Below is a list of Finnish language exonyms for places in non-Finnish-speaking areas:
Note that the Finnish language inflects place names where English use prepositions like in and to . These variants can affect any place name and are inflections , not exonyms. For example Mene Birminghamiin means Go to Birmingham .
General
Foreign place names containing a direction such as South or Upper are often translated, e.g.:
North Carolina → Pohjois-Carolina; Upper Volta → Ylä-Volta
Belgium
Belgium Belgia
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Brussels
Bryssel
Brussel
Dutch
Bruxelles
French
China
Cuba
Cuba Kuuba
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Havana
Havanna
La Habana
Spanish
Cyprus
Cyprus Kypros
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Nicosia
Nikosia
Lefkoşa
Turkish
Levkosía
Greek
Denmark
Denmark Tanska
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Copenhagen
Kööpenhamina
København
Danish
Jutland
Jyllanti, Juutinmaa
Jylland
Danish
Egypt
Egypt Egypti
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Alexandria
Aleksandria
Al-Iskandariyya
Standard Arabic
Aswan
Assuan
Aswān
Standard Arabic
Cairo
Kairo
Al-Qahirah
Standard Arabic
Nile River
Niili
an-Nīl
Standard Arabic
Estonia
Estonian and Finnish are quite closely related and share many words that differ only slightly, such as saar (Estonian) and saari (Finnish) for island . Many Estonian toponyms and even people's names are simply translated into Finnish as if they were Finnish words, creating an unlimited number of potentially existing exonyms. Below are only some frequently encountered examples of these, as well as those where the difference is significant.
Finland
Finland Suomi
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Åland
Ahvenanmaa
Åland
Swedish
Bergö
Susiluoto
Bergö
Swedish
Brandö
Präntiö
Brandö
Swedish
Delet
Teili
Delet
Swedish
Hammarland
Hammarlanti
Hammarland
Swedish
Karlby
Kaarlenkylä
Karlby
Swedish
Kökar
Köökari[ 1]
Kökar
Swedish
Korsnäs
Korsnääsi, Ristitaipale[ 2]
Korsnäs
Swedish
Korsö
Koskenpää
Korsö
Swedish
Kumlinge
Kumlinki
Kumlinge
Swedish
Lappvesi
Lappvesi
Swedish
Lemland
Lemlanti[ 3]
Lemland
Swedish
Liljendal
Liljentaali
Liljendal
Swedish
Lumparland
Lumparlanti[ 4]
Lumparland
Swedish
Mariehamn
Maarianhamina[ 5]
Mariehamn
Swedish
Lumparn
Lumpari
Lumparn
Swedish
Sålis
Suolaksi
Sålis
Swedish
The Swedish names for the above are commonly (if not exclusively) used in modern-day Finnish.[ 6] Korsnäs in Ostrobothnia should not be confused with other locations in Finland with the same name (see Korsnäs (disambiguation) ).
Areas with both Finnish-, and Swedish-speaking inhabitants have endonymic place names in both languages. Due to changing demographics, some monolingually Swedish areas have historical Finnish names inherited from earlier Finnish-speaking inhabitants. For example, Molpe , a village of Korsnäs is Moikipää in Finnish.
