How to wish Finns a happy centenary?

April 12, 2017 10:48 AM

What's Finnish for 'Happy 100th Birthday Finland!', and is it appropriate?

A friend wants to print this on a t-shirt to wear on a trip.
Also, is 'birthday' the right word, as it's technically the centenary of independence.
If not, what would work better?

posted by pipeski to Writing & Language (4 answers total)

Well, the last of the Finnish speakers in my family has passed away but you might drop a line to these people Or one of the other Finnish-American societies around the US.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:15 PM on April 12, 2017

My Finnish is rusty, but qurlyjoe's first option is "100th birthday, Finland." Option two is "100 years, Finland." I'm not sure which would sound more correct in context because the first version is more literally about the day of birth, rather than the anniversary year. Happy might be translated as "hyvää" or "hauskaa" depending.

So, maybe not much help, but it's been three years since I even thought about Finnish. Apologies to Finns if I'm butchering your awesome language!
posted by eulily at 3:52 PM on April 12, 2017

Best answer: I'm Finnish. I would probably use: "Hyvää satavuotisjuhlaa, Suomi", which basically means "Happy centenary, Finland".
posted by baueri at 11:41 AM on April 13, 2017

Response by poster: Thanks baueri!
posted by pipeski at 2:26 AM on April 14, 2017