Do you want to study in Finland? Or perhaps teach in a Finnish school? To communicate effectively as a student or teacher in Finland, you’ll want to learn some common Finnish classroom phrases and vocabulary.

 In this guide, we will cover key classroom vocabulary and lots of conversational Finnish for different situations, including greeting others in the class, giving instructions and feedback, asking questions, and explaining why you’re late! We’ll also discuss how Finnish people address each other in schools and higher education.

 Take a seat. The class is about to start!

Aika opiskella. (“Time to study.”)

Table of Contents

1. Using Classroom Greetings
2. Listening to the Teacher
3. Asking for Help
4. Explaining Absence and Tardiness
5. Talking about School Subjects
6. Checking for School Supplies
7. How FinnishPod101 Can Help You Learn More Finnish

1. Using Classroom Greetings

 Before we learn some common greetings, let’s discuss how to address other people in a Finnish classroom.

1- How to Address Others 

Students in Finland address each other casually and call each other by their first names. But how do students address their teachers in Finland? Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward answer to this! It depends on individual preferences and the culture of the school. We can give you some pointers, though!

 Finnish school children may call their teacher opettaja (“teacher”) or ope (short for opettaja), but Finns in higher education aren’t likely to address teaching staff by their professional titles. Using general titles like herra (“mister”), rouva (“mrs”), and neiti (“miss”) is rare as well. People who are older or in senior positions may expect to be addressed formally with a title, but in general, Finns tend to find this way of talking rather stiff and distant.

 Sinuttelu (using the casual form of “you”: sinä) is more common than teitittely (using the formal form of “you”: te), and in many schools, both students and teachers are happy to call each other by their first name. And when teitittely feels too formal and sinuttelu too casual, Finnish people get around the dilemma by avoiding addressing someone directly. For example, by talking in the third person or using the passive!

2- Classroom Greetings

Now let’s move on to some formal and informal Finnish classroom greetings that you can use at the beginning of the class.

• Hyvää huomenta oppilaat / opiskelijat! (”Good morning pupils / students!”)
• Huomenta kaikille! (”Good morning everyone!”)
• Hyvää huomenta luokka. (“Good morning class.”)
• Hyvää päivää, opettaja. (“Good day, teacher.”)   
• Päivää, Sini. (“Good day, Sini.”)
• Hei / moi / terve Salla. (”Hi / hi / hello Salla.”)
• Tervetuloa takaisin. (“Welcome back.”)

Here are some phrases that can be used when the class is over:

• Kiitos kaikille, tunti on ohi tältä päivältä. (”Thank you everyone, the class is over for today.”)
• On aika lähteä kotiin. (”It’s time to go home.”)
• Näkemiin, opettaja! (”Good bye, teacher!”)
• Huomiseen. (“Until tomorrow.”)
• Nähdään huomenna, Katri! (”See you tomorrow, Katri!”)
• Nähdään ensi viikolla. (”See you next week.”)
• Hyvää viikonloppua kaikille! (”Have a good weekend everyone!”)

Nähdään huomenna! (“See you tomorrow!”)

• Read our article How to Say ‘Hello’ in Finnish, and Other Finnish Greetings for a more comprehensive list of greetings!
• If you plan to live on a Finnish campus, you’ll need to learn more than greetings to navigate student life. Check out the free Finnish vocabulary list Words and Phrases for Living on School Campus. It’s available for free on FinnishPod101.

2. Listening to the Teacher

If you’re a student, this section will help you understand what your teacher is saying in class. If you’re a teacher, you’ll learn Finnish phrases that will help you give instructions, ask questions and give feedback to your students.

1- Instructions 

• Avatkaa kirjanne sivulta/sivulle 48. (”Open your books to page 48.”)
• Kääntäkää sivua. (”Turn the page.”)
• Aloitetaan tehtävästä kaksi. (”Let’s begin with exercise two.”)
• Tehkää tehtävät viisi ja kahdeksan. (”Do the exercises five and eight.”)
• Kuunnelkaa tarkasti ja toistakaa perässä. (”Listen carefully and repeat after me.”)
• Muodostakaa neljän hengen ryhmiä. (”Form groups of four.”)
• Valitkaa pari seuraavaa tehtävää varten. (”Choose a partner for the next exercise.”)
• Keskustelkaa parin kanssa / ryhmissä. (”Discuss with a partner / in groups.”)
• Kirjoittakaa vastaukset vihkoon. (”Write the answers in your notebook.”)
• Tänään harjoittelemme verbien taivutusta. (”Today, we’ll practise conjugating verbs.”)

2- Questions

• Ovatko kaikki paikalla? (”Is everyone here?”)
• Kuka puuttuu? (”Who is missing?”)
• Tietääkö kukaan vastausta? (”Does anyone know the answer?”)
• Kuka haluaa lukea ensimmäisen kappaleen ääneen? (”Who wants to read the first paragraph out loud?”)
• Kuka haluaa aloittaa? (”Who wants to start?”)
• Kenen vuoro on seuraavaksi? (”Whose turn is it next?”)
• Voisitko sulkea oven? (”Could you close the door?”)
• Voitko selittää sen omin sanoin? (”Can you explain it in your own words?”)
• Voitko puhua kuuluvammin? (”Can you speak a little louder?”)
• Onko kysyttävää? (”Any questions?”)

3- Discipline

• Istukaa alas. (”Sit down.”) 
• Viitatkaa, jos tiedätte vastauksen. (”Raise your hand if you know the answer.”)
• Hiljaisuutta, kiitos. (”Silence, please.”)
• Lopettakaa lörpöttely. (”Stop the twaddle.”)

Here are some other fun Finnish words for disruptive chatter: höpötys, höpinä, löpinä, pölinä.

4- Feedback

• Hyvin tehty. (”Well done.”)
• Juuri niin. (“That’s right.”)
• Aivan. (”Exactly.”)
• Tuo on oikein / väärin. (”That is correct / incorrect.”)
• Ei noin. (”Not like that.”)
• Yritä uudestaan. (”Try again.”)
• Ääntämisesi on erinomainen / kaipaa lisää harjoitusta. (”Your pronunciation is excellent / needs more work.”)

Ole hyvä, Anna. (”Go ahead, Anna.”)

• To be able to form your own Finnish classroom command phrases, you need to know how to use the imperative verb form. Give Me a Lesson in Finnish explains how it’s done.

3. Asking for Help

 Being able to ask for help in the classroom is essential. In this section, we teach you Finnish classroom phrases to help you ask questions and explain what you’re struggling with.

 If you don’t like asking questions, take this Finnish proverb to heart and do it anyway!

• Ei kysyvä tieltä eksy. (“There’s no shame in asking.” Literally: “The one who asks won’t get lost on the road.”)

1- I Have a Question

• Voitko auttaa minua? (”Can you help me?”)
• Mitä opettaja sanoi? (“What did the teacher say?”)
• Voitko toistaa sen? (“Can you repeat it?”)
• Voitko näyttää sen uudestaan? (”Can you show it again?”)
• Voitko puhua hitaammin? (”Can you speak slower?”)
• Millä sivulla olemme? (”What page are we on?”)
• Teinkö tämän oikein? (”Did I do this correctly?”)
• Missä kohtaa tein virheen? (”At what point did I make a mistake?”)
• Mitä tämä sana tarkoittaa? (”What does this word mean?”)
• Mitä… on suomeksi / englanniksi? (“What is… in Finnish / in English?”)
• Miten sanon tämän suomeksi: …? (”How do I say this in Finnish: …?”)
• Voinko lainata muistiinpanojasi? (“Can I borrow your notes?”)
• Mihin aikaan pidämme tauon? (”What time are we having a break?”)

2- I have a Problem

• Minulla on kysymys. (“I have a question.”)
• Minulla on ongelma. (”I have a problem.”)
• Tarvitsen apua. (”I need help.”)
• En ymmärrä tätä. (“I don’t understand this.”)
• En ymmärtänyt kysymystä. (”I didn’t understand the question.”)
• Anteeksi, en vieläkään ymmärrä. (”Sorry, I still don’t understand.”)
• En tiedä. (”I don’t know.”)
• En ole varma. (”I’m not sure.”)
• En tiedä miten tämä äännetään. (”I don’t know how this is pronounced.”)
• En tiedä miten tämä sana lausutaan. (”I don’t know how this word is pronounced.”)
• Tarvitsen lisää aikaa. (”I need more time.”)
• En osaa kääntää tätä lausetta. (”I can’t translate this sentence.”)

Autamme toisiamme. (“We help each other.”)

• Are you a fan of proverbs? Find more in our article The Top 30 Finnish Proverbs and Sayings.

4. Explaining Absence and Tardiness

Are you running late? Or did you forget to do your homework? Put on your most charming smile and explain it in Finnish and you might just get away with it.

1- Sorry I’m Late 

• Anteeksi, että olen myöhässä. (”I’m sorry that I’m late.”)
• Nukuin pommiin. (“I overslept.”)
• Herätyskelloni ei soinut. (”My alarm didn’t go off.”)
• Myöhästyin linja-autosta. (”I missed the bus.”)
• Bussi oli myöhässä. (“The bus was late.”)
• En löytänyt avaimiani. (”I couldn’t find my keys.”)
• Pyörästäni puhkesi kumi. (”My bike’s tire burst.”)
• En löytänyt parkkipaikkaa. (”I couldn’t find a parking place.”)
• Unohdin, että kellot siirrettiin eilen kesäaikaan. (”I forgot that the clocks were switched to Summer Time yesterday.”)

This is a mistake that students in Finland won’t be making for much longer since the European Union is phasing out summer time!

2- I Don’t Feel Well

• En voi tulla tunnille tänään. (”I can’t come to the class today.”)
• Minulla on huono olo. (I’m feeling unwell.”)
• Olen kipeä. (“I’m sick.”)
• Minulla on vatsatauti / kuumetta / flunssa. (”I have a stomach bug / fever / the flu.”)
• Vatsaani koskee. (”My stomach hurts.”)
• Päätäni särkee. (”My head hurts.”)
• Minulla on lääkäriaika yhdeltätoista. (”I have an appointment at the doctor’s at eleven.”)

3- I Didn’t Do My Homework

Note that there are two Finnish words for “homework”: kotitehtävät and läksyt.

• En tiennyt, että meillä oli kotitehtäviä. (”I didn’t know that we had homework.”)
• Unohdin tehdä läksyt. (”I forgot to do my homework.”)
• Tein kaikki kotitehtäväni mutta hukkasin ne. (”I did all my homework but lost it.”)
• Koira söi läksyni. (”The dog ate my homework.”)

Otan mieluummin nokoset. (”I’ll rather take a nap.”)

•  Head to the Too Cool for School Finnish vocabulary list to find out what bad students get up to!

4. Talking about School Subjects

 In this section, we’ll learn what common school subjects are in Finnish and how to talk about them.

1- Common School Subjects 

• matematiikka (”mathematics”)
• fysiikka (”physics”)
• kemia (”chemistry”)
• biologia (“biology”)
• maantieto (”geography”)
• historia (“history”)
• psykologia (”psychology”)
• filosofia (”philosophy”)
• kuvataide (”art”)
• musiikki (”music”)
• liikunta (”physical education”)
• terveystieto (”health education”)
• uskonto (”religion”)
• äidinkieli (literally: “mother tongue” This is what Finnish speakers call Finnish class.)
• vieras kieli (”foreign language”)
• kirjallisuus (“literature”)

2- Talking About School Subjects

• Mikä on lempiaineesi? (”What’s your favorite subject?”)
• Minun lempiaineeni on kuvataide. (”My favorite subject is art.”)
• Pidän historiasta. (”I like history.”)
• En pidä filosofiasta. (”I don’t like philosophy.”)
• Mistä aineesta pidät eniten / vähiten? (”Which subject do you like the most / the least?”)
• Pidän eniten / vähiten kemiasta. (”I like chemistry the most / the least.”)
• Minusta fysiikka on helppoa / vaikeaa. (“I find physics easy / difficult.”)
• En ole hyvä maantiedossa. (”I’m not good at geography.”)
• Olen menossa biologian tunnille. (“I’m going to the biology class.”)
• Matematiikka on haastavaa, mutta pidän siitä. (”Mathematics is challenging, but I like it.”)
• Rakastan suomen kielen opiskelua. (”I love studying the Finnish language.”)

Are you confused about the different Finnish verbs of learning? Here’s a quick demonstration of the differences:

• oppia (”to learn”)
  • Opin uimaan 10-vuotiaana. (”I learned to swim when I was 10 years old.”)
• opiskella (”to study”)
  • Opiskelen filosofiaa Helsingin yliopistossa. (“I study philosophy at the University of Helsinki.”)
• opetella (”to learn through trying”, “to teach oneself”)
  • Haluan opetella soittamaan harmonikkaa. (“I want to teach myself to play the accordion.”)

Mikä on lempiaineesi? (”What’s your favorite subject?”)

• If you’re not sure how to pronounce the words in this section, our vocabulary list School Subjects can help! 

5. Checking for School Supplies

Have you got everything you need for the class? In this section, you’ll learn Finnish vocabulary for school supplies and what to say if you need to borrow a sharpener!

1- Common School Supplies

•  oppikirja (”textbook”)
• vihko (”notebook”)
• viivoitin (”ruler”)
• paperiliitin (”paper clip”)
• lyijykynä (”pencil”)
• värikynä (”colored pencil”)
• mustekynä (”pen”)
• penaali (”pencil case”)
• nitoja (”stabler”)
• liimapuikko (”glue stick”)
• paperi (”paper”)
• teroitin (”pencil sharpener”)
• sakset (”scissors”)
• liitu (”chalk”)
• pyyhekumi (”eraser”)
• laskin (”calculator”)
• tietokone (”computer”)
• tabletti (”tablet”)
• kansio (”binder”)
• karttapallo (”globe”)
• teippi (”tape”)
• reppu (”rucksack”)
• liitutaulu (”blackboard”)
• valkotaulu (“whiteboard”)

2- Talking about School Supplies

• Voinko lainata teroitintasi? (“Can I borrow your pencil sharpener?”)
• Oletko nähnyt vihkoani? (“Have you seen my notebook?”)
• Tiedätkö missä sakset ovat? (“Do you know where the scissors are?”)
• Saanko viivoittimeni takaisin? (“Can I have my ruler back?”)
• Unohdin kirjani kotiin. (”I left my book at home.”)
• Olen kadottanut penaalini. (”I’ve lost my pencil case.”)
• En löydä mustekynääni. (”I can’t find my pen.”)
• Minulla ei ole liimapuikkoa. (”I don’t have a glue stick.”)
• Onko sinulla ylimääräistä pyyhekumia? (”Do you have a spare eraser?”)
• Voit lainata nitojaani. (”You can borrow my stapler.”)
• Olen pahoillani, mutta tarvitsen sitä itse. (”I’m sorry, but I need it myself.”)

