ystävät

Ystävät is the Finnish plural form of ystävä, meaning "friends." The term denotes people with whom one shares mutual affection, trust, and support. It generally refers to a close, lasting relationship rather than a casual acquaintance and is used for people one cares about, regardless of gender or age. It can describe both male and female friends and is typically applied to non-romantic friendships.

Grammatically, ystävä is singular and ystävät is plural. The possessive forms include ystäväni (my friend) and ystäväsi (your friend). The word also appears in compounds such as ystäväpiiri (circle of friends) and ystävyys (friendship).

In Finland, friendship plays an important role in social life. The concept is expressed in everyday language, and the day called ystävänpäivä (Friend's Day) on February 14 is commonly celebrated as a time to show appreciation for friends, alongside romantic occasions.

Etymology: Ystävä is a native Finnish word, and its exact origin is not definitively established. It is a long-standing term for social ties and remains widely used in contemporary Finnish.