Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. Many places in the country have different names in Finnish and Swedish, both being official endonyms.
English name (often the same as the Finnish name) | Finnish name | Swedish name |
---|---|---|
Central Finland | Keski-Suomi | Mellersta Finland |
Central Ostrobothnia | Keski-Pohjanmaa | Mellersta Österbotten |
Kainuu | Kainuu | Kajanaland |
Kymenlaakso | Kymenlaakso | Kymmenedalen |
Lapland | Lappi | Lappland |
North Karelia | Pohjois-Karjala | Norra Karelen |
North Ostrobothnia | Pohjois-Pohjanmaa | Norra Österbotten |
Pohjois-Savo | Pohjois-Savo | Norra Savolax |
Ostrobothnia | Pohjanmaa | Österbotten |
Päijät-Häme | Päijät-Häme | Päijänne-Tavastland |
Pirkanmaa | Pirkanmaa | Birkaland |
Satakunta | Satakunta | Satakunta |
South Karelia | Etelä-Karjala | Södra Karelen |
South Ostrobothnia | Etelä-Pohjanmaa | Södra Österbotten |
Etelä-Savo | Etelä-Savo | Södra Savolax |
Southwest Finland | Varsinais-Suomi | Egentliga Finland |
Kanta-Häme | Kanta-Häme | Egentliga Tavastland |
Uusimaa | Uusimaa | Nyland |
Åland[1] | Ahvenanmaa | Åland |
Some Finnish municipalities with endonyms in both Finnish and Swedish, the majority language of the municipality stands first:
In addition to Helsinki other bilingual towns and municipalities in Finland often have bilingual names for districts, villages, and places in nature, such as lakes and rivers. Some examples are: