puhemies

Compound of puhe (“speech”) +‎ mies (“man”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈpuheˣˌmie̯s/, [ˈpuɦe̞mˌmie̞̯s̠]
• Rhymes: -ies
• Syllabification^(key): pu‧he‧mies

puhemies

1. (dated) One who proposes marriage to someone on behalf of another person.
2. chairman, speaker (title used of the chair of certain bodies instead of the more common puheenjohtaja (“chairman”))

   eduskunnan puhemies ― speaker of the parliament

   puhemies Mao ― chairman Mao

3. spokesman (one who speaks as the voice of a group)

   Nyt olemme päättäneet, mitä haluaisimme kaupungilta. Onko kukaan vapaaehtoinen ryhtymään puhemieheksi?

   Now we have decided what we would want from the city. Does anyone volunteer to act as our spokesman?

   Synonym: edustaja

4. wingman (friend who accompanies one to offer support in picking up women)
5. best man (one who assists bridegroom in wedding)

• This word is a generic masculine; it is also used when referring to a female.

• (best man): bestman