juhla

Finnish

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *juhla (compare dialectal Estonian juhlad), borrowed from Proto-Germanic *jehwlą. Doublet of joulu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjuhlɑ/,
• Rhymes: -uhlɑ
• Syllabification^(key): juh‧la

Noun

juhla

1. (often in the plural) party, celebration, carnival, fiesta, jubilee (social gathering of usually invited guests for entertainment, fun and socializing)

   Pidän suuret juhlat 21-vuotispäivänäni.

   I'm throwing a huge party for my 21st birthday.

2. (in the plural) festival, fest (event or community gathering which centers on some theme)

   Savonlinnan oopperajuhlat ― the Savonlinna opera festival

3. (often in the plural) feast (very large meal, often of ceremonial nature)

   Pidimme juhlat sadonkorjuun kunniaksi.

   We had a feast to celebrate the harvest.

4. celebration (act, process of showing appreciation, gratitude and/or remembrance, notably as a social event)
5. feast (religious anniversary)
   • 1933, Bible, Exodus 13:6:

     [--] seitsemäntenä päivänä olkoon Herran juhla.

     he seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.

   • 1938, Bible, Luke 2:41:

     Ja hänen vanhempansa matkustivat joka vuosi Jerusalemiin pääsiäisjuhlille.

     Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover..

6. ceremony, occasion, function
7. (chiefly in fixed expressions) holiday

Usage notes

• The word can be used in either the plural or singular, but there is a difference in nuance. The singular form juhla is often used when the party is considered bigger, more public, more official or formal, or taking place at a more spacious venue. On the other hand, the plural form juhlat has a nuance that the party is private, informal or taking place at a smaller venue.

  Rehtori kiitti juhlassa koko koulua menneestä vuodesta. (singular)

  The principal thanked the whole school for the past year at the ceremony.

  Minun juhlissani oli 30 vierasta. (plural)

  I had 30 guests at my party.

Declension

Synonyms

Derived terms

Further reading

• “juhla”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎ (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-02

Anagrams

• halju