• Visit the School and the Back to School Essentials vocabulary lists to learn more classroom vocabulary in Finnish. If you need a word that’s not included, search for it in our online Finnish dictionary.

6. How FinnishPod101 Can Help You Learn More Finnish

In this guide, we’ve covered over 100 Finnish classroom phrases to help you understand instructions, ask for help, talk about school subjects and much more. We also listed essential school vocabulary in Finnish, including school subjects and school supplies, to prepare you for daily life in a Finnish school. Are there any other words or basic Finnish phrases you think we should have included? You can always drop a comment below and share your thoughts!

Head over to FinnishPod101 if you’re ready for more Finnish language learning. You’ll find plenty of Free resources, including vocabulary lists, which are a handy tool for expanding your Finnish vocabulary and practicing your pronunciation. We also offer a premium service, My Teacher, which gives you access to 1-on-1 tuition with a private Finnish teacher and a personalized lesson plan.

Happy learning on FinnishPod101!

Let’s talk about Finland’s animals! In this article, we’ll teach you important Finnish animal vocabulary as well as some idiomatic animal-related terms and expressions. You’ll even find a few interesting facts about Finland’s fauna in this guide.

Tip: If you know what your preferred learning style is, you can play to your strengths and make memorizing new vocabulary a little easier. For example, if you’re primarily a visual learner, try creating your own thematic mini dictionary with pictures or watch Finnish vocabulary videos on the FinnishPod101 YouTube channel. Or, if you’re a kinesthetic learner and learn best through movement, why not challenge your friends or family to a game of charades in Finnish?

Learning Finnish animal names is child’s play.

Table of Contents

1. At Home
2. On the Farm
3. In the Forest
4. In the Lakes, Rivers, and the Sea
5. Bugs and Insects
6. Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians
7. Animal Body Parts
8. Animal-Related Terms and Expressions
9. Lopuksi

1. At Home

Let’s kick things off by learning the Finnish words for popular pets! Roughly a third of Finnish households have a pet (lemmikkieläin), with dogs and cats being the most popular pets by far. Do you keep one (or more) of the following animals as a pet?

• koira (“dog”)
• kissa (“cat”)
• hamsteri (“hamster”)
• marsu (“guinea pig”)
• kani (“bunny”)
• rotta (“rat”)
• kultakala (“goldfish”)
• kilpikonna (“tortoise”)
• undulaatti (“budgie”)
• papukaija (“parrot”)

Suositut lemmikkieläimet (“Popular pets”)

• When learning new words, it’s a good idea to listen to how a native speaker pronounces them. You’ll find recordings on all of our vocabulary lists, including this one on animal names.

2. On the Farm

Next up: the names of common farm animals in Finnish! 

• lehmä (“cow”)
• sika (“pig”)
• hevonen (“horse”)
• lammas (“sheep”)
• vuohi (“goat”)
• kana (“chicken”)
• kukko (“rooster”)
• ankka (“duck”)
• hanhi (“goose”)
• poro (“reindeer,” a semi-domesticated animal that’s an integral part of the Sámi culture in Finnish Lapland)

Lehmä laitumella (“A cow in a pasture”)

• Do you remember the song Old MacDonald Had a Farm from your childhood? In Finnish, the song is known as Piippolan vaarilla oli talo (“Grandpa Piippola Had a House”).

• We have a lesson just about farm animals to help you master this useful vocabulary set.

3. In the Forest

Finland’s forests are home to many wild animals, including a few large carnivores. Here’s what to call some of these animals in the Finnish language: 

• karhu (“bear”)
• susi (“wolf”)
• kettu (“fox”)
• hirvi (“moose”)
• jänis (“rabbit”)
• orava (“squirrel”)
• ahma (“wolverine”)
• ilves (“lynx”)
• kärppä (“weasel”)
• mäyrä (“badger”)
• näätä (“marten”)
• supikoira (“raccoon dog”)
• hiiri (“mouse”)

Karhuemo pentuineen (“A mother bear with her cubs”)

• The brown bear is one of Finland’s national symbols. The animal was a central figure in the mythology of ancient Finns, and there are over 200 words for “bear” in Finnish, including mesikämmen, kontio, otso, and tapio.

4. In the Lakes, Rivers, and the Sea

Finland has a coastline as well as plenty of freshwater habitats. You’ll find both fully aquatic and semiaquatic animals on this list.

• kala (“fish”)
• lohi (“salmon”)
• ankerias (“eel”)
• simpukka (“clam”)
• meduusa (“jellyfish”)
• jokirapu (“crayfish”)
• valas (“whale”)
• hylje (“seal”)
• majava (“beaver”)
• saukko (“otter”)

Hylje elää maalla ja vedessä. (“A seal lives on land and in the water.”)

• Pyöriäinen (“porpoise”) is the only type of whale regularly encountered in Finnish waters. Two types of seals are found in Finland: halli or harmaahylje (“gray seal”) and saimaannorppa (“Saimaa ringed seal”). The Saimaa ringed seal is only found in Lake Saimaa in Finland and is one of the most endangered seals in the world.

• The shark and the octopus may not be native to Finland, but you can learn the Finnish words for these (and other) animals on our Marine Animals & Fish vocabulary list.

5. Bugs and Insects

Beautiful, gross, scary—insects and other creepy-crawlies elicit strong feelings in many people! Let’s learn the Finnish words for some of the most common little beasties, including Finland’s most infamous resident: the mosquito. (If you’re planning a trip to Finland in summer, you may want to come prepared!)

• hyttynen or itikka (“mosquito”)
• perhonen (“butterfly”)
• kärpänen (“fly”)
• mehiläinen (“bee”)
• ampiainen (“wasp”)
• muurahainen (“ant”)
• sudenkorento (“dragonfly”)
• leppäkerttu (“ladybug”)
• koppakuoriainen (“beetle”)
• hämähäkki (“spider”)
• mato (“worm”)
• etana (“snail”)

Leppäkerttu on hyönteinen. (“The ladybug is an insect.”)

6. Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians

Interesting fact: Did you know that reptiles (matelijat) are more closely related to birds (linnut) than to amphibians (sammakkoeläimet)?

• joutsen (“swan”)
• pöllö (“owl”)
• varis (“crow”)
• harakka (“magpie”)
• kotka (“eagle”)
• lokki (“seagull”)
• käärme (“snake”)
• lisko (“lizard”)
• sammakko (“frog”)
• (rupi)konna (“toad”)

Kolme sammakkoa kivellä (“Three frogs on a rock”)

7. Animal Body Parts

In this section, we’ll go over the Finnish words for important animal body parts.

• tassu (“paw”)
• häntä (“tail”)
• kuono (“snout”)
• sarvi (“horn” / “antler”)
• turkki (“fur”)
• siipi (“wing”)
• nokka (“beak”)
• pyrstö (“tail,” of birds and fish)
• räpylä (“flipper”)
• evä (“fin”)
• lonkero (“tentacle”)

You now know a number of animal names in Finnish and what to call their body parts…but do you know the Finnish vocabulary for animal noises?

Joutsenella on kauniit siivet. (“The swan has beautiful wings.”)

8. Animal-Related Terms and Expressions

There are countless idiomatic animal-related terms and expressions in Finnish. If you’re up for a challenge, see if you can incorporate a couple of the following words or phrases into your next conversation in Finnish!

