löyly
Language: Finnish · [ˈløy̯ly] · Pronunciation: LUR-lew
Pronunciation: SchwaWolf · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Meaning
the wave of wet heat that comes off the stones when the water goes on
The story
The word goes back to a root meaning spirit or breath, which is a fair description of what comes off the stones. Finns argue about good and bad löyly the way the English argue about tea, and the country has roughly one sauna for every two people.
The four rounds
- Which language is it from?
- Finnish
- When does it happen?
- The moment water hits the stones
- Where would you hear it?
- A lakeside cabin, ladle in hand
- What does it mean?
- The wet blast that rises off the stones
How it went
Round two, moment, was where most points went.
More Finnish words
- sisu practice word
stubborn courage past the point of reason — grit - kalsarikännit blind word
drinking at home in your underwear, with no plan to go out — päntsdrunk - myötähäpeä 2026-09-11
embarrassment on someone else's behalf — pure cringe - poronkusema blind word
an old Lapland measure: how far a reindeer goes before it stops to pee - jokamiehenoikeus practice word
everyone's right to walk, camp and forage on land they do not own — the right to roam
2026-10-12 · ‹ Previous word · All words