school or work. The word derives from eväät (provisions) and väli (gap or interval), conveying the idea of provisions used to bridge the interval between meals. Historically, eväli referred to a small, portable portion that could be eaten between morning and midday meals, or in the afternoon, when there was a break from activities. In contemporary Finnish usage, the more common word for packed food is eväät, while eväli is more often used to denote the moment of the break rather than the food itself, though both senses can occur in practice.

In schools and homes, eväli has been associated with simple, easily consumed foods: bread with cheese or cold cuts, fruit, yoghurt, pastries, and sometimes a small beverage. In modern urban life, the concept is less formal, and many people simply call it a snack or a lunch break rather than eväli, but the term may still be encountered in regional dialects or historical contexts.

The term reflects a broader Nordic and Baltic tradition of structured daily pauses for nourishment and rest, aligning with educational routines and family schedules. See also eväät, snack, lunch break, school meal.