hintalappua

Hintalappu is the Finnish term for a price tag attached to goods in retail. The inflected form hintalappua is the partitive singular of hintalappu, used in grammatical constructions in Finnish. In practice, a hintalappu communicates the price and basic product information to shoppers.

Historically, prices were often written by hand on tags or slips in markets and small shops. With the growth of modern retail, printed price labels became standard, and many stores now rely on standardized formats that include barcodes. In recent years, electronic shelf labels and digital price displays have increased in use, enabling centralized price updates and dynamic pricing in some markets.

A typical hintalappu lists several elements. The price or "hinta" is shown in the local currency (usually euro in Finland). The unit price, or "yksikköhinta," helps customers compare prices per kilogram, liter, or other unit. The product name and often a brand or product code may be present, along with a barcode or other scanning code used at checkout. Some tags also show country of origin, collection season, or discount information.

Forms and materials vary. Price tags can be hang tags, adhesive labels, or shelf labels. Common materials include paper or cardboard, with plastic variants for durability. Attachments include strings, plastic clips, or adhesive backs.

Regulation and practice emphasize visibility and accuracy. In Finland and the EU, prices must be clearly displayed and, where applicable, include taxes; unit pricing supports consumer comparison. Digital labeling systems are increasingly used to manage pricing efficiently across large inventories.