# Sauna: 'sow-na', or 'saw-na'?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sauna-sow-na-or-saw-na/425127>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 3, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sauna-sow-na-or-saw-na/425127 "2007-11-03T19:31:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sauna-sow-na-or-saw-na/425127/41 "2007-11-05T17:35:43Z")

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A traveller’s rule of thumb: pronounce it whichever way the locals do, if only to avoid a group-flogging by naked, sweaty, indignant natives armed with birch branches. 😉

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**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sauna-sow-na-or-saw-na/425127/42 "2007-11-05T17:40:29Z")

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[QUOTE=Athena]  
Sow-na. Pronouncing it Saw-na is a good way to get yourself laughed out of the UP.

The predominant ethnic heritage up here is Finnish, so that’s why we stick with the Finn pronounciation.

Speaking of saunas, I better go turn mine on!  
[/QUOTE]

Agreed. I can’t wait to go home for Christmas & heat up da sauna at my folks 🆒

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