View source for Wiktionary:Finnish entry guidelines

{{policy-TT}}{{shortcut|WT:AFI}}

==Taxonomy and typology==
[[w:Finnish_language|Finnish]] belongs to the [[w:Finnic languages|Finnic]] group of languages, which belongs to the [[w:Uralic|Uralic]] family. It is an [[w:agglutinative language|agglutinative]] language, which falls under the category of synthetic languages.

==Pronunciation==
::''Main entry'': '''[[Appendix:Finnish pronunciation]]'''
As tone is important to [[w:Spoken_Chinese#Phonology|Chinese]], rhythm is important to Finnish. Long and short vowels and consonants must be distinguished. This takes place in the same way that phonemes between words are assimilated in English, like “Take care”, “stop point”, “Sara Atkins”, “slippery eel” or “Go overboard”, without glottal stops between words.

Finnish features [[w:vowel harmony|vowel harmony]], so that certain front vowels (''ä'', ''ö'', ''y'') and back vowels (''a'', ''o'', ''u'') do not co-occur in native words (except in compounds). There are few consonants, and plosives are [[w:aspiration (phonetics)|unaspirated]].

===Templates===
For pronunciation, {{temp|fi-pronunciation}} is available. The template can automatically generate IPA pronunciation, hyphenation and rhyme data, but in some cases, it must be provided with additional info (for full information, read the template documentation):

* when a word geminates, use {{temp|fi-pronunciation|*}} (or if other conditions also apply, add a <tt>*</tt> at the end). some cases include:
** words of inflection type [[Appendix:Finnish declension/hame|hame]]
** verbs (dictionary form is the first infinitive, which does geminate)
** some inflected forms (allatives of nouns or adjectives, second person singular imperatives and connegatives of verbs)
** certain adverbs (particularly -sti, -nne or -tse)
* compound words; provide the compound word with hyphens between the components, such as {{temp|fi-pronunciation|valta-tie}} for {{m|fi|valtatie}} = {{m|fi|valta}} + {{m|fi|tie}}
** if any of the components geminate (see above), add a <tt>*</tt> at the end of that component, like {{temp|fi-pronunciation|kone*-kieli}} for {{m|fi|konekieli}} = {{m|fi|kone}} + {{m|fi|kieli}}
* loanwords where the pronunciation cannot be determined from the spelling alone; give an approximate pronunciation as the parameter, such as {{temp|fi-pronunciation|beisbool}} for {{m|fi|baseball}} (pronounced like ''beisbool''); hyphenation and rhyme info can be provided manually, like {{temp|fi-pronunciation|beisbool|h=base-ball|r=eisboːl}}
* words with unpredictable stress patterns: if the word consists of foreign elements, use <tt>-</tt> as if the words were compounds (e.g. <tt>bio-logia</tt>, because {{m|fi|bio-}} + {{m|fi|-logia}}), or <tt>"</tt> if the hyphenation may not be affected (e.g. <tt>mikro"skooppi</tt>, which may also be hyphenated as {{hyph|fi|nocaption=1|mik|ros|koop|pi}}); otherwise use <tt>+</tt> (e.g. <tt>hämä+häkki</tt> for {{m|fi|hämähäkki}}).
* words in which vowels are separated and not diphthongs as usual: use <tt>.</tt> between the two vowels, such as {{temp|fi-pronunciation|seesi.um}}
* ideally also:
** distinguish between "native" {{IPAchar|/d/}} and "borrowed" {{IPAchar|/d/}} in words; the former (as a weak grade of {{IPAchar|/t/}} in words like {{m|fi|sade}}, {{m|fi|voida}}, {{m|fi|taide}} and {{m|fi|tehdas}}) should be respelled as a capitalized <code>D</code> (<code>saDe</code>, <code>voiDa</code>, <code>taiDe</code>, <code>tehDas</code>), while borrowed {{IPAchar|/d/}} in words like {{m|fi|demokratia}} and {{m|fi|diodi}} should be in lowercase. Apart from this exception, all respelling parameters should be spelled in ''all lowercase'', although manually provided hyphenation needs to provide the correct capitalization.
** distinguish between "borrowed" {{IPAchar|/ts/}} (in e.g. {{m|fi|pizza}}) as opposed to "native" {{IPAchar|/ts/}} (in e.g. {{m|fi|metsä}}) by marking the former as <code>t#s</code>
*** the weak grade of the "native" {{IPAchar|/ts/}} can be marked as <code>t!s</code>

To add audio pronunciations or more advanced info, please see the [[Template:fi-pronunciation/documentation|template documentation]] for help.

If you are not sure whether you can input this information correctly, you should use {{temp|rfp|fi}} instead.

