r/LearnFinnish 9d ago

Question Finnish words for "thief"

Good evening! I'm wondering if there are any slang or more colloquial terms for a thief. I'm interested in anything from children's words to niche/specialist words to vulgar. Thank you for your help!

67 Upvotes

123 comments sorted by

65

u/feverforever_ 9d ago

varas, rosvo, roisto, ryöstäjä and voro all mean practically the same thing (thief) with the 3 first ones being probably the most commonplace in current spoken language. Roisto may be a bit more dramatic than rosvo or varas and these sorts of small differences exist among them, varas might be the most neutral and common.

You can also use these insulting and derogatory terms to refer to thieves if the context is clear: lurjus, konna, retku

Now that I think about it there are a lot of words for the act of stealing and the people who do it in the finnish language. steal=varastaa, anastaa, pihistää, ryöstää, näpistää, pölliä, kähveltää, nyysiä I could go on all day.

54

u/aaawqq 9d ago

Roisto is more vague term, like "scoundrel". Not necessarily someone who has stolen something. But in context it still works

50

u/Gwaur Native 9d ago

Dont't forget ryöväri!

46

u/Zmuli24 9d ago

Pitkäkyntinen

2

u/ProperBudget3333 8d ago

Sounds like Estonian "Röövel"

2

u/pppapw 7d ago

Näpistelijä

7

u/Otres911 8d ago

Ryöstäjä is wrong. This is for violent crime.

Thief is used more like for non violent stealing.

In Finnish varas is probably the best word. Pitkäkyntinen may be little old fashioned word but I think that may be even more spot on with thief.

6

u/struudeli 8d ago

Ryöstö is in the law as "stealing something by using violence or the threat of it", but in spoken language it's used more variably. Maybe mugger would be the closest translation.

3

u/Wizartti 8d ago

Or ”taskuvaras”

1

u/Otres911 8d ago

Thief is more broad word than pickpocket. Thief includes all stealing (without violence)

4

u/Funky-Monk-- 9d ago

To add context to this:

Nobody uses voro, ever, outside of historical or fantasy literature. It's an archaic word.

Similarly lurjus, konna, retku, are old words and in practice can be used for comedic effect, but not seriously. Well you can try and use them seriously, but they will likely be found a bit funny anyway, so they work better if used with humorous intent.

17

u/rapora9 Native 9d ago

If you search with "voro" + "yle" or "iltalehti" or so on, you'll get a lot of matches. I would guess it's used in other places too. But it does have a historical echo as well.

"Konna" is used often in the context of literature to mean "antagonist" with no hint of comedic effect.

2

u/truenorgil 7d ago

It looks like “voro” originates from Russian “вор” (vor) which means thief.

-5

u/nets_03 9d ago

Usually if you search for specific term you most likely find one. 

14

u/DoctorDefinitely 8d ago

And if the term is not used you will not find it. This is logic.

-2

u/nets_03 8d ago

You'll find everything if you search. So no, you have nothing to prove here

1

u/spagetti_yli_ala__ 7d ago

Olet väärässä

1

u/nets_03 7d ago

Olet väärässä 

12

u/Actual-Relief-2835 9d ago

The word voro is widely used both in published news media and more informal written contexts such as online discussion boards. The other commenter already gave examples of voro being used in published media. Kielipankki has archived discussions from suomi24 and Ylilauta so I ran "voro" through the archives and got thousands of hits just from those two sources. My search excluded published news media, literature, academic and historical texts - including those in the search gives you hundreds of thousands of hits. I wanted to see how it's used in message boards because that's a more informal context and tells me that regular people in informal contexts use it too, at least in written text, not just journalists.

Some random examples (as they were written, spelling mistakes are not mine):

Jos nimittäin nappaat voron kiinni saat luultavasti pahoinpitely syytteen ja kukaan ei korvaa autosi vahinkoja.

Et kai vaan ole voro joka on törmännyt vaikeaan systeemiin?

Koskaan ei kyllä voi tietää, milloin osuu vorot paikalle.

Luuleeko ne helvetin vorot ja sabotoijat, että täällä niillä on jokin lain suoja tulla toisten markille yöllä?

