kuulo

Kuulo is a Finnish noun meaning the sense of hearing or the ability to hear. It refers to the perception of sounds and to the auditory function of the ear. In everyday language, kuulo can denote both the physiological capacity to hear and the act of listening in a given moment.

Kuulo is derived from the verb kuulla, “to hear.” In inflected form it appears as kuulon (genitive) and kuuloa (partitive). It is common in compounds such as kuuloaisti (the auditory sense), kuulohermo (the auditory nerve), and kuulokoje (a hearing aid). The phrase parantaa kuuloni means “to improve my hearing.”

In medical and scientific contexts, kuulo is central to discussions of hearing health, testing, and disorders. Terms such as kuulon heikkeneminen (loss of hearing) or kuulohäiriöt (hearing impairments) are used to describe conditions affecting hearing. Diagnostic testing for hearing is referred to as kuulotutkimus (hearing examination).

Overall, kuulo functions as a foundational term in Finnish for describing the sense of hearing, its physiology, and related medical and everyday concepts.