tulliselvitys
Lemma: tulliselvitys
Translation: customs clearance; customs declaration; customs formalities (noun)
Etymology: Compound word formed from 'tulli' (customs) + 'selvitys' (clearance, declaration). 'Tulli' derives from Swedish 'tull', which has Germanic origins related to English 'toll'. 'Selvitys' comes from the verb 'selvittää' (to clarify, to sort out), which is derived from 'selvä' (clear).
Example Usage
Tavarat vaativat tulliselvityksen ennen maahan tuontia.
The goods require customs clearance before import.
Täytä tulliselvitys huolellisesti välttääksesi viivästyksiä.
Fill out the customs declaration carefully to avoid delays.
Tulliselvitys tehdään saapumistullitoimipaikassa.
Customs clearance is done at the customs office of entry.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'tulli' as similar to English 'toll' (a payment) and 'selvitys' as 'solving' or 'clearing up' a situation.
- Imagine 'clearing' your goods through a 'toll' booth at the border.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
Important concept in international trade and travel in Finland, especially given Finland's position as an EU border country with Russia and its active maritime trade.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'tulliselvitys' refers to the customs clearance process or document, 'tulliselvittäjä' refers to the person who handles customs clearance (customs broker or customs agent).
This word:
Tarvitset tulliselvityksen näille tavaroille.
You need customs clearance for these goods.
Confused word:
Palkkasimme tulliselvittäjän hoitamaan tuontiprosessin.
We hired a customs broker to handle the import process.
Notes: In business contexts, these terms often appear together as the customs broker (tulliselvittäjä) is responsible for preparing and submitting the customs declaration (tulliselvitys).
Mnemonic: The '-jä' ending in Finnish often indicates a person who does something (like 'opettaja' = teacher), so 'tulliselvittäjä' is the person who does the 'tulliselvitys'.