vesI

Vesi is the Finnish word for water, a clear, tasteless liquid that is essential for most forms of life. In everyday Finnish, vesi refers to liquid water in rivers, lakes, oceans, and tap water, and it appears in many compound terms such as vesistö (a body of water) and vesijohto (water pipe). The word is a basic element of Finnish vocabulary and culture.

Chemically, water consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom (H2O). Under standard conditions, pure water is a liquid and has properties such as a high surface tension, a relatively high specific heat capacity, and the ability to dissolve many substances due to its polarity. Ice is less dense than liquid water and floats, and water expands when it freezes.

Water occurs on Earth in three states: liquid, solid (ice), and gas (steam). It is part of the global water cycle, driven by evaporation and transpiration from bodies of water, condensation into clouds, and precipitation back to the surface. Most of Earth’s water is saline and located in the oceans. Freshwater accounts for about 2.5 percent of the total, with the majority locked in glaciers, ice caps, and groundwater; the portion available for direct human use is smaller and mostly found in rivers, lakes, and near-surface aquifers.

Human use centers on drinking water, sanitation, agriculture, industry, and energy. Water quality is monitored and treated to remove pathogens, pollutants, and minerals, while protection of watersheds and sustainable management of resources address challenges such as pollution, overuse, and climate-related droughts and flooding. Vesi also has linguistic connections across Finnic languages, reflecting its fundamental role in daily life and culture.