1 – Nouns

• harakanvarpaat (“chicken scratch” or “scrawl” / literally: “magpie’s toes”)
• koiranilma (“bad weather” / literally: “dog’s weather”)
• kissanristiäiset (“unimportant celebration” / literally: “cat’s christening”)
• villakoira (“dust bunny” / literally: “wool dog,” which also means “poodle”)
• karhunpalvelus (“disservice” / literally: “bear’s service”)
• uutisankka (“canard” / literally: “news duck”)
• sudennälkä (“ravenous hunger” / literally: “wolf’s hunger”)
• kissanpäivät (“the life of Riley” / literally: “cat’s days”)
• katin kontit (“nonsense” or “rubbish” / literally: “cat’s knapsacks,” an exclamation)
• teerenpeli (“flirtation” / literally: “grouse’s game”)

2 – People

• jänishousu (“scaredy-cat” or “chicken” / literally: “rabbit pants”)
• verokarhu (“taxman” / literally: “tax bear,” a playful term for verottaja)
• pahanilmanlintu (“bird of ill omen” / literally: “bad weather’s bird”)
• työmyyrä (“workhorse” / literally: “work vole”)
• koiranleuka (“joker” / literally: “dog’s jaw”)
• pullahiiri (“person with a sweet tooth” / literally: “bun mouse”)
• vastarannan kiiski (“contrarian” / literally: “ruffe of the opposite shore”)
• susipari (“unmarried, cohabiting couple” / literally: “wolf couple”)
• vilukissa (“person who feels cold easily” / literally: “chill cat”)
• koekaniini (“guinea pig” / literally: “test rabbit”)
• konttorirotta (“pen-pusher” / literally: “office rat”)
• linssilude (“lens hog” / literally: “lens bug”)
• vasikka (“informer” or “snitch” / literally: “calf”)
• pöllö (“fool” / literally: “owl,” derogatory)

3 – Idioms

• kiertää kuin kissa kuumaa puuroa (“to beat around the bush” / literally: “to circle like a cat around hot porridge”)
• nostaa kissa pöydälle (“to bring up a difficult subject” / literally: “to lift a cat onto the table”)
• seurata kuin hai laivaa (“to be hot on one’s heels” / literally: “to follow like a shark follows a ship”)
• olla koira haudattuna (“something fishy” / literally: “there’s a dog buried”)
• näyttää närhen munat (“to teach someone a lesson” / literally: “to show jay’s eggs”)
• olla oma lehmä ojassa (“to have a vested interest in something” / literally: “to have one’s own cow in a ditch”)
• tehdä kärpäsestä härkänen (“to make a mountain out of a molehill” / literally: “to make a bull out of a fly”)
• tappaa kaksi kärpästä yhdellä iskulla (“to kill two birds with one stone” / literally: “to kill two flies with one hit”)
• olla ketunhäntä kainalossa (“to have a hidden agenda” / literally: “to have a foxtail under the arm”)
• olla käärmeissään (“to be annoyed” / literally: “to be in one’s snakes”)
• olla kananlihalla (“to have goosebumps” / literally: “to be on chicken meat”) 

4 – Verbs

• sikailla (“to behave badly” / from the word “pig”: sika)
• hamstrata (“to squirrel” or “to hoard” / from the word “hamster”: hamsteri)
• apinoida (“to ape” or “to mimic” / from the word “monkey”: apina)
• kukkoilla (“to strut one’s stuff” / from the word “rooster”: kukko)
• ahmia (“to wolf down” / from the word “wolverine”: ahma)
• jänistää (“to chicken out” / from the word “rabbit”: jänis)
• lokkeilla (“to freeload” / from the word “seagull”: lokki)
• hevostella (“to flaunt” or “to behave arrogantly” / from the word “horse”: hevonen)

5 – Similes

• pirteä kuin peipponen (“perky as a chaffinch”)
• terve kuin pukki (“healthy as a horse” / literally: “healthy as a billy goat”)
• lauhkea kuin lammas (“mild as a sheep”)
• märkä kuin uitettu koira (“wet as a dog immersed in water”)
• ahkera kuin mehiläinen (“industrious as a bee”)
• kiukkuinen kuin ampiainen (“mad as a hornet” / literally: “angry as a wasp”)
• puhdas kuin pulmunen (“clean as a whistle” / literally: “clean as a snow bunting”)
• köyhä kuin kirkonrotta (“poor as a church mouse” / literally: “poor as a church rat”)
• itsepäinen kuin muuli (“stubborn as a mule”)
• uskollinen kuin koira (“loyal as a dog”)
• lämmin kuin lehmän henkäys (“warm as cow’s breath,” used when talking about air temperature)
• kuin täi tervassa (“extremely slow” / literally: “like a louse in tar”)

One of the best ways to learn new vocabulary is to put the words into context. Our Finnish animal words video does exactly that!

9. Lopuksi

We hope that you found this guide to Finnish animal words to be the cat’s meow! What other types of vocabulary would you like to see covered on our blog? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

FinnishPod101 offers plenty of free resources to help you on your Finnish learning adventure, including an ever-growing library of vocabulary lists complete with recordings to help you perfect your pronunciation. We are constantly adding new learning material to suit all learning styles and confidence levels, so be sure to check back often.

Happy learning on FinnishPod101!

Have you ever stopped to think just how often we ask questions on a daily basis? Questions are incredibly helpful in our everyday lives—and doubly so when we’re speaking a foreign language! Learning Finnish conversational questions and answers will not only help you navigate practical situations (like finding a bank) while you’re in Finland, but it’ll also allow you to converse more naturally with Finns in social situations.

This guide will introduce you to the basics of forming questions in Finnish. After that, we’ll cover the ten most useful questions in Finnish for beginners. And of course, we’ll go over a number of ways to answer each question, so that you can always be ready with a reply!

Table of Contents

1. How to Ask Questions in Finnish
2. The 10 Most Common Questions in Finnish
3. Conclusion

Asking and answering questions keeps a conversation going!

1. How to Ask Questions in Finnish

Before you learn the ten most common Finnish language questions, we’ll take a brief look at the two main ways to form questions in Finnish.

A – Creating closed questions

Closed questions—questions that can be answered with a “yes” or “no”—are very easy to form in Finnish! All you need to do is take a statement, place the verb at the beginning, and add -ko or -kö to the end of the verb.

The correct ending is determined by vowel harmony. The rule of thumb is: if the word contains back vowels (a, o, u), choose -ko; if the word contains front vowels (ä, ö, y) or only neutral vowels (i, e), choose -kö.  

Here are a few examples:

• Se on totta. (“It is true.”)

Now, begin the question with the verb (on) and add the correct ending (-ko) to the verb.

• Onko se totta? (“Is it true?”)

Another example:

• Sinä pidät kahvista. (“You like coffee.”)
• Pidätkö sinä kahvista? (“Do you like coffee?”)

Let’s see how you can answer this important question!

i- Affirmative Answers

When the answer is “yes,” you can simply use the word kyllä (“yes”), or the colloquial joo. It’s also common to simply repeat the verb and drop the word kyllä altogether—just remember to conjugate the verb correctly!

•  Pidätkö sinä kahvista? (“Do you like coffee?”)
  
