sielun

Sielun is the genitive singular form of the Finnish noun sielu, meaning soul. In Finnish, the genitive is used to indicate possession or association, so sielun is attached to nouns to express “of the soul” or “the soul’s.” For example, sielun hyvinvointi means the well-being of the soul, and sielunmaisema refers to the inner landscape or inner life of a person. The genitive plural form is sielujen, used similarly to indicate possession by multiple souls.

Common compounds and phrases illustrate how sielun is used to symbolize inner life and spirituality. Sielunrauha denotes inner peace, sielunvoima connotes spiritual strength or vigor, and sielunmaisema captures the metaphorical inner world. In broader language use, sielu appears in religious, philosophical, and literary contexts to discuss moral, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of a person or community.

Cultural and linguistic context. The concept of the soul, as expressed with sielu and its inflections, has a long presence in Finnish literature and religion. It is employed in both everyday language and more formal or poetic discourse to reflect notions of identity, conscience, and personal essence. While the word can carry religious connotations, it is also used secularly to describe inner life, emotions, and psychological states.