se on

Finnish

Alternative forms

• so.

Etymology

Calque of Swedish det är.

Conjunction

se on (obsolete)

1. Synonym of eli (“that is, i.e.”).
   • 1544, Mikael Agricola, Rucouskiria, Stockholm: Amund Laurentsson, →OCLC, quoting Hebrews 10:20:

     ſen eſirip⸗ pun cautta / ſe on / henen lihanſa lepiꜩe

     [sen esiripun kautta, se on hänen lihansa lävitse]

     through the veil, that is, through his flesh

Usage notes

No longer in use. Nowadays, se on would most likely be interpreted literally as "it is" or "that is". For example:

Meillä on uusi tunnussana, se on salasana.

We have a new watchword, i.e. password.

A modern reader might understand that as:

We have a new watchword, it's "password".