  ► Kyllä. (“Yes.”)
  ►Pidän. (“Yes.” Literally: “I like.”)

ii- Negative Answers

When the answer is ei (“no”), things get a little bit trickier. It’s important to remember that the negative verb in Finnish is conjugated in the six personal forms, like this: en, et, ei, emme, ette, eivät. We’ll take a look at three different ways to say that you don’t like coffee.

1. Use ei (“no”), the conjugated form of the negative verb, and the main verb:

► Ei, en pidä kahvista. (“No, I don’t like coffee.”)

2. Use the conjugated form of the negative verb and the main verb:

► En pidä. (“No.” Literally: “I don’t like.”)

3. Use just the conjugated form of the negative verb:

► En. (“No.” Literally: “I don’t.”)

Ei, en pidä kahvista. (“No, I don’t like coffee.”)

B – Finnish Question Words

Finnish question words (we’re sorry to say) are not as straightforward as the English ones. One reason for this is that some of the Finnish question words are inflected and have multiple cases. For a beginner, it’s best to focus on the most common question words first. You can dive into the deep end after you’ve mastered the basics!

 1. Kuka? / Ketkä? (“Who?” Singular / Plural)

•  Kuka on Suomen pääministeri? (“Who is Finland’s prime minister?”)
  ► Sanna Marin. (“Sanna Marin.”)

•  Ketkä ovat tulossa mukaan? (“Who is coming along?”)
  ► Sini ja Pekka. (“Sini and Pekka.”)

 2. Mikä? / Mitä? (“What?”)

•  Mikä se on? (“What is it?”)
  ► Se on kissanpentu. (“It’s a kitten.”)

• Mitä sinä sanoit? (“What did you say?”)
  ► Sanoin, että haluan mennä ulos. (“I said that I want to go out.”)

(Note that mikä usually refers to defined, concrete things, while mitä usually refers to uncountable, abstract things.)

 3. Missä? (“Where?”)

•  Missä sinä asut? (“Where do you live?”)
  ► Asun Oulussa. (“I live in Kallio.”)

 4. Miksi? (“Why?”)

•  Miksi et soittanut minulle? (“Why didn’t you call me?”)
  ► Koska unohdin, että lupasin soittaa. (“Because I forgot that I promised to call.”)

 5. Milloin? (“When?”)

•  Milloin lentokone laskeutuu? (“When does the airplane land?”)
  ► Puolen tunnin päästä. (“In half an hour.”)

6. Kuinka? / Miten? (“How?”)

•  Miten voin auttaa? (“How can I help?”)
  ► Voit auttaa viemällä roskat ulos. (“You can help by taking the trash out.”)

•  Kuinka kuumaa saunassa on? (“How hot is it in the sauna?”)
  ► Saunassa on 80 astetta. (“It’s 80 degrees in the sauna.”)

Note that in most cases, kuinka and miten are interchangeable with no difference in meaning. So pick your favorite!

Mitä sinä sanoit? (“What did you say?”)

2. The 10 Most Common Questions in Finnish

With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to form endless closed Finnish language questions. In addition, learning the most important question words by heart will be of great help in all of your Finnish interactions. Pretty neat, huh?

Now we’ll focus on the ten most common Finnish conversational questions and answers that you’re bound to use sooner or later.

1 – What’s your name?

You’ve met a Finnish person—wonderful! Let’s get to know them. This is how you ask “What’s your name?” in Finnish, and how you can answer the same question.

•  Mikä sinun nimesi on? (“What’s your name?”) – Casual
• Mikä teidän nimenne on? (“What’s your name?”) – Formal

To answer this Finnish question, you could simply state your name. But to give a full answer, say: Minun nimeni on… (“My name is…”). You can also drop the word minun because the possessive suffix in nimeni  already communicates whose name you’re talking about.

► Minun nimeni on Anna. (“My name is Anna.”) 

► Nimeni on Anna. (“[My] name is Anna.”)

 On our website, you can find more handy Finnish phrases to use when introducing yourself.

2 – Where are you from?

Finns will be curious about where you’re from—and perhaps you’re curious about which city your Finnish friend comes from. This question covers both situations:

• Mistä sinä olet kotoisin? (“Where are you from?”) – Casual
• Mistä te olette kotoisin? (“Where are you from?”) – Formal

Note: In Finnish language questions, the pronouns are sometimes left out, as the verb already gives information about the pronoun. For example, “Where are you from?” can simply be expressed as Mistä olet kotoisin? or Mistä olette kotoisin?

 You can also be more specific:

• Mistä maasta (sinä) olet kotoisin? (“Which country are you from?”)
• Mistä päin Suomea sinä olet kotoisin? (“Which part of Finland are you from?”)
• Mistä kaupungista sinä olet kotoisin? (“Which city are you from?”)

Answers to the previous questions start with Olen kotoisin… (“I’m from…”). The place (country, region, or city) will usually be in the elative case (-sta/-stä), although the names of some towns may be in the adessive case instead (-lta/-ltä).

► Olen kotoisin Saksasta. (“I’m from Germany.”)
► Olen kotoisin Pohjois-Karjalasta. (“I’m from North Karelia.”)
► Olen kotoisin Tampereelta. (“I’m from Tampere.”)

Mistä maasta sinä olet kotoisin? (“Which country are you from?”)

What about India and Argentina? Learn the Finnish names of some other countries on FinnishPod101.com.

3 – Do you speak Finnish?

Here’s another question you may find yourself asking and answering a lot when meeting new people:

• Puhutko sinä suomea? (“Do you speak Finnish?”) – Casual
• Puhutteko te suomea? (“Do you speak Finnish?”) – Formal
• Puhutko sinä englantia? (“Do you speak English?”)

Remember those tips we covered about answering closed questions? Now’s a good time to review them! Simple answers look like this:

► Kyllä, puhun suomea. (“Yes, I speak Finnish.”)

► Ei, en puhu englantia. (“No, I don’t speak English.”)

These answers indicate how well you speak the language in question:

► Kyllä, mutta vain vähän. (“Yes, but only a little.”)

► Kyllä, jonkin verran. (“Yes, some.”)

► Kyllä, puhun suomea sujuvasti. (“Yes, I speak Finnish fluently.”)

► Kyllä, englanti on äidinkieleni. (“Yes, English is my mother tongue.”)

Look up the Finnish names of thirty-eight different languages with our free vocabulary list! 

4 – How are you?

Vaihdetaan kuulumisia! (“Let’s exchange news!”) 

When we ask someone how they are in Finnish, we use the verb kuulua (“to be heard”).

• Mitä sinulle kuuluu? (“How are you?”) – Casual
• Mitä teille kuuluu? (“How are you?”) – Formal
• Mitä kuuluu? (“How are you?”)

The typical answer that suits most situations is simply composed of kiitos (“thank you”) and Minulle kuuluu hyvää (“I’m good”). With close friends and family, you can go into more detail!

► Kiitos, minulle kuuluu hyvää. (“I’m good, thank you.”)

► Kiitos ihan hyvää. Entä sinulle? (“Pretty good, thank you. What about you?”)

Here’s an alternative way to ask the question:

• Miten menee? (“How’s it going?”)
  
  ► Hyvin, kiitos. (“I’m well, thank you.”)
  ► Ei hassummin. Entä sinulla? (“Not bad. How about you?”)

Learn more relevant Finnish phrases, and listen to this audio lesson to learn how to give a vague answer when you don’t feel like sharing!

5 – What do you do for a living?