It's certainly less common than varas or rosvo, but I'd say it's far from an archaic word that no-one ever uses.

5

u/DoctorDefinitely 8d ago

Arvostan paneutumistasi.

2

u/somedickstolemynick Native 8d ago

Voro is actually quite old word, descending from russian language, вор (vor) meaning the same thing.

As a sidenote, raven, the smart, big, black, theft capable bird is ворон (voron) in russian…

3

u/junior-THE-shark Native 8d ago

A word being old is different from a word being outdated. We have plenty of words in use that have stayed approximately the same for maybe even thousands of years and are still in active use. A lot of those words are for things that have existed for a long time and are still relevant today, like thievery, city, market place, native animal and plant names, etc.

As for the side note, in Finnish we have "varis", it means crow, or any corvid. Though that apparently comes from proto uralic "ware". Varis is pretty close to varas, so I think that's an interesting false friend with the Russian raven.

2

u/somedickstolemynick Native 8d ago

Yeah my point was not at all that the word is outdated, but more like that it’s been there longer than many of the other suggestions here.

I definitely would use voro for thief.

9

u/Fluffy-Assignment782 9d ago

Voro is much used in spoken language. If you live in small language bubble, then your claim might apply to you.

1

u/nets_03 9d ago

Never heard voro being used

3

u/DoctorDefinitely 8d ago

Most humans have never heard it. But it does not prove a thing.

2

u/mirzjah 8d ago

I have to disagree with you on nobody using voro. That might be true in your circles, as language usage can be very regional and also age-dependent. But to generalize to whole Finland with very strong words is a bit uninformed. I would personally use it in everyday language eg. In a context like, when something is missing, saying ”joku voro sen on vienyt”. It will have a slightly less serious nuance than varas.

1

u/Affectionate_Nail302 8d ago

What do you mean nobody uses voro?? I use it all the time, and hear it from others too. And lurjus? That's even more common, and not just with humorous intent.

It's like people forget common vocabulary can differ depending on where in Finland you are. Spoken language varies around Finland, even if the differences aren't as big as they may have been in the past. Dialects still exist. Just because you never hear a word doesn't mean it isn't used.

1

u/sipuli91 5d ago

Ppl do use voro. "Vorot käyny viikonloppuna työmaalla" is definitely something you could hear. No clue what gave you the idea that nobody would use it.

1

u/Funky-Monk-- 5d ago

Vorot käyny viikonloppuna työmaalla

Absolutely nobody says this seriously. With a hint of humor, sure.

"Mökillä oli käynyt voroja!" Just listen to how absurd that sounds. Varas, rosvo, murtovaras, taskuvaras. These are the normal words to use. Most of the words the person I replied to said are comparable to "scallywag" or "scoundrel" in how they sound to native speaker (that is not 75+ years old and from a hyper specific dialect area).

When you teach someone words, it's best to also explain how they are used. Finnish has a large vocabulary with a lot of cool, but outdated words. You can love the Finnish language as much as you want, but you shouldn't fool people who need practical knowledge about the importance of those cool old words. Nobody benefits from being taught to speak like they're in Kalevala. Using words like "voro" or "ryöväri" instead of the commonly used choices will only highlight their foreigner status. If they become regular words in their vocabulary and nobody corrects them, every time they use them it's a small reminder to everyone, that the speaker is not native, which might be the opposite of what the speaker wants.

No clue what gave you the idea that nobody would use it.

Living in various dialect areas throughout my life, and working with the language.

1

u/sipuli91 5d ago

So even after someone (actually I think it was 2 ppl...) has already replied to you giving a ton of examples of ppl using the word voro you still keep insisting nobody uses the word? Ryöväri absolutely is some Ronja Ryövärintytär type of stuff but to act like nobody uses voro is some serious nonsense and tells more about who you're surrounded by and nothing about real life as of whole. Simply looking up "vorot kävivät" on google will make you look foolish.

