tuhansivuotinen

tuhansivuotinen is a Finnish adjective meaning "thousand‑year‑old". It is formed by combining the numeral thousand, thousand in Finnish is "tuhannes" or "tuhatta", with the suffix "-vuotinen" which turns a number into an age description. The word thus literally means "a person or thing that is a thousand years old." It is used both literally and figuratively. In literary contexts it may refer to ancient trees, historical monuments, or long‑standing institutions. For example, a tree that has survived more than a millennium might be called a tuhansivuotinen puita. Figuratively, the term can convey an enduring quality or legacy, as in “tuhansivuotinen perintä” (a thousand‑year‑old heritage).

The adjective appears in Finnish literature and media, occasionally in humorous or hyperbolic ways, such as describing a vintage object as “tuhansivuotinen”, implying extreme age. It is not a common everyday term; it is more likely found in scholarly, historical, or cultural discussions. No exclusive morphological irregularities are associated with the word: the noun “vuosi” (year) is combined with the adjective suffix “‑inen” after the numeral.

The form tuhansivuotinen is typically used with a specific subject, e.g., “tuhansivuotinen kirkko” (a thousand‑year‑old church). In the plural, the form would be tuhansivuotiset. The word illustrates the Finnish propensity for forming compound terms that precisely denote age or duration.