France
France Ranska
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Corsica
Korsika
Corse
French
Nice
Nizza
Nice
French
Paris
Pariisi
Paris
French
Germany
Greece
Ancient transcriptions that do not reflect modern pronunciation are used in some cases, e.g. Herakleion
Greece Kreikka
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Athens
Ateena
Athína
Greek
Corfu
Korfu
Kerkýra
Greek
Crete
Kreeta
Kríti
Greek
Piraeus
Pireus
Piraiás
Greek
Iran
Iran
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Tehrān
Teheran
Tehrān
Persian
Israel
Israel
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Dead Sea
Kuollutmeri
Al-Bahr al-Mayyit
Arabic
Yam ha-Melah
Hebrew
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Al-Quds
Arabic
Yerushalayim
Hebrew
Italy
Italy Italia
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Pompeii
Pompeiji
Pompeii
Latin
ancient city
Pompei
Italian
Rome
Rooma
Roma
Italian
Sicily
Sisilia
Sicilia
Italian
Venice
Venetsia
Venezia
Italian
Latvia
Lebanon
Lebanon Libanon
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Beqaa Valley
Bekaanlaakso
Wādī l-Biqā'
Arabic
Mount Hermon
Hermonvuori
Har Hermon
Hebrew
Jabal al-Shaykh, Jabal Haramun
Arabic
Mount Lebanon
Libanonvuoret
Ṭūr Levnon
Syriac
Jabal Lubnān
Arabic
Tripoli
Tripoli, Tripolis
Ṭarābulus
Arabic
Tyre
Tyros, Tyyros
Ṣūr
Arabic, Phoenician
Lithuania
Lithuania Liettua
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Vilnius
Vilna
Vilnius
Lithuanian
Norway
Norway Norja
Norwegian name
Finnish name
Other endonyms
Notes
Name
Language
Albert I Land
Albert I:n maa
Alta
Alattio
Áltá
North Sami
Finnish Alattio or Alta
Altaelva
Alattionjoki or
Álttáeatnu
North Sami
Altafjorden
Alattionvuono or
Álttávuonna
North Sami
Bjørnøya
Karhusaari
Boknafjorden
Boknavuono
Bouvetøya
Bouvet'nsaari
Bugøynes
Pykeija
Pykeijä
Kven
Bünsow Land
Bünsowinmaa
Børselv
Pyssyjoki
Bissojohka
North Sami
Danskøya
Tanskansaari
Dicksonfjorden
Dicksoninvuono
Dickson Land
Dicksoninmaa
Drammenselva
Drammeninjoki
Drammensfjorden
Drammeninvuono
Dronning Maud Land
Kuningatar Maudin maa
Finnmarksvidda
Ruijan ylänkö
Geirangerfjorden
Geirangerinvuono
Gustav Adolf Land
Gustav Adolfin maa
Gustav V Land
Gustav V:n maa
Hardangerfjorden
Hardangerinvuono
Heer Land
Heerinmaa
Hinlopenstretet
Hinlopeninsalmi
Haakon VII Land
Haakon VII:n maa
Jakobselva (Grense J.)
Vuoremijoki
Vuorjám(johka)
North Sami
Jakobselva (Vestre Jakobselv)
Annijoki
Ánnejohka
North Sami
Kapp Norvegia
Norvegianniemi
Karasjok
Kaarasjoki
Kárášjohka
North Sami
Kautokeino
Koutokeino
Guovdageaidnu
North Sami
Kirkenes
Kirkkoniemi
Girkonjárga
North Sami
Kong Karls Land
Kuningas Kaarlen maa
Kvitøya
Valkosaari
Kvænangen
Naavuono
Návuonna
North Sami
Lakselv
Lemmijoki
Leavdnja
North Sami
Lakselva
Lemmijoki
Leavdnjajohka
North Sami
Lofoten
Lofootit
Lufuohttá
North Sami
Lyngen
Jyykeä
Finnish Lyngen or Jyykeä
Lyngen (Lyngenfjorden)
Lyngenvuono or
Yykeänvuono
Kven
Malangen
