sielu

Sielu is the Finnish word for the soul, referring to the immaterial essence of a person, including aspects such as consciousness, personality, and life force in religious, philosophical, and cultural contexts. In traditional Finnish thought, as in many cultures, the sielu is distinguished from the body and is often regarded as the bearer of identity and life.

Etymology and linguistic notes: The term sielu is of Finnic origin and is commonly linked to the Swedish word själ, reflecting historical contact between Finnish and Swedish speakers. The exact ancestry of the word remains a topic of scholarly discussion, but it is widely treated as the standard Finnish term for the soul.

Usage and cultural significance: In Christian Finland, sielu denotes the immortal, spiritual part of a person that survives physical death. In folklore, literature, and everyday speech, it can also convey the idea of inner life or temperament. In modern Finnish, the term appears in religious and philosophical discourse as well as in poetry and art. Related expressions include sielunelämä (the life of the soul or inner life) and sielullinen (spiritual or soulful). The concept of sielu interacts with discussions of ethics, personhood, and consciousness, reflecting both traditional beliefs and contemporary thought.