suomalais

Suomalainen is the Finnish term for a person from Finland or for things connected with Finland. The everyday demonym for a person is suomalainen (singular) and suomalaiset (plural). The form suomalais- functions as a stem used in compounds, but the standard standalone form for a person remains suomalainen. Finnish has no grammatical gender, so suomalainen applies regardless of gender.

In Finland, the majority identify as Finnish by ethnicity and language. Finnish is the dominant language, while Swedish is also an official language. Sámi languages are recognized in the northern regions as minority languages. Beyond Finland, people of Finnish descent form a diaspora in neighboring Nordic countries, North America, and other regions.

Finnish identity is closely tied to language, culture, and history. Finland gained independence in 1917 after centuries under Swedish and Russian rule. Contemporary Finnish culture is known for education and welfare, design and technology, literature and music, and the concept of sisu, meaning perseverance and resilience. The demonyms suomalainen or suomalaiset are used in national and cultural contexts to refer to people, language, and cultural heritage of Finland. While the word suomalainen refers to people from Finland, the broader concept of Finnish identity encompasses language, ethnicity, and citizenship within a Nordic and European framework.