Malankivuono
Nathorst Land
Nathorstinmaa
Neidenfjorden
Näätämönvuono
Njávdámvuonna
North Sami
Nordaustlandet
Koillismaa
Nordenskiöldbreen
Nordenskiöldin jäätikkö
Nordenskiöldbukta
Nordenskiöldinlahti
Nordenskiöld Land
Nordenskiöldinmaa
Nordkinnhalvøya
Nordkinnin niemimaa
Nordreisa
Raisi
Ráisa
North Sami
Ofotfjorden
Ofotvuono
Ufuohttá
North Sami
Olav V Land
Olav V:n maa
Olgastretet
Olgansalmi
Oscar II Land
Oscar II:n maa
Oslofjorden
Oslonvuono
Peter I Øy
Pietari I:n saari
Polmak
Pulmanki
Buolbmát
North Sami
Porsanger
Porsanki
Porsáŋgu
North Sami
Porsangerfjorden
Porsanginvuono
Porsáŋgguvuotna
North Sami
Porsangerhalvøya
Porsangin niemimaa
Prins Karls Forland
Prinssi Kaarlen etumaa
Prins Harald Kyst
Prinssi Haraldin rannikko
Prins Oscars Land
Prinssi Oscarin maa
Prinsesse Ragnhild Kyst
Prinsessa Ragnhildin rannikko
Sjuøyane
Seitsensaaret
Skibotn
Jyykeänperä
Yykeänperä
Kven
Finnish Skibotn or Jyykeänperä
Sognefjorden
Sognevuono
Spitsbergen
Länsimaa
Svalbard
Huippuvuoret
Sværholthalvøya
Sværholtin niemimaa
Sørkapp Land
Sørkappinmaa
Sør-Varanger
Etelä-Varanki
Tana
Teno
Deatnu
North Sami
Tana bru
Tenonsilta
Deanušaldi
North Sami
Finnish Tana bru or Tenonsilta
Tanafjorden
Tenonvuono
Deanuvuotna
North Sami
Torell Land
Torellinmaa
Tromsø
Tromssa
Romsa
North Sami
Trondheimsfjorden
Trondheiminvuono
Ullsfjorden
Moskivuono
Olggosvuotna
North Sami
Finnish Ullsfjorden or Moskivuono
Vadsø
Vesisaari
Čáhcesuolu
North Sami
Varangerfjorden
Varanginvuono
Varenkinvuono
Kven
Varangerhalvøya
Varangin niemimaa
Varenkinniemi
Kven
Vardø
Vuoreija
Vuorea
Kven
Vesterbotn
Lemmivuono
Leavdnjavuotna
North Sami
Vestfjorden
Länsivuono
Vestre Jakobselv
Annijoki
Ánnejohka
North Sami
Wedel Jarlsberg Land
Wedel Jarlsbergin maa
For further names, see Finnish exonyms for places in Norway .
Poland
Poland Puola
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Kraków
Krakova
Kraków
Polish
Warsaw
Varsova
Warzawa
Polish
Vistula River
Veiksel
Wisła
Polish
Portugal
Portugal Portugali
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Lisbon
Lissabon
Lisboa
Portuguese
Romania
Romania
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Bucharest
Bukarest
București
Romanian
Russia
Note that Finnish was formerly an official language in the Republic of Karelia and is still widely used there, and some places in what was Finnish territory until World War II have been given new Russian names; thus, Finnish names of Karelian places are not all strictly exonyms.
Russia Venäjä
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Apatity
Apatiitti
Arkhangelsk
Arkangeli, Vienankaupunki
Архангельск / Arkhangelsk
Russian
Belomorsk
Sorokka
Beloostrov
Valkeasaari
Bolshaya Izhora
Haisevaisi
Bolshoy Tyuters
Tytärsaari
Borisoglebsky
Kolttaköngäs
Борисоглебский / Borisoglebsky
Russian
Chudovo
Tšudovo, Tiutova
Gatchina
Hatsina
Gubanicy
Kupanitsa
Hogland, Gogland
Suursaari
Ivangorod
Iivananlinna
Izhora
Inkere
Kamennogorsk
