luonne

Luonne is a Finnish noun that denotes the inherent nature, temperament, or character of a person, an animal, or a thing. It indicates enduring traits and dispositions rather than momentary moods, and it is commonly used to describe a person’s overall personality or the characteristic behavior of a subject.

In everyday language, luonne describes both human personality and the distinctive character of non-human entities, such as a city, a company, or a product. For example, one may say that someone has a calm luonne, or that a city has a lively luonne. The term is also used in psychological and literary contexts to discuss temperament and character.

Common compound forms are luonteenpiirteet (personality traits) and luonteenkuvaus (description of character), and the verb luonnehtia means to characterize. The adjective form luonteva means natural or fitting, and luonteellinen refers to being natural or genuine in manner.

Etymology: luonne belongs to the Finnish vocabulary related to nature and essence; it is related in meaning to luonto (nature) but denotes more specifically the character or temperament of a subject. Related words include luonteva, luonteellinen, and persoonallisuus (personality).

See also: luonto; persoonallisuus; luonteenpiirteet.