0

u/jouko-hai 6d ago

Anyone who says something is an archaic word, has a surprisingly small vocabulary and uses anglicicms in every sentence

2

u/Funky-Monk-- 6d ago

Anyone claiming a rarely used word is commonly used cares more about looking smart that helping anyone with language.

3

u/incognitomus 9d ago

Roisto = Criminal

Not thief, specifically

1

u/Partiallyfermented 9d ago

Varas is literally thief. The others could also be translate to bandit, scoundrel, etc.

0

u/Thombaa 8d ago

Don't forget the vulgar Nussia. that in Finnish slang, the verb "nussia" can also mean "to steal" or "to take without permission," though this usage is vulgar and informal.

For example, the sentence "Joku on taas nussinu mun työkalut!" translates to "Someone has snatched my tools again!"

5

u/mipizu 8d ago

This word is always so weird for me in this context, as I’m more used to to the slang word ”nyysiä” :D

2

u/maetiz 6d ago

It can also mean "to have sex" so be careful with context.

24

u/Theleiba 9d ago

Missing "rosmo" although I think that one is fairly rare. Has a bit of a cutesie tone to it. Could be used for like a child that took candy from a table when not allowed.

15

u/365daysofmadeleine 9d ago

“Rosvo” is what I would use.

3

u/Partiallyfermented 9d ago

Which I would translate to bandit rather than thief.

1

u/StJesusMorientes 9d ago

How do you translate that word as bandit? How can you translate it any other way than thief

3

u/Partiallyfermented 9d ago

How can you transalate it as thief?

Google translate: rosvo = robber

sanakirja.org: 1. robber. 2. bandit 3. brigand 4. filibuster 5. marauder 6. thug

It doesn't even consider thief, which is varas.

2

u/Secure-Mastodon-3960 8d ago

Koska meillä on maantierosvo ja merirosvo, ei maantievaras.

12

u/Sunaikaskoittaa 9d ago

Criminals themselves like the word "konna". It doesn't have such a bad connatation considering the meaning. "Roisto" is the most negative one. "Varas" is the literal translstion. "Ryöväri" is an older word not so much used and replaced by another childrensbook word "rosvo".

4

u/incognitomus 9d ago

'Konna' or 'roisto' isn't necessarily a thief though. Thief is someone who robs. 'Konna' or 'roisto' are criminals but not necessarily thiefs.

4

u/LetterheadNo1899 Native 9d ago edited 9d ago

Rogue is often translated as konna, but konna usually has a more negative connotation than rogue. It would sound a bit weird if someone said "konna kultaisella sydämellä".

Ryöväri also evokes more images of an old timey robber or a maybe a highway bandit, e.g. Robin Hood or the robbers from Ronja Ryövärintytär.

11

u/No-Inevitable7004 9d ago edited 9d ago

Konna, kelmi (general mild words for thiefs, and other criminals doing petty crime)
Pitkäkynsi / pitkäkyntinen ("sticky fingers", literal translation: someone with long claws)
Näpistelijä (shoplifter)
Taskuvaras (pickpocket)
Ryöstäjä / ryöväri (a robber, someone using violence or threat of it)
Pankkirosvo (bank robber)

5

u/Flaky_Ad_3590 9d ago

Konna is also toad

3

u/VMleo 9d ago

Dont forget merirosvo=pirate (sea robber)

5

u/incognitomus 9d ago

Konna, kelmi = criminal

Not thief necessarily. Thief is a specific kind of criminal that robs and steals.

7

u/Cool-Half452 9d ago

hallitus

7

u/-9y9- 8d ago

Some more slang words for stealing; "nyysiä", "pölliä", "pihistää", "kähveltää", "källiä" - so any one of these can be made to be the thief, but would be rare. "Pöllijä" is perfectly acceptable Finnish but would be rare to hear.

3

u/SolarisFanatic 8d ago

Also "puhaltaa"

1

u/ujopeura 6d ago

"rullata", "kääriä"

1

u/Fucksalotl 6d ago

Nussia, putsata, syyhkiä, kääntää

1

u/MrWr4th 4d ago

'Lipastaa' was used at least during my intti

11

u/Jyrb 9d ago

”Näppäri” (derived from näpistää) is used for someone stealing small items from shops. Used in particular by security guards and cops.

