sytkäri

A sytkäri is a Finnish slang term that translates to "lighter" in English. It specifically refers to a cigarette lighter, a portable device used to produce a flame. The term is informal and commonly used in everyday conversation in Finland.

The most common type of sytkäri is a disposable plastic lighter, often filled with butane gas. These lighters are widely available and inexpensive. Refillable lighters, such as Zippo-style lighters, are also sometimes referred to as sytkäri, though the term is more strongly associated with the disposable variety. The word itself is thought to derive from the Finnish verb "sytyttää," meaning "to ignite" or "to light."

Beyond its literal meaning, "sytkäri" can occasionally be used metaphorically to describe something that is easily lit or ignited, though this usage is less common. The primary and most prevalent meaning remains that of a device for creating a flame, particularly for lighting cigarettes or other small combustible materials. The accessibility and widespread use of these devices in Finnish society have made the term "sytkäri" a well-established part of the colloquial vocabulary.