When talking with someone, work will often come up as a topic. Here are a few different ways you can ask someone about their work or profession:

• Mikä sinun ammattisi on? (“What’s your profession?”) – Casual
• Mikä teidän ammattinne on? (“What’s your profession?”) – Formal

Answering this one is easy! Just put together Olen (“I am”) and your profession. For example:

► Olen valokuvaaja. (“I’m a photographer.”)

► Olen myyntiapulainen. (“I’m a sales assistant.”)

• Mitä (sinä) teet työksesi? (“What do you do for a living?”) – Casual
• Mitä (te) teette työksenne? (“What do you do for a living?”) – Formal

The answer to this one is also pretty straightforward. Note that the subject in these answers is in the partitive case. 

► Opetan ruotsia. (“I teach Swedish.”)
► Kävelytän koiria. (“I walk dogs.”)

• Millä alalla (sinä) olet töissä? (“What field do you work in?”) – Casual
• Millä alalla (te) olette töissä? (“What field do you work in?”) – Formal

Begin your answer with Olen töissä (“I work [in]”) followed by your ala (“field”) in the adessive case.

► Olen töissä muotialalla. (“I work in fashion.”)
► Olen töissä IT-alalla. (“I work in IT.”)

Olen valokuvaaja. (“I’m a photographer.”)

Learn even more Finnish words for different occupations on our website! 

6 – What are your hobbies?

Meet the verb harrastaa. It refers to doing something you’re interested in on a regular basis, usually in your free time. All of that packed into one little word! Think of it as “enjoy something (as a hobby).” (By the way, the word for “a hobby” is harrastus.)

• Mitä sinä harrastat? (“What do you enjoy as a hobby?”) – Casual
• Mitä te harrastatte? (“What do you enjoy as a hobby?”) – Formal

• Mitä harrastuksia sinulla on? (“What hobbies do you have?”) – Casual
• Mitä harrastuksia teillä on? (“What hobbies do you have?”) – Formal

• Mitä (sinä) teet vapaa-ajallasi? (“What do you do in your free time?”) – Casual
• Mitä (te) teette vapaa-ajallanne? (“What do you do in your free time?”) – Formal

To answer any of the above questions, you can use the verb harrastan (“I enjoy as a hobby”) or another verb like pelaan (“I play”), followed by the activity in the partitive case. For example:

► Harrastan kansantanssia ja maalausta. (“I enjoy folk dancing and painting.”)

► Pelaan jääkiekkoa. (“I play ice hockey.”)

Pelaan jääkiekkoa. (“I play ice-hockey.”)

Learn more Finnish words for different hobbies, and ace your pronunciation with the help of the audio recordings.

7 – What time is it?

Imagine that you’ve just landed at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport after a long flight and want to double-check the local time. Or maybe someone just asks you what the time is! No problem. If that happens, you’ll already have learned how to ask and answer questions about time in Finnish.

Note that when talking about the time, Finns say kello (“clock”) instead of aika (“time”).

These three questions are interchangeable:

• Mitä kello on? (“What time is it?”)
• Kuinka paljon kello on? (“What time is it?”)
• Paljonko kello on? (“What time is it?”)

You can begin with Kello on (“The time is”) or Se on (“It is”), but it’s also fine to simply state the time!

► Kello on kymmenen aamulla/illalla. (“It’s ten a.m./p.m.”)

► Kello on tasan kaksitoista. (“It’s exactly twelve o’clock.”)

► Se on puoli neljä. (“It’s half past three.” Literally: “It’s half four.”)

► Se on varttia vaille kuusi. (“It’s a quarter to six.”)

► Viisi minuuttia yli yhdeksän. (“Five minutes past nine.”)

Pay close attention to puoli (“half”) here. While in English, 3:30 is “half past three,” in Finnish it’s puoli neljä (“half four”)!

Here’s more useful Finnish vocabulary related to time, and here’s another list for numbers in Finnish.

Kello on tasan 12 (kaksitoista). (“It’s exactly twelve o’clock.”)

8 – What are you doing? 

Here’s how you can ask somebody what they’re doing in Finnish, and how to answer the question yourself.

• Mitä sinä teet? (“What are you doing?”) – Casual
• Mitä te teette? (“What are you doing?”) – Formal or plural

You could answer this with just one word, for example Juoksen (“I’m running”), but your answer will often consist of a verb and an object in the partitive case.

► Opiskelen suomea. (“I’m studying Finnish.”)

► Katson televisiota. (“I’m watching TV.”)

► Syömme aamupalaa. (“We’re eating breakfast.”)

► Suunnittelemme huomista retkeä. (“We’re planning tomorrow’s trip.”)

Syömme aamupalaa. (“We’re having breakfast.”)

 9 – How do you say this in Finnish? 

Can’t remember a word in Finnish? Want to learn a new expression? Here’s how you can ask your Finnish friends to teach you specific words and phrases!

• Mitä tämä on suomeksi? (“What is this in Finnish?”)
• Mitä on “parliament” suomeksi? (“What is ‘parliament’ in Finnish?”)
• Miten sanotaan “it’s complicated” in Finnish? (“How do you say ‘it’s complicated’ in Finnish?”) 

The key words to remember here are on suomeksi (“is in Finnish”). Not complicated at all!

► “Parliament” on suomeksi eduskunta. (“‘Parliament’ is ‘eduskunta’ in Finnish.”)

► “It’s complicated” on suomeksi “se on monimutkaista.” (“‘It’s complicated’ is ‘se on monimutkaista’ in Finnish.”)

10 – How much is it? 

If you’re spending any amount of time in Finland, you’ll most likely need to buy (ostaa) something, so it’ll be useful to know how to ask for prices! 

Confusingly, the verb we’re using this time, maksaa, means both “to cost” and “to pay”! To ask “how much,” you can use the words kuinka paljon or mitä or paljonko.

• Kuinka paljon se maksaa? (“How much does it cost?”)
• Anteeksi, mitä tämä maksaa? (“Excuse me, what does this cost?”)
• Paljonko maksaa kuppi kahvia? (“How much does a cup of coffee cost?”)

The phrase you’ll want to memorize is Se maksaa… (“It costs…”). However, it’ll be useful to be aware of a few alternatives too:

► Se maksaa 5 (viisi) euroa. (“It costs 5€.”)
► Se tekee yhteensä 10 (kymmenen) euroa. (“It’s 10€ altogether.”)
► Hinta on 12 (kaksitoista) euroa/päivä. (“The price is 12€/day.”)

Watch this short video on FinnishPod101.com to learn more about the Finnish currency (euro) and how to talk about prices.

Kuinka paljon se maksaa? (“How much is it?”)

3. Conclusion

In this guide, we’ve covered a simple way to turn a statement into a question, the basic Finnish question words, and the ten most common questions you’ll want to memorize before your next Finnish conversation.

To practice, try writing a Finnish question and answer from this article in the comments section. We look forward to seeing how you do! 

We hope you’re feeling more confident asking and answering questions and that you’re just buzzing to go out there and use your skills in real life. Keep practicing—we’ll see you back at FinnishPod101.com soon for another Finnish lesson!

Whether you’re looking for more information about the official Finnish Language Proficiency Test (YKI), or are already busy studying for the exam, our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the test.

We’ll start by looking at the benefits of taking this test and how you can register for it. Then we’ll dive into the details about the test itself, and wrap up with useful tips on preparing for the YKI!

Table of Contents

1. What is YKI?
2. How Do You Pass the YKI?
3. Conclusion

1. What is YKI?

YKI (Yleinen Kielitutkinto) is the National Certificate of Language Proficiency in the Finnish language. The YKI test is intended for adults who wish to demonstrate their Finnish language skills, and anyone is welcome to sign up for the exam. (Note that YKI tests are also offered in eight other languages.)