Antrea
Kandalakshi
Kantalahti, Kannanlahti
Kem
(Vienan) Kemi
Kingisepp
Jaama
Kirovsk
Hiipinä
Kobrino
Koprina
Kola
Kuola
Kolpany
Kolppana
Koltushi
Keltto
Komarovo
Kellomäki
Комарово / Komarovo
Russian
Kondopoga
Kontupohja
Kondupohju
Karelian
Koporka
Kaprionjoki
Koporye
Kaprio
Kostomuksha
Kostamus
Koštamuš
Karelian
Kotlin
Retusaari
Kotly
Kattila
Kovdor
Koutero
Kovdozero
Kananen
Kronstadt
Kronstadt, Kronstatti
Кронштадт / Kronshtadt
Russian
Kurovitsy
Kukkosi
Kukkuzi
Votic
Kuyto
Kuittijärvet
Kuzyomkino
Kosemkina, Narvusi
Lake Ilmen
Ilmajärvi
Lake Kolvitskoye
Kolvitsanjärvi
Lake Kovdozero
Koutajärvi
Lake Keret
Kierettijärvi
Lake Lämmi
Kuumajärvi
Tyopoloye ozero
Russian
Lake Ladoga
Laatokka, Nevajärvi
Lake Leksozero
Lieksajärvi
Lake Lovozero
Luujärvi
Lake Nyuk
Nuokkijärvi
Lake Onega
Ääninen, Äänisjärvi
Änine, Änižjärv
Veps
Oniegu(-järve)
Karelian
Lake Pyaozero
Pääjärvi
Lake Segozero
Seesjärvi
Lake Syamozero
Säämäjärvi
Seämärvi
Karelian
Lake Topozero
Tuoppajärvi
Lake Tolvayarvi
Tolvajärvi
Lake Tulos
Tuulijärvi
Lake Yaglyarvi
Ägläjärvi
Lake Yanisyarvi
Jänisjärvi
Lake Vodlozero
Vodlajärvi
Lake Vygozero
Uikujärvi
Lebyazhye
Lepäsi
Лебяжье / Lebyazhye
Lembolovo
Lempaala
Liinakhamari
Liinahamari
Лиинахамари / Liinakhamari
Russian
Lisino
Liissilä
Lodeynoye Pole
Lotinapelto, Pellonlinna
Luga
Laukaa, Ylä-Laukaa
Markovo
Markkova, Loppi, Lopenkolkka
Martyshkino
Tyrö
Medvezhyegorsk
Karhumäki
Karhumägi
Karelian
Mga
Namkku[ 7]
Moloskovitsy
Valkeakirkko, Moloskovitsa
Moscow
Moskova
Москва / Moskva
Russian
Moshchny
Lavansaari
Murmansk
Muurmanni, Muurmanski
Nikel
Nikkeli, Kolosjoki
Никель / Nikel
Russian
Nikolskoye
Lomkka
Nikulyasy
Miikkulainen
Novaya Ladoga
Uusi-Laatokka, Uusi Laatokankaupunki
Novosyolki
Novasolkka
Nyenschantz
Nevanlinna
Nyenskans, Nyen
Swedish
Former Swedish Ingrian town and fortress
Olonets
Aunuksenkaupunki, Aunuksenlinna, Aunus
Anuksenlinnu
Karelian
Onega
Ääninen
Oranienbaum
Kaarosta
Osinovaya Rossha
Haapakangas
Pechenga
Petsamo
Печенга / Pechenga
Russian
Pechory
Petseri
Petergof
Pietarhovi, Kuusoja
Petrozavodsk
Petroskoi; Äänislinna
Latter name used during 1941–1944
Povenets
Poventsa
Povenča
Karelian
Priozersk
Käkisalmi
Pskov
Pihkova
Pudozh
Puudosi, Puutoinen, Puudoži
Pudož
Veps
Puudoži
Karelian
Repino
Kuokkala
Ropsha
Ropsu
Ryabovo
Rääpyvä
Saint Petersburg
Pietari
Санкт-Петербург / Sankt-Peterburg
Russian
Segezha
Sege(h)e, Seke(h)e
Seskar
Seiskari
Siberia
Siperia
Сибирь / Sibir
Russian
Sestroretsk
Siestarjoki
Shlisselburg
Pähkinälinna, Pähkinäsaari
Schlüsselburg
German
Shlisselburg Fortress
Pähkinäsaaren linna
Oreshek
Russian
Skvoritsy
Skuoritsa, Kuoritsa
Slavyanka
Venjoki
Soikino
Soikkola
Sosnovy Bor
Uustia
Staraya Ladoga
Laatokankaupunki, Laatokanlinna, Vanha-Laatokka
Stolbovo
Stolbova
Svetogorsk
Enso
Svir
Syväri
Svobodnoye
Kirvu
Syas
Säsjoki
Tikhvin
Tihvinä
Tikhvinka river
Tihvinänjoki
Toksovo
Toksova
Tosno
Tusina, Tosna
Tyaglino
Tääkeli, Tääkkeli