Non-lemma verb forms in which only some forms have gemination (practically always third-person singular indicative present forms without gemination and present connegative/second-person singular imperative forms with gemination) can use the convenience template {{tl|fi-p-3-conn}}.

==Etymology==

===Compounds and affixes===
The format for compound words and affixes conforms to [[Wiktionary:Etymology#Layout: Word formation|WT:ETY]], but Finnish has some morphological features that need attention.

====Suffixes====
To get suffixed words in the appropriate categories, such as {{category|Finnish terms suffixed with -ton}} contributors can use the template {{temp|suffix|fi}}.
::{{temp|suffix|fi|elo|ton}} → {{suffix|fi|elo|ton}}

Many Finnish words end with more than one suffix. One should refer words to the word they are directly derived from, if one exists. Notice that the parts are shown in their lemma forms, even if they change when integrated together, as in the case of {{m|fi|elottomuus}}:<br/>
::{{temp|suffix|fi|eloton|uus}} → {{suffix|fi|eloton|uus}}

However, if needed, multiple suffixes can be appended by using {{temp|affix}} (or {{temp|af}}); for example,
::{{temp|affix|fi|elo|-ton|-uus}} → {{af|fi|elo|-ton|-uus}}
This should generally be done only if the intermediate word(s) do not exist or are not attestable.

Note that suffixlike morphemes are not considered suffixes. Use {{tl|af}} with <code><naf></code> for them.

=====Vowel harmony=====
Several Finnish suffixes exist as two vowel-harmonic variants. To avoid duplicating content and to keep instances of the suffix in one and the same category, back-harmonic allomorphs (suffixes with any of the vowels ''a'' ''o'' ''u'') are treated as "default". Front-harmonic allomorphs (suffixes with any of the vowels ''y'' ''ä'' ''ö'') should be linked to their back-harmonic counterpart. This should happen automatically, but in case it fails, it is easiest achieved with the <tt>alt2</tt> parameter:
::{{temp|suffix|fi|isä|ton|alt2=tön}} → {{suffix|fi|isä|ton|alt2=tön}}

====Prefixes====
To get prefixed words in the appropriate categories, such as {{category|Finnish terms prefixed with kilo-}} contributors can use the template {{temp|prefix|fi}}.
::{{temp|prefix|fi|kilo|gramma}} → {{af|fi|kilo-|gramma}}

Note that combining forms nor prefixlike morphemes are not considered prefixes. Use {{tl|af}} with <code><naf></code> for them; some combining forms should not be linked to at all (see the section on compounds below).

====Compounds====
To get compound words into {{category|Finnish compound terms}} contributors can use the template {{temp|compound|fi}}.
::{{temp|compound|fi|ammatti|kieli|t1=profession|t2=language}} → {{compound|fi|ammatti|kieli|t1=profession|t2=language}}

Note that multiword terms are ''not'' compounds, with one exception: a compound may have spaces when at least one of its components has them, which will also result in a hyphen in the spelling of the compound.

If a word is inflected, the link is supposed to take the reader to the lemma, not to the inflected form:
::{{temp|compound|fi|järvi|alt1=järven|ranta|t1=of a lake|t2=shore}} → {{compound|fi|järvi|alt1=järven|ranta|t1=of a lake|t2=shore}}
Inflected forms may be expressed with the {{tl|infl}} parameters (for values, see the documentation of {{tl|inflection of}}):
::{{temp|compound|fi|järvi|alt1=järven|infl1=gen|ranta|t1=of a lake|t2=shore}} → {{compound|fi|järvi|alt1=järven|infl1=gen|ranta|t1=of a lake|t2=shore}}
The plural stem can be marked with a qualifier, e.g. {{para|qq1|plural stem}}.

Combining forms should be linked only when the word is not an adjective ending in {{m|fi|-inen}}, or when the combining form is not merely a singular of a [[plurale tantum]]; if the combining form is of an adjective or noun ending in {{m|fi|-inen}}, or the singular form of a word only used in the plural otherwise, the link should instead point to that word.

Compound should also be used when a form is a combining form (like those listed in the previous paragraph), or the latter component is an adjective spelled with an initial hyphen that is only used in compounds, e.g. {{m|fi|-eleinen}}, {{m|fi|-kertainen}}, {{m|fi|-korvainen}}. These are not prefixes/suffixes, and {{tl|prefix}}/{{tl|suffix}} should not be used. Alternatively, with {{tl|affix}} ({{tl|af}}), the type should be overridden with <code><naf></code>:
::{{temp|compound|fi|suuri|-eleinen}}
::{{temp|affix|fi|suuri|-eleinen<naf>}}
::{{temp|compound|fi|neli-|apila}}
::{{temp|affix|fi|neli-<naf>|apila}}

====Glosses====
Glosses, if shown, should be shown
* after each part
* inside round brackets, inside double quotation marks
* unitalicized
This appearance can be produced with {{template|m}}.
::{{temp|m|fi|ammatti||profession}} → {{m|fi|ammatti||profession}}

====Etymology IDs====
Certain Finnish spellings have multiple lemma etymologies. So-called etymology IDs are used to distinguish between them.

