sinuttelu

Sinuttelu is a Finnish sociolinguistic term referring to the practice of addressing someone with the informal second-person singular pronoun sinä instead of the formal te. The related verb sinutella means to switch to this informal form or to invite someone to use it. The opposite practice, using the formal address, is called teitittely.

Sinuttelu functions as a marker of social distance and solidarity. Using sinä typically signals familiarity, equality, or friendliness, while te conveys respect, formality, or social distance. Choices about address depend on factors such as age, social status, professional context, regional norms and personal preference. Younger people and peers commonly use sinuttelu, whereas older generations, officials or strangers may expect teitittely.

Historically, Finnish has experienced shifts toward informal address similar to other European languages. Institutional and cultural changes in the 20th century increased general use of sinuttelu in workplaces, media and everyday interactions, though formal address persists in certain situations and settings.

Etiquette varies: in some contexts it is customary to offer sinuttelu explicitly (e.g., by saying “sinutetaan?”), while abrupt use of sinä can be perceived as rude if norms favor formality. The practice is part of broader patterns of language and identity in Finland, reflecting changing social relations and communicative preferences.