meteli

Meteli is a Finnish noun meaning loud noise, uproar, or commotion. It describes a noisy, bustling, or chaotic atmosphere, often involving a crowd or a large event. The term can refer to everyday disturbances as well as the atmosphere surrounding celebrations, protests, or demonstrations. In usage, meteli emphasizes vibrancy and disorder more than a single sound source.

Etymology and nuance: Meteli is a native Finnish word. The exact historical origin is not well documented, but it has long been part of the Finnish lexicon for describing collective noise and unrest. It is closely related to other Finnish terms for sound and disturbance, such as melu (noise) and häly (clamor), though meteli conveys a stronger sense of ruckus or uproar, often with social overtones.

Usage and examples: Meteli is commonly used to describe crowds, street activity, or events that generate sustained noise and commotion. It can appear in news reporting, narratives, and everyday speech. For example: "Kaupunkin kaduilla oli koko illan kova meteli" (The city streets were loud all evening). "Järjestäjät yrittivät rauhoittaa metelin" (The organizers tried to quell the uproar). It can also be used metaphorically to denote turmoil or a loud exchange of opinions in a social or political context.

Declension and related forms: Meteli declines as a typical Finnish noun. Common forms include meteli (nominative), metelin (genitive), meteliä (partitive), meteliin (illative), metelissä (inessive), metelistä (elative), metelillä (adessive), meteliltä (ablative), meteliksi (translative). Related terms include melu (general noise), kohina (din), and häly (clamor).

See also: Melu, Kohina, Häly, Uproar in Finnish culture.