kokki

Kokki is a Finnish noun meaning cook or chef. It denotes a person who prepares food, typically in a professional kitchen such as a restaurant, hotel, or catering service, but it can also refer to someone who cooks at home. The term is gender-neutral and widely used in everyday language as well as in professional contexts.

In Finland, kokki is a standard occupational term for people working in food preparation. The word can describe a range of roles within a kitchen, from entry-level cooks to more senior culinary staff, depending on the establishment and the specific duties involved. It is part of the general kitchen vocabulary and appears in menus, job advertisements, and culinary journalism.

Outside of Finnish-speaking contexts, kokki is not commonly used to denote a chef in the way that specific titles might in other languages. When encountered by non-Finnish speakers, it is more likely to appear as a proper noun, surname, or brand name rather than a general occupational term. The word thus reflects its place within Finnish language and culinary culture, while its recognition abroad is limited to those studying Finnish or encountering it in specific contexts. See also: Finnish language, culinary professions, Finnish cuisine.