The Language of Löyly: Finnish Sauna ABC for Travelers

Welcome to the warmth of the Finnish sauna! Finland is the land of saunas. There are over 3 million saunas in Finland and about 5.5 million inhabitants. The number of saunas is almost equal to the number of cars. Sauna is a way of life, a unique culture where silence speaks and heat heals. This vocabulary opens the door to the heart of Finnish sauna culture, helping you understand and appreciate this unique heritage. Whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced sauna-goer, mastering these terms will help you understand more and get a deeper experience of the Finnish sauna.

Basic Terms

• Sauna – A room or building designed for hot bathing.
• Löyly – The hot steam that forms when water is thrown on the hot stones of the stove. Also more generally the atmosphere or experience of the sauna.
• Kiuas – The sauna stove containing hot stones. Water is thrown on the stones to create löyly.
• Lauteet – The wooden benches in the sauna.
• Vihta / Vasta – A bundle typically made of birch branches, used to gently slap the skin during sauna bathing.
• Hiki – Sweat, a central part of the sauna experience, actually its goal; the body’s natural reaction to the heat of the sauna.

Sauna Types

• Sähkösauna – Modern sauna type with an electric stove.
• Puulämmitteinen sauna – Wood-heated sauna, the Rolls Royce of Saunas.
• Savusauna – Traditional smoke sauna where smoke passes through the sauna room.
• Rantasauna – Sauna located by a lake or sea, often at a summer cottage.
• Yleinen sauna / julkinen sauna – Public sauna in a swimming hall, hotel, or other public place open to the public.

Sauna-related Terms

• Löylyn heitto – Throwing water on the stove to produce steam.
• Saunoa – The verb meaning to take a sauna bath.
• Lämmitys – Heating the sauna before bathing, an important part of the sauna ritual for many.
• Jäähy – A break between sauna sessions, may include swimming or other cooling activities.
• Jäähdyttely – The cooling-off phase after sauna bathing.
• Avanto – A hole cut in the ice for winter swimming, often used in conjunction with sauna bathing.

Sauna Equipment and Accessories

• Kiulu – A bucket for holding water for throwing on the stove.
• Kauha – A ladle for throwing water on the stove.
• Laudeliina – A towel or cloth to sit on in the sauna. Its use is optional and it protects the bench from the bather.
• Pyyhe – A towel used for drying and covering the body during sauna bathing.
• Kylpytakki – A light, often terry cloth robe that can be worn during sauna bathing.
• Saunahattu – A felt hat that some use to protect their head from the heat. Not very common in Finland.

Other Sauna-related Terms

• Saunatonttu – A mythological creature believed to live in the sauna.
• Saunajuoma – A drink enjoyed in connection with sauna bathing (e.g., beer or home-brewed beer).
• Saunapäivä – A day dedicated to sauna bathing, often a weekly tradition.
• Laituri – A pier or dock structure often found at lakeside saunas, allowing access to deeper water for a dip between sauna sessions.

Read also

In Finnish Saunas, Nudity Isn’t a Taboo – Here’s Why That Matters

Vasta or Vihta? The Fascinating Tradition of Finnish Sauna Whisks

Finnish Sauna Etiquette for International Visitors

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