ruokailta

Ruokailta is a Finnish term that refers to an evening meal or an organized gathering for eating that takes place in the evening. In practice, ruokailta describes the event itself—an occasion when participants come together to share a meal—rather than the meal as a singular dish.

Etymology: The word is formed from ruoka (food) and ilta (evening). It is related in meaning to ruokailu (meal time) and illallinen (dinner), with ruokailta emphasizing the social event of dining in the evening.

Usage and contexts: Ruokailta is commonly used in organizational or community contexts, such as clubs, churches, student unions, associations, camps, or workplaces, where a group meal is programmed as part of an activity. It can be informal, such as a potluck, or semi-formal, with a set menu or speakers. In many settings, ruokailta may include a brief program after the meal, such as announcements or fundraising, but the core focus remains sharing a meal.

Notes: The term is more about the event than the food alone and is more likely found in institutional speech than in private everyday language. It can also appear in compound forms such as juhlaruokailta (celebration dinner).

See also: Illallinen, ruokailu, illanvietto.