Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sisu

/ˈsɪsʉː/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.98 in modern English

Syllables: sisu
IPA: /ˈsɪsʉː/

4

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

3

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Strength of will in the face of adversity; grit, perseverance or determination, regarded as an integral part of Finnish culture.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Last week the Finns gave the world a good example of sisu by carrying the war into Russian territory on one front while on another they withstood merciless attacks by a reinforced Russian Army."
"People living in northern climates need plenty of sisu."
"We agreed there was a pressing need for a systematic investigation of sisu, how Finns think about it, how it is propagated."
"Life requires all of us to have a certain level of sisu when things get tough, which they inevitably will."

Etymology

Borrowed from Finnish sisu, documented in English since at least 1940.

Word Breakdown

Root: sisu

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈsɪsʉː/

Usage

Uncountable

Phrases

stiff upper lip

Frequently Paired Words

stiff upper lip sumud

Questions

How do you pronounce sisu?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɪsʉː/.
What does sisu mean?: Strength of will in the face of adversity; grit, perseverance or determination, regarded as an integral part of Finnish culture.
Where does sisu come from?: Borrowed from Finnish sisu, documented in English since at least 1940.

How to pronounce sisu

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “sisu”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈsɪsʉː/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “sisu”.
Repeat and practice — Say “sisu” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.