But how long is the YKI test valid? The official certificate—issued by the University of Jyväskylä and sanctioned by opetusministeriö (the Finnish Ministry of Education)—remains valid for life, making it an excellent way to prove your proficiency in Finnish.

A- What are the levels of the YKI exam?

The test follows a standardized format that’s in accordance with the requirements of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The three proficiency levels of YKI—basic, intermediate, and advanced—can be further divided into six proficiency levels that correspond to the classification system of CEFR.

• CEFR A1 – National Certificate 1 (Basic)
• CEFR A2 – National Certificate 2 (Basic)
• CEFR B1 – National Certificate 3 (Intermediate)
• CEFR B2 – National Certificate 4 (Intermediate)
• CEFR C1 – National Certificate 5 (Advanced)
• CEFR C2 – National Certificate 6 (Advanced)

The “basic” YKI test level is intended for people who can handle everyday situations in Finnish. The “intermediate” level is for people who can speak the language with some confidence. The “advanced” level is for people who speak the language extremely well. Familiarize yourself with the requirements for each level in order to decide which one is most appropriate for you before registering.

It may also be good to take a test to determine your current proficiency level. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a Finnish language professional, you could ask them to help assess your level.

B- Why should you take the YKI exam?

Passing the exam and getting your hands on an official YKI certificate can come in handy in several situations, such as if you plan to:

• Study in a Finnish university
• Apply for a job in Finland
• Qualify for a language bonus at your job
• Apply for a Finnish citizenship

Always check to see if you need a certificate at a specific level before taking the test! For example, if you want to apply for a Finnish citizenship, you’ll need to pass both the written and oral components of your YKI exam at the intermediate level (proficiency level 3 or 4).

If, at this point, you’ve realized that you don’t actually need an official YKI certificate, but would still love to take a Finnish test online, consider completing a free language portfolio test on FinnishPod101.com. The exam is available to Premium PLUS subscribers—simply ask your teacher, who’ll be very happy to help!

You need to pass the YKI language test to apply for Finnish citizenship.

C- What’s included in the YKI Finnish language test?

The YKI Finnish language exam includes the following sections:

1. Tekstin ymmärtäminen (Reading comprehension)

2. Kirjoittaminen (Writing)

3. Puheen ymmärtäminen (Listening comprehension)

4. Puhuminen (Speaking)

Each section is timed, and the exam will take 3.5 to 4 hours to complete at the basic and intermediate levels, and 5 to 6 hours at the advanced level. No score is given—your certificate will simply state at which level you passed the exam.

The YKI focuses on practical, everyday situations, such as making a GP appointment or writing a letter to a friend. In other words, it’s not necessary to be familiar with any special jargon or the Finnish culture to pass the language test.

Find more details about the different components of the YKI test on the University of Jyväskylä website. You’ll also find useful YKI test samples there that will help you become familiar with the types of texts, recordings, and questions that you’re likely to come across when you take the real exam.

D- How and where do you take the test?

The YKI Finnish language test is offered in dozens of test centers across Finland. (Unfortunately, you can’t do the test outside of Finland!)

You can find the YKI test dates and locations for all upcoming tests here. Choose your language (suomi) and your level in order to see where and when future tests will be held.

Take note of the registration period, and be aware that the intermediate-level (keskitaso) tests are hugely popular, so try to sign up as soon as possible!

When registering, contact the test center directly by phone or email to confirm that they have some places left. If they do, you can go ahead and submit a registration form and arrange to pay the registration fee.

Registration fees are as follows:

• Basic Level: 100 euros
• Intermediate Level: 123 euros
• Advanced Level: 160 euros

Finally, if you have special needs, such as dyslexia or a hearing impairment, you can request special arrangements to help you complete the test. You’ll need to fill in an extra form and submit it alongside a medical certificate (or an equivalent document) when registering for your test.

2. How Do You Pass the YKI?

Now let’s take a look at the different sections of the official Finnish language test in more detail. We’ll cover the YKI test format, what you’ll need to know about each part of the exam, and how you can best prepare in advance to boost your chances of success.

1 – Reading Comprehension

Duration: 60 minutes, 6 exercises

The Test

In the reading comprehension part of the test, you’ll read six different texts and answer questions about them. The types of texts you might encounter include letters, emails, adverts, newspaper articles, and stories. 

You’ll be answering a combination of multiple-choice questions, true-or-false questions, and open-ended questions. At the advanced level, you may also be asked to write a short summary of a text. 

Pro-Tips

• Make sure you answer every question, even when you’re not sure about it—incorrect answers are not penalized.
• Remember that you only have about ten minutes per text.

How to Practice

• Keep reading a variety of written material, from blogs to comics, on a number of different subjects.
• Newspaper articles are a YKI staple, so make sure some of your reading material is from sites like Selkosanomat (a news site in simple, uncomplicated Finnish).
• For more of a challenge, read Helsingin Sanomat (Finland’s largest subscription newspaper).

Reading a wide range of material is one of the best ways to prepare for YKI.

2 – Writing

Duration: 55 minutes, 3 exercises

The Test

In the writing part of the exam, you’ll be asked to compose three different texts. The subject matter of these tasks varies, but depending on your level, you might be asked to write an informal message, an opinion piece, or a job application. The last task is typically an opinion piece—you’ll be given two topics to choose from.

Pro-Tips

• You must complete all three tasks to pass this section.
• Make sure your handwriting is legible!
• Writing text that’s understandable and written in an appropriate tone is more important than perfect grammar.
• Jot down a brief outline before you start writing each piece.

How to Practice

• Plan in advance how you’re going to structure different types of texts, and compose letters, emails, and opinion pieces.
• Learn and memorize various ways of expressing an opinion in Finnish.
• Read real-life opinion pieces and reviews.

If you’re a Premium PLUS subscriber, ask your teacher to give you feedback on your practice pieces.

Why not start a journal in Finnish to practice your writing skills?

3 – Listening 

Duration: around 40 minutes, 7 questions

The Test

In the listening comprehension part of the test, you’ll listen to four different recordings. The types of recordings you may hear include announcements, commercials, interviews, and conversations. At the basic and intermediate levels, you’ll listen to each recording twice.

Pro-Tips

• Answer all questions, even when you’re not sure—incorrect answers are not penalized.
• Pay attention to the instructions on the tape as well as those in your answer booklet.
• Although the recordings focus on everyday situations, be aware that you may hear different dialects and slang words.

How to Practice

• Make use of FinnishPod101’s large selection of audio and video lessons.
• Tune into a Finnish radio station as often as you can! Get started with Selkouutiset at Yle Areena (news in simple Finnish), or head over to Yle Puhe for interesting discussions on everything from cookery and the environment to politics and sports.
• To put your comprehension skills to the test, try out these exercises.
• Find a Finnish TV show or cartoon that you enjoy watching so you can improve your listening skills almost effortlessly!

When you’ve got that ‘passed the listening test’ feeling!

4 – Speaking

Duration: around 25 minutes, including the preparation

The Test

The speaking section of the test takes place in a language lab. There are four parts, which include taking part in a recorded conversation and preparing a speech about a specific topic.

At the advanced level, the test also includes a face-to-face interview, which will be filmed.

