ihmishenkien

Ihmishenkien is a Finnish-language term formed from ihminen (human) and henki (spirit). The phrase is the genitive plural of ihmishenki and is typically translated as "of the human spirits" or "the human spirits." In standard usage, the singular would be ihmishenki, with the plural genitive ihmishenkien marking possession or association with a group of spirits.

In folklore, ihmishenkien is used to denote spirits believed to inhabit or accompany people. They are sometimes described in regional legends as protective or guiding forces connected to family lineages, ancestors, or personal temperament. Rites and practices in some traditions involve offerings, rituals, or taboos intended to honor or appease these spirits, with aims such as safeguarding health, fertility, or social harmony. The concept sits within a broader Finnic tradition that recognizes distinct spirit realms alongside the idea of the soul, or sielu, and household spirits.

In modern fiction and popular culture, ihmishenkien often appear as mythic or supernatural elements. Authors may portray them as a council of benevolent or ambiguous spirits within or around a person, a source of latent power, or a lineage-based inheritance passed through generations. Depictions frequently explore themes of identity, moral choice, and the interplay between human agency and spiritual forces.

See also: ihminen, henki, sielu, suomalainen mytologia, animism.