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Finnic

Finnic

9.9
A group of languages like Finnish and Estonian spoken near the Baltic Sea
  • noun
  • /ˈfɪnɪk/
  • Specialized
: fínnico
  • The Finnic languages, such as Finnish and Estonian, are spoken by millions in Northern Europe.

Examples

  • The other historical peoples of Baltic-Finnic stock, the Vots, Izhorians, southern Karelians, and Vepsians, maintained their intrinsic identity.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The name of the Moskva River from which the town got its name is not of Slavic but of Finnic origin.

    Academic text (2000)
  • During the Middle Ages, two Finnic tribes, the Mer and the Muromians, assimilated into the surrounding Russian culture and language.

    Academic text (2000)
  • In the oral poetry of the Udmurts—also of Finnic-Permian affiliation—moko is a taboo name for bear, the sacred animal.

    Academic text (2000)
  • In the Russian and Finnic traditions, laments continued, but the context of their recitative text shifted from an emphasis on the shelter-giving and cherishing mother figure of pre-Christian times to the powerful Queen of Heaven in Christian liturgy.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The tradition of laments emerged, one of the favorite folk traditions practiced by Baltic-Finnic peoples around the eastern and southern coasts of the Baltic Sea, also in use among other Finno-Ugrian ethnic groups.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The Finnic tribes have a rich cultural heritage that is distinct from their neighboring groups.

  • Many people study the Finnic branch of the Finno-Ugric language family to understand its unique characteristics.

Synonyms

Non-Ugric
vsFinnic
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of Finno-Ugric languages including Finnish and Estonian but not Hungarian

is the positive label for the same branch
Fennic
vsFinnic
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of related languages that includes Finnish and Estonian but not Hungarian

is limited to just Finnish and Estonian

Compounds

Baltic-Finnic
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of languages spoken around the Baltic Sea, for example Finnish and Estonian

Surface Forms

Finnic singular
Finnics plural

Morphology

Finnic = Finn (transparent) = Finn + ic

Derived by adding the common adjectival suffix '-ic' to 'Finn' meaning 'relating to Finns', a derivation likely recoverable by learners who know 'Finn' and '-ic'.

Etymology

The word Finnic comes from the name Finn, for the people of Finland and nearby groups, plus the ending -ic which means 'related to', as in historic meaning 'related to history'. So Finnic means 'related to the Finns' and is used for the group of languages like Finnish and Estonian.