lastenlapsi

Lastenlapsi is the Finnish term for a grandchild, meaning the child of one’s own child. It denotes a kinship relationship that spans one generation and is used to refer to a single grandchild in everyday language.

Etymology: The word is a native Finnish compound created from lapsi (child) with a genitive or possessive ending to indicate generation. Literally, it conveys the idea of “a child who is a child’s.”

Usage and forms: The standard singular form is lapsenlapsi, with the plural lapsenlapset. Possessive forms are used to indicate ownership in sentences, for example minun lapsenlapseni means “my grandchild” and sinun lapsenlapsesi means “your grandchild.” The term does not specify which of one’s own children is the parent of the grandchild; additional context or names are often provided when needed.

Cultural and practical context: In Finnish, lapsenlapsi is a common way to refer to grandchildren in family conversations, records, and genealogical contexts. The term sits within a broader system of kinship vocabulary and interacts with norms around family roles and generations. In formal writing, kinship may be explicitly complemented with titles or names.

See also: Family relations in Finland, Grandparent, Finnish language, Genealogy.