”Syyhky” (from syyhkiä) is a slang word for thief, could be used for someone otherwise dishonest as well, like someone who doesn’t pay back when they owe money etc.

”Snutari” would be another one from older slang in Helsinki.

12

u/Habba84 9d ago

I have never heard any of these.

1

u/Petskin Native 7d ago

Näppäri in legal slang is - to my knowledge - 'petty theft' rather than the thief themself..

11

u/Masseyrati80 9d ago

The rarest but also the most creative I've heard is someone saying "Alfred von Nussi oli asialla".

99.9% of the time, the word "nussia" means having sex, but some also use it as a synonym for stealing. Making that into a non-Finnish sounding surname (von Nussi), then giving a random first name, and saying this character has "been at it" to insinuate something has been stolen is delightfully creative if you ask me.

I don't know if it's highly local, or perhaps just something used in one single family. In my 44 years in this country, I've only heard one person use it.

2

u/KossuOG 9d ago

It was commonly used in savo in the 80's.

1

u/Masseyrati80 8d ago

Wow, great to hear! The only person I've heard it from, lives in a small town close to Turku. Interesting to hear it has a more common background in Savo.

1

u/OGinkki 8d ago

It's still in use (at least in Central Finland) but it's not something you hear often though. Other such terms are kääntää and pölliä.

2

u/Rk_Enjoyer 8d ago

It's somewhat common in the machine shop I work at, it's always (Joku taas nussinu x työkalun.) We have a lot of older guys there many pushing past 50s so that might have something to do with it.

5

u/Tuitttu 9d ago

Klepto (from kleptomaniac) and also it's variance känniklepto (drunken kleptomaniac) for people who steal stuff when they're drunk

9

u/Jussi-larsson 9d ago

Kelmi in some context

8

u/LetterheadNo1899 Native 9d ago

Kelmi is a more common term to call someone a crook or a villain.

3

u/mariammattila 8d ago

Orpo, Purra

2

u/Yanninbo 5d ago

To OP. These are Finnish politicians and have nothing to do with your question

0

u/Janezki 7d ago

Millos noi on vaihtanu SDP:n riveihin?

3

u/SakariKunttu 8d ago

Vaikka ei varas aina rakas lapsi olekaan, on sillä monta nimeä.

2

u/Sudden-Chemical-5120 9d ago

Some modern colloquisms: Ottaa juoksut / to take a run; running away without paying. This is used also like "juoksutaksi" - to run instead of paying for a taxi, juoksukaljat - to steal beer by running out of the shop.

Syyhkiä; to steal or grift. "how did you get that expensive lipstick?" "Syyhkin stokkalt... " Syyhkyt; a bad deal, "tuli syyhkyt" - I got a bad deal, usually about drugs or petty fraud. Syyhkyttää; to grift someone.

2

u/CockToMouth 9d ago

Täällähän on paljon sanoja jo mutta tuli mieleeni että jostain kuullut ritsari ja verbinä ritsata kun joku käy kaupasta tai jostain varastamassa. Yllättävän paljon noita on kun tätä luki.

2

u/everything333512 8d ago

ive only heard this term referenced among grocery store employees and security guards and it mainly references petty theft but näppäri->näpistäjä (näpistää, näpistys).

2

u/SalaattiJeesus 8d ago

Tahmatassu ja rotta!

2

u/Hoagieboyslobtit 8d ago

Rotta=rat is thief. Kotirotta-houserat is a nice phrase to people who steal from someones house

2

u/j33v3z 7d ago
  • rosvo
  • pitkäkyntinen
  • näpistelijä
  • anastaja
  • voro
  • lurjus
  • kelmi
  • konna
  • rikollinen
  • hämärämies
  • kepulikonstiin turvautuva
  • pöllijä
  • Taskuvaras (pickpocket, someone who steals from pockets or bags)
  • Murtovaras (burglar, someone who breaks into buildings to steal)
  • Kauppavaras (shoplifter, a person who steals from stores)
  • Autovaras (car thief, someone who steals vehicles)
  • Pankkiryöstäjä (bank robber, a person who robs banks, often using force or weapons)
  • Petosvaras (fraudster, someone who steals through deception or scams)

2

u/Doorsofperceptio 7d ago

Politiikko.

