Finnish Sisu

What do you think about when you hear the word “sisu”? Draw your ideas!

Answer explanation

The concept of sisu has no direct translation, encompassing extreme perseverance and dignity in the face of adversity.

What does the Finnish saying “Sisu will get you even through granite” mean?

• Difficult things are not worth fighting for.

• Rocks are easily broken with some effort.

• Determination in the face of adversities that can seen almost impossible to overcome.

• Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The word "sisu" originates from the Finnish word "sisus". What could this mean?

• Strength

• Interior

• Power

• Emotion

Answer explanation

The history of the concept may help us understand its continuing resonance in Finnish culture today. The word originates from "sisus", which literally means "interior", "guts" or "the intestines" in Finnish. In 1745, Daniel Juslenius, a Finnish bishop, defined ‘sisucunda’ in his dictionary as the location in the human body where strong emotions come from.

How did the word "sisu" become famous outside of Finland?

• The Finnish people who moved abroad started to talk about the concept.

• The New York Times reported about sisu in 1940.

• The immigrants that moved to Finland found the word interesting.

• The social media started to highlight foreign concepts like sisu and the Danish idea of "hygge".

Answer explanation

On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union declared war on Finland. The odds, you could say, were against the Nordic country. Only independent for 22 years, it had a total population of 4 million people. On the other hand, the Soviet army was 2.5 million soldiers strong — with 810,000 of those sent Finland's way. However, by March of the next year, what became known as the Winter War was over, as the Soviet Union and Finland signed a peace treaty. In 1949, the New York Times reported:

"The Finns have something they call sisu. It is a compound of bravado and bravery, of ferocity and tenacity, of the ability to keep fighting after most people would have quit, and to fight with the will to win. The Finns translate 'sisu' as 'the Finnish spirit,' but it is a much more gutful word than that."

What do you think could be the downside of "sisu" in the Finnish society?

• Stubbornness and just "doing my own thing".

• Difficulties in asking for help and admitting weakness.

• Perseverance for excessively long periods of time could end up in burnout.