norsu
Finnish
Etymology
Originally synonym of mursu (“walrus”) [1], which is a loan from Northern Sami morša (“walrus”). Centuries ago, elephant was known in Finland only from stories for being a big, thick-skinned animal with handsome tusks, hence the initial confusion. The meanings differentiated around 18th century.
Pronunciation
Noun
norsu
Declension
Inflection of norsu (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation) | |||
---|---|---|---|
nominative | norsu | norsut | |
genitive | norsun | norsujen | |
partitive | norsua | norsuja | |
illative | norsuun | norsuihin | |
singular | plural | ||
nominative | norsu | norsut | |
accusative | nom. | norsu | norsut |
gen. | norsun | ||
genitive | norsun | norsujen | |
partitive | norsua | norsuja | |
inessive | norsussa | norsuissa | |
elative | norsusta | norsuista | |
illative | norsuun | norsuihin | |
adessive | norsulla | norsuilla | |
ablative | norsulta | norsuilta | |
allative | norsulle | norsuille | |
essive | norsuna | norsuina | |
translative | norsuksi | norsuiksi | |
abessive | norsutta | norsuitta | |
instructive | — | norsuin | |
comitative | See the possessive forms below. |
Synonyms
Derived terms
References
- ^ Kaisa Häkkinen: "Mursun ja norsun jäljillä", Virittäjä 4/2007 pp. 482–500