Nnote that etymologies involving compounds, etc. should link to the lemma, not to an inflected form (which should be indicated using an <tt>alt</tt> parameter and, if possible, a relevant <tt>infl</tt> parameter):
::{{temp|compound|fi|työ|alt1=työn|tekijä|id1=work|infl1=gen}} → {{compound|fi|työ|alt1=työn|tekijä|id1=work|infl1=gen}}
(not ×{{temp|compound|fi|työn|tekijä|infl1=gen}})

The etymology IDs can be checked from the page source ({{temp|etymid}} or {{temp|senseid}}), or with the "ShowIDs" gadget. {{temp|etymid}} should be used for etymology sections and have to be added for every case where a page has multiple lemma etymologies. {{temp|senseid}} may optionally be used to link to specific senses if there is a reason to be specific, but may not be used to entirely replace {{temp|etymid}} (i.e. having sense IDs is not a reason to not have an etymology ID).

If there are multiple etymologies but only one of them is a lemma, etymology IDs are necessary only if the lemma form is not the first etymology. This should only be the case if the lemma is rare or nonstandard.

To add an ID to etymologies with compounds, suffixes, etc., there are two options: to use ID parameters, or to use inline syntax:
::{{temp|compound|fi|kuusi|puu|id1=tree|t1=spruce|t2=tree}} → {{compound|fi|kuusi|puu|id1=tree|t1=spruce|t2=tree}}
::{{temp|compound|fi|kuusi<id:tree>|puu|t1=spruce|t2=tree}} → {{compound|fi|kuusi<id:tree>|puu|t1=spruce|t2=tree}}

With {{temp|m}}, only the former is available (as {{para|id}}).

====Multiword terms====
Multiword terms should not have etymologies that only explain what each of the parts are; however, just adding glosses is enough additional information to justify them.

Instead, words should be linked to the lemma through the {{para|head}} parameter, e.g.

::{{temp|fi-adv|head=<nowiki>[[jokin|jossain]] [[määrä|määrin]]</nowiki>}} → {{fi-adv|head=[[jokin|jossain]] [[määrä|määrin]]}}

If IDs are involved, {{temp|ll}} may be used:

::{{temp|fi-noun|head={{temp|ll|fi|karvas|id=bitter}} {{temp|ll|fi|kalkki|id=chalice}}}} → {{fi-noun|head={{ll|fi|karvas|id=bitter}} {{ll|fi|kalkki|id=chalice}}}}

The {{para|head}} parameter does not need to be specified if all words are already the correct lemma, and have no IDs (as is the case with many adjective + noun terms). In this case, all words are linked automatically.

===Non-lemma forms===
For convenience, pages with only non-lemma forms might not distinguish etymologies and have all part of speech non-lemma headings at level 3. This does not imply that the terms listed have a common etymology, and instead they should be assumed to have different etymologies whenever the linked-to main lemma is different (including if the IDs are different, even if the titles are the same).

However, unrelated lemma and non-lemma entries must never be placed under the same etymology. If the lemma does not derive from the nonlemma, the two should be listed under separate etymologies.

===Unknown etymologies===
Terms with unknown or uncertain etymologies should generally use {{tl|unknown}} or {{tl|uncertain}}, as usual. However, it is a convention to not use this template and instead write the unknown/uncertain part out in text whenever a Finnish entry can be solidly reconstructed back to Proto-Finnic. This way, [[:Category:Finnish terms with unknown etymologies]] only lists terms without a known, certain Proto-Finnic term, without repeating terms with a known etymology from Finnish to Proto-Finnic.

==Inflection==
Inflection goes under inflection headings such as <nowiki>====Conjugation====</nowiki> and <nowiki>====Declension====</nowiki>. Inflection templates are available for Finnish words. Nominals, which include nouns, adjectives, and pronouns, are declined. Verbs are conjugated. Use the inflection templates found under: [[Appendix:Finnish conjugation types]] and [[Appendix:Finnish declension types]]. For example:

<pre>====Conjugation====
{{fi-conj-sanoa|san|||o|a}}</pre>

For adjectives, the parameter <code>|pos=adj</code> should be used with declension templates:

<pre>====Declension====
{{fi-decl-korkea|pos=adj|korke|a}}</pre>

==Part-of-speech==
The part-of-speech section goes under a part-of-speech heading, such as <nowiki>===Verb===</nowiki>. Use {{temp|fi-noun}}, {{temp|fi-verb}}, {{temp|fi-adj}}, {{temp|fi-adv}}, [[:Category:Finnish headword-line templates|etc.]], or {{temp|head}}. Do not indicate inflection types in the inflection parameters of the part-of-speech templates; use the inflection templates in the inflection sections instead.