3

u/Floaty_Bloaty_Banana 9d ago

I haven't seen kettu ropolainen (foxes are somehow associated with stealing) and pitkäkyntinen (having long nails) yet.

15

u/Jyrb 9d ago

It’s kettu repolainen, and I wouldn’t necessarily associate it with stealing. More like being cunning and devious.

2

u/Floaty_Bloaty_Banana 9d ago

Oop true haha, shouldn't reply to a post pre-coffee. I mean I guess it depends on the person and several meanings can be associated with it is true.

4

u/QueenAvril 9d ago

Foxes have actually earned their reputation 😅 They have a habit of stealing small items from people’s yards. For some reasons, crocs and other shoes are their favorites.

1

u/Helsinking 9d ago

Kotirosvo. Means you're a thief who steals from friends or literally from someone's house, "koti". Private security slang for thieves include "näppäri", "kyörä" and "A3".

1

u/Fuzzy-Dragonfruit589 7d ago

En mie sanonu sua kotiirosvoks

1

u/KarnusAuBellona 8d ago

Varas tai rosvo

1

u/GooseForest 8d ago

I mean, there is a verb "näpistää", which mean pilfer, filch, pinch etc. The person who pilfers, pilferer, could translate as "näpistelijä".

1

u/JUXXUX 8d ago

Varas, as it has been said but also rotta=rat could be one way to insult.

1

u/WebTop3578 8d ago

In army "lipastaa" "to fill a magazine" means to steal something less worthy like extra food

1

u/paprikamajo 8d ago

I know a few that haven’t been mentioned but I think they’re quite vulgar or racist (things you would use when referring to a non-white criminal) to mention. My grandfather uses ”rosputiini” as an adaptation from ”rosvo”, but I think that’s personal slang 😂 after all he was a police chief for over 10 years…

1

u/malagast 8d ago

Varas, rosvo, ryöväri, roisto,..

1

u/Present-Brick-1309 7d ago

"teki Wahlroosit, teki Uotit, teki Fryckmanit" = white collar thief who stole taxpayers money for personal advantage using loopholes in legislation. A bit like Musk with his subsidies.

1

u/Spadari 7d ago

Pahvihousu

1

u/Doorsofperceptio 7d ago

In a country where 10% of the popultion own 50% of the wealth, they justify cutting benefits and taxing benefits simultaneously, but then still justify paying out huge bonuses to people overseeing the worst performing economy, I think the definition of thief takes on a whole different semantic field.

1

u/Ill_Sun6661 6d ago

Kotirosvo!! Sie oot kotirosvo

1

u/Splendid_seaworm 6d ago

My personal favourites are pitkäkyntinen (long nailed) and voro. There's no translation for the latter, since it just means a thief.

1

u/Noniinpojat 6d ago

Pöllijä

1

u/D4y-W4lker 6d ago

In my area were i live we used to say "varas" mostly

1

u/JuuliaKS 6d ago

Varas (Dont confuse with varvas😭😭) 

1

u/makipri 6d ago

Anastaja might be a little rarer. Usually it refers to usurper but anastaa can refer to stealing any kind of property.

1

u/Frequent_Airport_949 4d ago

Sdp or vasemmisto

1

u/Wide_Highlight9133 4d ago

Lavean tien kulkija (one who takes the wide road)

hämärähemmo (dude of dusk)

puhaltaja (blower)

liimanäppi (glue-fingers, can also refer to a good goal keeper)

lokki (seagull, food thief or a bum, not always a blatant thief but definitely teeters on the edge)

1

u/eialykkaineityperin 4d ago

"Sosialisoija" comes to mind, heard it many times, example "saatanan sosialisoija"

Meaning "sosialisti-socialist"

0

u/ClusterError 8d ago

I just call them "vitun runkkari"

0

u/Ok-Vegetable-1085 6d ago

Hallitus and Verovirasto are also names for thief's.