In Finland, approximate units of measure were derived from natural actions or objects such body parts, later standardised for the purpose of commerce. Some Swedish and, later, Russian, units were also used.
The measurements were first standardized by law in 1665 and were revised in 1735. Before this, measurements often varied between towns. The king's bailiff in the town of Porvoo, for example, used two sets of measures: a big one for collecting tax in kind from the populace and a smaller set to remit the assets to the king, keeping the difference for himself. However, nowadays the proverb mitata Porvoon mitalla (to measure in Porvoo units) has a positive meaning of measuring in excess or generously.
Certain units were standardized to the metric system in 1861, and Finland fully converted to the metric system in 1880.
Contents |
| Table of length units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
| linja | 1/144 | ~2.06 mm | ~0.081 in | The width of barleycorn. |
| tuuma | 1/12 | ~24.74 mm | ~0.97 in | The width of thumb. Metrinen tuuma = 25 mm. |
| vaaksa | 1/2 | ~148.44 mm | ~5.84 in | The distance between the tips of little finger and thumb, when the fingers are fully extended. Today defined as 150 mm. |
| jalka | 1 | ~296.9 mm | ~11.68 in | The length of a human foot. |
| kyynärä | 2 | ~593.76 mm | ~1.94 ft | The distance from the elbow to the fingertips. The usual unit on measuring everyday lengths. Metrinen kyynärä = 500 mm. |
| syli | 6 | ~1.8 m | ~5.9 ft | Fathom; the distance between the fingertips of both hands when the arms are raised horizontally to the sides. In maritime, syli is 1/1000 of nautical mile (1.852 m). |
| vakomitta | 120 | ~213.6 m | ~700.78 ft | The furrow's length on field. |
| virsta | 600 | ~1068.84 m | ~0.66 mi | 2672 m (Swedish) 1068.84 m (Finnish). Related to the Russian verst. |
| peninkulma (old) | 3000 | ~5344.2 m | ~3.32 mi | Before year 1600 5 virsta; after 1600 10 virsta. The distance a barking dog can be heard in still air. |
| peninkulma (new) | 6000 | ~10.6884 km | ~6.64 mi | Before year 1600 5 virsta; after 1600 10 virsta. The distance a barking dog can be heard in still air. |
| päivämatka | 12,000 | ~20 km | ~12.42 mi | The distance of one day's travel. |
Obsolete:
| Table of area units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
| kannunala | ~88.15 m² | ~818.91 sq ft | 1000 square jalka. | |
| kapanala | ~154 m² | ~1430.66 sq ft (158.96 sq yd) | 1/32 of tynnyrinala. The area (of field) that could be sown with one bushel of grain. | |
| panninala | ~2464 m² | ~22890.56 aq ft (2543.4 sq yd) | 16 kapanala, 1/2 of tynnyrinala. The area (of field) that could be sown with one panni of grain. | |
| tynnyrinala | ~4936.5 m² | ~45860.09 sq ft (5095.565 sq yd) | The area (of field) that could be sown with one barrel of grain. | |
| äyrityisenmaa | 1 | 3,926 square kyynärä. The area which grows grain worth of one äyrityinen for taxation. | ||
| äyrinmaa | 3 | 11,777 square kyynärä. The area which grows grain worth of one äyri for taxation. | ||
| penninginmaa | 125 | 490,790 square kyynärä. The area which grows grain worth of one penninki for taxation. | ||
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| jumpru | 1/16 | ~8.18 ml | ~0.29 FLOZ | From Swedish jungfru, virgin. Also for liquids. |
| kortteli | 1/4 | ~327.15 ml | ~11.51 FLOZ | Used for both length (14.845 cm, same as vaaksa) and volume. Name derives from Swedish kvartdel, meaning "quarter". As unit of length 1/4 of kyynärä. |
| tuoppi | 1 | ~1.3274 L | ~46.72FLOZ (2.336 PT) | Literally tankard. Also for liquids. |
| kannu | 2 | ~2.6172 L | ~4.61 PT | Also called pikkukappa (exactly 2.5 L). |
| kappa | 4 | ~5.4961 L | 9.67 PT (4.84 QT) | Still in use (as exactly 5 liters) as kappa or isokappa at market places to measure potatoes. |
| nelikko | 32 | ~43.986 L | 38.72 QT (9.68 GAL) | Used for dry measure. |
| panni | 64 | ~87.96 L | 19.36 GAL | Used for dry measure. |
| tynnyri | 128 | ~175 L | 38.49 GAL | Barrel for dry measure. |
| lästi | 1536 | ~2110 L | 464.14 GAL | Used for dry measure. |
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| jumpru | 1/16 | ~8.18 ml | From Swedish jungfru, virgin. | |
| kortteli | 1/4 | ~327.15 ml | Used for both length (14.845 cm, same as vaaksa) and volume. Name derives from Swedish kvartdel, meaning "quarter". As unit of length 1/4 of kyynärä. | |
| tuoppi | 1 | ~1.3274 L | Literally tankard. Used for liquids. | |
| kannu | 2 | ~2.6172 L | Also called pikkukappa (exactly 2.5 L). | |
| kappa | 4 | ~5.4961 L | Also for dry substances. | |
| ankkuri | 30 | ~39.26 L | Used for liquid measure. | |
| tynnyri | 96 | ~125.6 L | Barrel for liquid measure. | |
| lästi | 1152 | ~1507 L | Used for liquid measure. |
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| luoti | 1/16 | ~13.95 g | The weight of a musket ball. | |
| unssi | 1/8 | ~27.9 g | ||
| markka | 1 | ~213.8 g | Name of the Finnish monetary unit 1861-2002 | |
| naula | 2 | ~425.6 g | metrinen naula = 500 g | |
| leiviskä | 40 | ~8.5004 kg | metrinen leiviskä = 10 kg | |
| sentneri | 200 | ~42.56 kg | 1 Senttaali = 200 metrinen naula = 100 kg. | |
| kippunta | 800 | ~170 kg |
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