Finnish researchers ask: do you say vihta or vasta for a sauna whisk?

Finnish public broadcaster Yle and researchers at the University of Eastern Finland are calling on the public to help map regional differences in the Finnish language by answering a simple question: do you call a birch whisk used in the sauna a vihta or a vasta?

The debate over which term is correct has persisted for decades, with both words referring to the same item—a bundle of birch twigs used to gently slap the skin in a sauna. Historically, vasta has been more common in eastern Finland, while vihta dominates in the west.

Nearly a century ago, a dialect map was created showing where each term was used. Now, researchers aim to update it with modern data. Participants are asked to submit their postal code along with their preferred word to help build a new linguistic map. Responses will be collected until May 10, 2026, with results published in June 2026.

“It will be interesting to see if younger generations still know these words,” said Hanna Lappalainen, a professor of Finnish language at the University of Eastern Finland. “Though sauna whisking may be less common today—especially in public saunas or apartment buildings—many still encounter it at summer cottages, keeping the tradition alive.”

The survey is part of ongoing research into Finnish dialects. Responses will be anonymized, with only age, gender, postal code, and word choice recorded. The data will be used for future studies and may be published in open-access formats.

Participants can submit their answers via an online form linked in the original Yle article.