kasvo

Kasvo is a native Finnish noun that means “face.” It refers to the front part of the head containing features such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, and it is used in both literal descriptions and figurative expressions related to appearance or emotion. The term appears in everyday speech and in technical contexts such as anatomy, dermatology, and cosmetics.

In standard Finnish, kasvo is inflected for number and case, with common forms including kasvo (singular nominative), kasvot (plural nominative), kasvojen (plural genitive), and kasvoa or kasvoja (partitive forms). The word serves as the stem for many compounds used in skincare and medicine, such as kasvopesu (facial cleansing), kasvonaamio (face mask), kasvovoide (facial cream), and kasvojenhoito (facial care).

Kasvo is frequently contrasted with naama, a more colloquial term for face. In everyday language, speakers may refer to washing or caring for the face with phrases like pesin kasvoni (I washed my face) or kasvojenhoito viittaa skincare routines. In medical or anatomical discussions, kasvo appears in neutral descriptions of the facial region and may be connected to discussions of facial muscles and nerves.

Etymologically, kasvo is a long-standing Finnish word, part of the native core vocabulary, with no widely attested loanword origins. It is broadly understood across Finnish dialects and remains a stable, neutral term in modern usage.