''Herra'' ({{IPA, fi, ˈherːɑ, lang) means "Lord" in
Finnish and "Sir" in
Icelandic. It is now generally used in Finnish as an honorific for all men, the equivalent to the English
title
A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be ins ...
s "
Mister
''Mister'', usually written in its contracted form ''Mr.'' (American English) or ''Mr'' (British English), is a commonly used English honorific for men without a higher honorific, or professional title, or any of various designations of office. ...
," "
Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as part ...
," and "
gentleman
''Gentleman'' (Old French: ''gentilz hom'', gentle + man; abbreviated ''gent.'') is a term for a chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man. Originally, ''gentleman'' was the lowest rank of the landed gentry of England, ranking below an esquire ...
". In the
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) (; ) are the military of Finland. The Finnish Defence Forces consist of the Finnish Army, the Finnish Navy, and the Finnish Air Force. In wartime, the Finnish Border Guard becomes part of the Finnish Defence For ...
, a superior is addressed with ''herra'' (or in case of a female superior, ''rouva'') followed by the rank of the superior. The address starts the conversation but is not repeated. For example, ''herra luutnantti'' is the same address as "Lieutenant Sir!"
Written ''herra Halonen'' or ''hra Halonen'', the plural is ''herrat''. This formal form of address is rare, used in the army and in the parliament. This title is commonly not prefixed to a first name, as it connotes a lord in past centuries (e.g., ''herra Kaarle'' or ''Kaarle-herra'' gives an impression similar to that of ''Mylord Charles'' or ''Lord Charles'').
In earlier centuries of the civilization, ''herra'', similar to Lord, Sieur, Seigneur, and
Freiherr
(; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , ) and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and in ...
, meant the owner of a
lordship
A lordship is a territory held by a lord. It was a landed estate that served as the lowest administrative and judicial unit in rural areas. It originated as a unit under the feudal system during the Middle Ages. In a lordship, the functions of eco ...
. The
Finnish noble rank ''
vapaaherra'' (
baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than ...
) is a continuation of this meaning. Usually, noble landowners and high priests were "herra". At those times, no commoner would have been called herra. Indeed, several older fiction works show that commoners would react to being called ''herra'' with derision ("I am no ''herra''!").
When capitalized, "Herra" refers to
The Lord, i.e.,
Christian God.
The usual female counterpart of ''herra'' is
rouva. The equivalent of ''Miss'' is
neiti.
The more archaic female variant, ''herratar'' has not evolved — its meaning and impression given is still that of the feudal fiefholder.
This word has the same meaning and usage in
Icelandic and
Estonian
Estonian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe
* Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent
* Estonian language
* Estonian cuisine
* Estonian culture
See also ...
as "Härra".
Herra is also a last name.
Honorifics
fi:Herra