finne

Finne is a term used in several Germanic languages with different meanings depending on context. In Norwegian, finne is the infinitive of the verb meaning “to find.” It appears in everyday use as a common action word, for example in sentences like “Jeg skal finne nøklene” (I will find the keys). In Swedish, the corresponding verb is usually finna, while finne appears only in older texts or dialectal usage.

In German, Finne (capitalized) is a noun meaning a Finn, i.e., a person from Finland. The gendered forms are Finne (masculine) and Finnin (feminine), with the plural Finnen. The word can also appear as a surname in German-speaking regions and among Nordic communities.

Etymology traces finne back to Old Norse finna, meaning to discover or locate, with cognates across the Germanic language family. This shared root explains why the word surfaces both as a basic verb in Norwegian and as a demonym in German.

Usage and sense can vary by region and language, so finne may refer to the act of finding in Norwegian contexts or to a person from Finland in German contexts. It is not typically used as a loanword in English, but the root appears in related terms such as Finn, Finnan, and related demonyms and surnames in Northern Europe.