Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *rooka, borrowed from Proto-Germanic *rōkā (“care, attention”, later *rōkō). Cognates include Estonian roog, Votic rookõ, Ludian ruog. Compare ruokkia.

Pronunciation

IPA(key): /ˈruo̯kɑ/, [ˈruo̞̯kɑ̝]
Rhymes: -uokɑ
Hyphenation(key): ruo‧ka
The ruoa- in inflected forms is generally pronounced as if it were ruua-.

Noun.

ruoka

  1. food (any substance consumed by living organisms to sustain life)
    Synonym: ravinto
    Me tarvitsemme ruokaa, emme aseita.
    We need food, not weapons.
  2. meal (food that is prepared and eaten)
    Synonym: ateria

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