tulli
Lemma: tulli
Translation: customs; customs duty; tariff; toll (noun)
Etymology: Borrowed from Swedish 'tull', which comes from Middle Low German 'tolle' or 'tol'. This ultimately derives from Latin 'telonium' (customs house), which was borrowed from Ancient Greek 'τελώνιον' (telōnion, tax office). The word shares conceptual roots with English 'toll' which also refers to a payment for passage or service.
Example Usage
Tavarat pitää ilmoittaa tullissa.
Goods must be declared at customs.
Tulli tarkasti kaikki matkalaukut rajalla.
Customs inspected all suitcases at the border.
EU-maiden välillä ei ole tullia.
There are no customs duties between EU countries.
Hän maksoi tullin tuontitavaroista.
He paid customs duty on the imported goods.
Minun täytyy maksaa tulli näistä tuotteista.
I have to pay customs duty for these products.
Paketti jäi tulliin tarkastettavaksi.
The package was held at customs for inspection.
Tulli pysäytti auton rajalla.
Customs stopped the car at the border.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'toll' in English, which is a payment for passage - similar to how customs duties are payments for goods to pass through borders.
- Picture a 'tool' (sounds like 'tulli') that officials use to check goods at the border.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Finland, 'Tulli' is also the name of the Finnish Customs agency, which is responsible for collecting customs duties, facilitating legitimate trade, and preventing illegal imports and exports. Finland's position in the EU means its customs regulations align with EU policies, though it maintains its own border controls with non-EU countries like Russia.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Tulli' (customs) has a double 'l' while 'tuli' (fire, or came) has a single 'l'. They sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Notes: 'Tuli' can also be a past tense form of the verb 'tulla' (to come), adding another layer of potential confusion.
Mnemonic: Remember: 'tuLLi' has two L's like the two booths often seen at customs checkpoints.
Explanation: 'Tullia' is the partitive case of 'tulli', not a separate lemma. It's used when referring to some amount of customs duty or when the customs is the object of certain verbs.
Confused word:
Joudun maksamaan tullia.
I have to pay (some) customs duty.
Notes: Understanding Finnish case system is essential for distinguishing between the nominative 'tulli' and its various inflected forms.
Mnemonic: The '-a' ending in 'tullia' indicates it's being acted upon - something is happening to the customs duty.