<pre>===Verb===
{{fi-verb}}</pre>

One has to be careful about the term "prefix". The vast majority of true prefixes in Finnish are of international origin and used in internationalisms, e.g. {{m|fi|elektro-}}. Many others are not true 'prefixes', as they form compounds (e.g. KTSK marks these as "{{m|fi||yhdyssanojen alkuosana}}"), and they should not be categorized as prefixes. There is currently no standard for how to mark these, so the closest lemma part of speech is used in practice.

==Default lemma==
Since Finnish words can have hundreds of possible inflections, they are organised under [[lemma|lemmas]], or headwords. Finnish words are inflected as either nominals or verbs, and the lemmas for each are
* Nominals, such as nouns and adjectives: the nominative singular, or if the word has no independently used singular forms, the nominative plural.
* Verbs: the first infinitive. The third-person singular present indicative may be used with verbs that do not have a first infinitive.
* Adverbs, postpositions: the form without any possessive suffix, or if it is required, the third-person form (if allowed, the short form ending in ''-an''/''-än''/''-en'').

In all cases, entries for non-lemma forms should use the appropriate variant of the {{template|inflection of}} template to link to the lemma. Example:
<pre>
==Finnish==

===Noun===
{{head|fi|noun form}}

# {{inflection of|fi|pöytä||nom|p}}</pre>

==Derived terms==
In some cases, it is beneficial to group compounds into their own list. This can be done by using a separate {{temp|col}} with a title. The simplified example below is based on {{m|fi|sokeri}}:

<pre>
{{col|fi
|sokeriton
}}

{{col|fi|title=compounds
|hienosokeri
}}
</pre>

Another option, when using a simple list:
<pre>
* {{l|fi|sokeriton}}

; Compounds
* {{l|fi|hienosokeri}}
</pre>

==Related terms==
Note that according to {{section link|WT:EL#Related terms}}, these are for ''etymologically'' related terms, not semantically related terms (which should be "Coordinate terms", "See also" or whichever other category is the most relevant). For compound words, related terms should generally only include terms for which all parts are related to each other, not cases where e.g. only one part of the compound is shared between the words.

==Dialects==
Finnish has many [[Appendix:Finnish dialects|dialects]] for such a relatively small group of people. However, there is only one standard form. Dialectal entries are listed under the <nowiki>==Finnish==</nowiki> heading as normal, and their status as dialectal should be marked using the template {{temp|lb}}. {{temp|fi-dial}} can be used for dialect data.

The varieties of Finnish are a part of a [[dialect continuum]] with its closest relatives, especially [[Karelian]] and [[Ingrian]], and neighboring varieties of these will be mutually intelligible with varieties of Finnish. Regardless, in Wiktionary, these languages are treated as stand-alone languages and given their own headings, such as <nowiki>==Karelian==</nowiki>. For a list of closely related languages recognized by Wiktionary, see [[:Category:Finnic languages]].

==Labels==
As with the rest of the languages, {{temp|lb}} is used for sense-specific labels and {{temp|tlb}} for headword-specific labels (also when the label applies to all senses in a list, but {{temp|tlb}} templates should not be repeated in the same list). Dialect areas (including Western and Eastern Finnish) can be used as labels.

==Anagrams==
Anagrams conform to [[Wiktionary:Anagrams]] and are usually added by a bot. Spaces and punctuation are ignored. Ä, Ö, and Å are unique letters that are not interchangeable with plain letters.

==Characters==
In standard Finnish, the apostrophe is officially encoded as {{codepoint|U+2019}}. However, Wiktionary currently normalizes the apostrophes as {{codepoint|U+0027}} in page titles. The conversion should be done automatically with links, so either can be used in the page source.

==References==
See [[Appendix:Finnish bibliography]].

==Sample entry==
<pre>
==Finnish==

===Etymology===
{{compound|fi|sana|kirja|t1=word|t2=book}}; a {{calque|nocap=1|fi|sv|ordbok}}.

===Pronunciation===
{{fi-pronunciation|sana-kirja}}

===Noun===
{{fi-noun}}

# [[dictionary]]
#: {{ux|fi|Wikisanakirja on vapaa '''sanakirja'''.|Wiktionary is a free '''dictionary'''.}}

====Declension====
{{fi-decl-kala|sanakirj|||a}}
</pre>

==See also==
* [[Appendix:Finnish]]

[[Category:Wiktionary language considerations]]
[[Category:Finnish language]]