Ust-Luga
Laukaansuu
Volkhov
Olhava
Vsevolozhsk
Seuloskoi
Vuoly
Vuole
Vyborg
Viipuri
Viborg
Swedish
Vyborgskiy zaliv
Viipurinlahti
Vyg
Uikujoki
Yarvosol
Järvisaari
Zelenogorsk
Terijoki
Zemlyanoye
Pummanki
Zherebyatki
Serepetta
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Saudi-Arabia
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Mecca
Mekka
Makkah
Arabic
Riyadh
Riad
Riyaḍ
Arabic
Serbia
Serbia
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Belgrade
Belgrad
Beograd
Serbian
South Africa
Spain
Spain Espanja
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Tenerife
Teneriffa
Tenerife
Spanish
Sweden
Northern Sweden has a Finnish/Meänkieli -speaking minority and thus some place names are derived from Finnish, making them not exonyms. There are several more Finnish place names in this area.
Several place names of genuinely Swedish places, more than these, have been modified due to the much differing Finnish pronunciation principles. Meänkieli names have usually been slightly modified when picked up by Swedish language. Some Meänkieli names, at least closer to the mountains, were originally Sami, but were modified when picked up into Finnish.
Sweden Ruotsi
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Dalecarlia
Taalainmaa
Dalarna
Swedish
Gällivare
Jällivaara, Jellivaara
Gällivare
Swedish
Jellivaara is the Meänkieli form
Haparanda
Haaparanta
Haparanda
Swedish
* Founded with Finnish name
Jokkmokk
Jokimukka
Jokkmokk
Swedish
Founded with Sami name
Kalix
Kainuu
Kalix
Swedish
*
Karesuando
Karesuvanto
Karesuando
Swedish
* Founded with Finnish name
Kiruna
Kiiruna
Kiruna
Swedish
* Founded with Finnish name
Korpilombolo
Korpilompolo
Korpilombolo
Swedish
*
Luleå
Luulaja
Luleå
Swedish
Överkalix
Ylikainuu
Överkalix
Swedish
*
Övertorneå
Matarenki
Övertorneå
Swedish
*
Piteå
Piitime
Piteå
Swedish
Scania
Skoone
Skåne
Swedish
Stockholm
Tukholma
Stockholm
Swedish
Svanstein
Turtola
Svanstein
Swedish
*
Tärendö
Täräntö
Tärendö
Swedish
* Founded with Finnish name
Umeå
Uumaja
Umeå
Swedish
Uppsala
Upsala
Uppsala
Swedish
* marks place names in traditionally Finnish/Meänkieli -speaking areas.
Syria
Syria Syyria
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Damascus
Damaskos
Dimašq
Arabic
Latakia
Lattakia
Al-Laḏiqiyah
Arabic
Turkey
Turkey Turkki
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Istanbul
Konstantinopoli
İstanbul
Turkish
historic
Konstantinoúpolis
Greek
Troy
Troija
Truva (Troya)
Turkish
ancient city
Ukraine
Ukraine Ukraina
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Kharkiv
Harkova
Kharkiv
Ukrainian
Kyiv
Kiova
Kyiv
Ukrainian
Poltava
Pultava
Poltava
Ukrainian
United Kingdom
United Kingdom Iso-Britannia
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
London
Lontoo
London
English
United States
United States Yhdysvallat
English name
Finnish name
Endonym
Notes
Name
Language
Hawai'i
Havaiji
Hawai'i
Hawai'ian
See also
References
