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sisu. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
sisu, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
sisu in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
sisu you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
Borrowed from Finnish sisu, documented in English since at least 1940.
Pronunciation
Noun
sisu (uncountable)
- Strength of will in the face of adversity; grit; perseverance; regarded as an integral part of Finnish culture.
1940 January 8, “Northern Theatre:Sisu”, in Time Magazine:Last week the Finns gave the world a good example of sisu by carrying the war into Russian territory on one front while on another they withstood merciless attacks by a reinforced Russian Army.
1999, Norma J. Livo, George O. Livo, The Enchanted Wood and Other Tales from Finland, →ISBN, page 5:People living in northern climates need plenty of sisu.
2016, Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, →ISBN:We agreed there was a pressing need for a systematic investigation of sisu, how Finns think about it, how it is propagated.
2016, Katie Falkowski, GRIND: Greatness Rises in Each New Day: Get up, Show up, and Grind, →ISBN:Life requires all of us to have a certain level of sisu when things get tough, which they inevitably will.
See also
- sumud (similar Palestinian concept)
References
Anagrams
Estonian
Etymology
From sise- + -u. Cognate with Finnish sisu.
Noun
sisu (genitive sisu, partitive sisu)
- content, something that is inside
Declension
Derived terms
Finnish
Etymology
From sisä- (“inner”) + -u. Originally referred to one's physical interior (compare sisus, sisusta), hence the meaning 'core; spirit' and thus 'courage, determination'. Compare Estonian sisu (“content”) and the development of English guts.
Pronunciation
Noun
sisu
- perseverance, doggedness, stubbornness, grit, stamina, spunk, determination, courage, guts (unwavering strength to keep going when the going gets tough)
Voimamme olivat aivan lopussa, mutta jatkoimme pelkällä sisulla.- We were completely exhausted but continued out of pure determination / to spite fate.
Hänellä on paljon sisua. Luulen, että hän jaksaa siksi juosta pitkään.’’- He has a lot of stamina. I suppose that is why he can run for a long time.
Onko sinulla sisua sanoa "ei" pomollesi?- Do you have the guts to say "no" to your boss?
- sisu, often with the attribute suomalainen (“Finnish”) (strength of will in the face of adversity; grit; perseverance; regarded as an integral part of Finnish culture)
2011, Onni Palaste, Talvisodan ääniä [Voices of the Winter War], WSOY, →ISBN:Kymmenkertaisella jalkaväen ylivoimalla, kymmenkertaisen tykistömäärän tukemana ja 150 hyökkäysvaunun voimalla vihollinen avasi tietä jalkaväelle, vastassaan vain suomalainen sisu.- With tenfold superiority in number of troops, backed with a tenfold amount of artillery and with a force of 150 tanks, the enemy opened the passage for its infantry, opposed only by the famous Finnish sisu.
1967, Jörn Donner, Uusi Maammekirja, Otava, page 54:En tiedä, kuka ja ketkä ovat vastuussa siitä, että Suomen saavutusten uskotaan olevan sisun aikaansaannosta. Sotakorvauksia on pidetty sellaisena, mutta myös 1950—60 -lukujen vaihteessa tapahtunutta teollisuuden laajentumista. Haluan varoittaa sinua: kaikki tämä on pelkkää myyttiä, jolla ei ole mitään tekemistä todellisuuden kanssa. Kestävyys ei ole tässä maassa sen suurempaa kuin muuallakaan.- I don't know who is responsible for the idea that all Finnish achievements are believed to be due to the famous Finnish sisu. These have included the payment of war reparations, but also the expansion of industry that took place at the turn 1950s and 1960s. I want to warn you: all this is a mere myth, which has nothing to do with reality. Perseverance isn't any greater in this country than elsewhere.
- temper (tendency to be of a certain type of mood, especially of a bad or defiant one)
Komentelu kävi hänen sisulleen.- The bossing tried his temper.
Declension
Synonyms
Derived terms
Further reading
Anagrams
Kavalan
Etymology
From Proto-Austronesian *susu.
Noun
sisu
- (anatomy) breast
Kilivila
Verb
-sisu-
- to live
- to exist, to be
Idioms
References
- ^ Gunter Senft (1986), Kilivila: the Language of the Trobriand Islanders. Berlin • New York • Amsterdam: Mouton de Gruyter, p. 370. →ISBN
Lala (South Africa)
Noun
sísu
- belly, stomach
Phuthi
Noun
sísu class 7 (plural tísu class 8)
- stomach
Inflection
This noun needs an inflection-table template.
Spanish
Noun
sisu m
- sissoo
Swazi
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
sísu class 7 (plural tísu class 8)
- stomach
- pregnancy
Inflection
This noun needs an inflection-table template.