jokamies

Jokamies is a Finnish noun meaning "the ordinary man" or "everyman." It denotes an average citizen and is used to refer to the perspectives, interests, or experiences of non-elite members of society. In Finnish public discourse, jokamies is often invoked to frame issues in terms of everyday life, consumer behavior, or common-sense viewpoints, rather than those of experts or institutions.

The word is formed from the roots joka ("every") and mies ("man"). In usage the root appears in the word jokamies, and its possessive form jokamiehen is used in phrases such as jokamiehen oikeudet ("everyman's rights").

Jokamiehen oikeudet, sometimes translated as "everyman's rights," are a well-established concept in Finland and other Nordic countries. They describe a basic freedom to roam and enjoy nature, forage for mushrooms and berries, and access land and waters, under reasonable care for nature and other people.

While jokamies mainly functions as a descriptive term for ordinary people, it can appear as a semi-fictional figure in journalism, literature, or advertising that represents the general public. It is not a formal social class or political movement.

See also: Jokamiehen oikeudet; Everyman; Finnish language.