Pro-Tips

• Always say something—it’s better to make mistakes than to stay quiet!
• Try to avoid giving extremely short answers.
• Enunciate and speak loudly.
• Stick to the correct topic.
• Check your answer booklet to find out how long you’ll be speaking in each part.

How to Practice

• When listening to the radio or watching a TV show, come up with your own answers and comments in response to what you hear.
• If you can practice with a native Finnish speaker, do it as often as you can!
• Speak out loud to practice your Finnish pronunciation.

If you’re a Premium PLUS subscriber, record yourself and have your teacher evaluate your pronunciation.

The more you practice in advance, the more confident you’ll feel on the big day!

3. Conclusion

You’ve now made it to the end of our YKI guide and should have a pretty good idea if this Finnish language proficiency test is for you! And if you’re all fired up and determined to pass the exam, rest assured that your hard work will pay off. So keep practicing those reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

FinnishPod101.com has a large range of valuable resources, from vocabulary lists to fun audio lessons, to help you become confident in every aspect of the Finnish language. And if you’d prefer tailored one-on-one tuition and guidance from an experienced Finnish teacher, our Premium PLUS learning system has everything you need to ace the YKI exam.

Which part of the exam do you think will be the easiest for you? Which part do you feel the most nervous about?

Are you eager to start speaking in Finnish, but worry that you’ll need to tackle a ton of complex grammar rules first? You’ll be glad to hear that the best way to learn a language is actually to jump straight in and start speaking it as soon as possible. And learning the most common Finnish sentence patterns is a great way to start!

Our guide will walk you through the top ten sentence patterns that you’ll be using again and again in everyday conversations with Finns. We’ll be keeping things fairly basic so that you can get started fast!

Table of Contents

1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B
2. Describing Things: A is [Adjective]
3. Expressing “Want”: I Want (to)…
4. Expressing “Need”: I Need (to)… / I Have to…
5. Expressing “Like”: I Like (to)… / I Love (to)…
6. Confirming That You Can Do Something: I Can…
7. Stating How You’re Feeling: I Am… / I Feel…
8. The 5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) and How
9. Asking for Permission: Can I…? / Could I…?
10. Turning a Statement into a Question: Do You…?
11. Final Thoughts

1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B

Here’s a very simple Finnish language sentence structure that allows you to link two nouns. The verb we’re using is olla (“to be”).

• Matti on ystäväni. (“Matti is my friend.”)
• Siskoni on insinööri. (“My sister is an engineer.”)
• Tämä on työpaikkani. (“This is my workplace.”)
• Helsinki on Suomen pääkaupunki. (“Helsinki is Finland’s capital city.”)
• Se oli hyvä idea. (“It was a good idea.”)

Notice the use of the possessive suffix -ni in the first three examples. In these examples, the possessive suffix stands for the English word “my.” You can also add the word minun (“my”) and say minun ystäväni (“my friend”), but it isn’t necessary. 

For more about Finnish possessive suffixes, look at the relevant section of this Wikipedia page.To get you started on creating more sentences like those above, take a look at our collection of 100 Finnish core words. And here, you can find how to conjugate the verb olla (“to be”) for even more possibilities.

Helsinki on Suomen pääkaupunki. (“Helsinki is Finland’s capital city.”)

2. Describing Things: A is [Adjective]

We’ll stick to the verb olla (“to be”) for now, but this time, we’ll use it with an adjective.

• Henri on komea. (“Henri is handsome.”)
• Tämä auto on uusi. (“This car is new.”)
• Huomisen tapaaminen on erittäin tärkeä. (“Tomorrow’s meeting is extremely important.”)
• Sinä olet todella ystävällinen. (“You are really friendly.”)
• Elokuva, jonka katsoimme eilen, oli pelottava. (“The film we watched yesterday was scary.”)

But wait, what if you want to say that A is not B? In that case, you need to inflect the negative particle ei (“no”) and use the present base form of olla (“to be”):

• Minä en ole kotona. (“I am not home.”)
• Sinä et ole opiskelija. (“You are not a student.”)
• Se ei ole totta. (“It’s not true.”)
• Me emme ole lomalla. (“We are not on holiday.”)
• Te ette ole nukkumassa. (“You are not sleeping.” – plural or polite singular “you”)
• He eivät ole valmiita lähtemään. (“They are not ready to go.”)

Why not put together some of your own Finnish phrases and sentences? Get creative using this list of the most common Finnish adjectives!

Minä en ole kotona. (“I am not home.”)

3. Expressing “Want”: I Want (to)…

Whether you’re in a restaurant or at a friend’s place, being able to say what you want in Finnish will come in handy for sure! We’ll use the verb haluta (“to want”), and will cover a direct way (expressed with the indicative mood) and a more polite way (expressed with the conditional mood) to express want:

• Minä haluan… (“I want…”)
• Minä haluaisin… (“I would like…”)

Here are some Finnish sentence examples:

• Minä haluan hernekeittoa. (“I want pea soup.”)
• Minä haluan nähdä sinut. (“I want to see you.”)
• Minä haluan tulla mukaan. (“I want to come along.”)

And a few examples using the more polite haluaisin (“I would like”):

• Minä haluaisin tilata. (“I would like to order.”)
• Minä haluaisin ehdottaa jotakin. (“I would like to suggest something.”)
• Minä haluaisin että tulet häihimme. (“I would like you to come to our wedding.”)

Tip: It’s fine to drop the word minä (“I”) in these examples, because it’s already obvious from the conjugation of the verb that you’re talking about yourself.

And of course, it can be equally important to say when you don’t want something! Simply replace haluan (“I want”) with en halua (“I don’t want”).

• En halua lähteä ulos tänään. (“I don’t want to go out today.”)

Fancy trying some traditional Finnish dishes (besides pea soup)? Learn more about Finnish food in this lesson.

4. Expressing “Need”: I Need (to)… / I Have to…

Being able to say what you need is even more important than being able to express what you want! Just think of how often you end up looking for a bathroom in an unfamiliar city…

We’ll tackle “I need” and “I need to” separately. First, let’s take a look at how to use the verb tarvita (“to need”) with a noun. 

• Tarvitsen kahvia. (“I need coffee.”)
• Tarvitsen lisää aikaa. (“I need more time.”)
• Tarvitsemme parempia ideoita. (“We need better ideas.”)
• Tarvitsen uuden passin. (“I need a new passport.”)
• Tarvitsemme vastauksen pian. (“We need an answer soon.”)

In the first three examples, the noun is in the partitive case, and in the last two, the accusative case. (Learn more about Finnish noun cases on Wikipedia.)

Next, we’ll take a look at how to say that you need to do something. It’s a bit more complicated! 

Construct a sentence like this: 

The subject of the sentence in the genitive case, e.g. minun / sinun / meidän (“my” / “your” / “our”) + pitää / täytyy (“have to”) + a verb in the infinitive form.

• Anteeksi, minun pitää lähteä. (“Sorry, I have to leave.”)
• Minun pitää käydä vessassa. (“I have to go to the toilet.”)
• Sinun täytyy tehdä jotakin. (“You have to do something.”)
• Sinun täytyy harjoitella lisää jos haluat onnistua. (“You have to practice more if you want to succeed.”)
• Meidän täytyy vain yrittää uudestaan. (“We just have to try again.”)

Not a fan of coffee? Learn words for other drinks in Finnish.

Minä tarvitsen kahvia! (“I need coffee!”)

5. Expressing “Like”: I Like (to)… / I Love (to)…

Are you eager to get talking about all the things you enjoy and are passionate about? Then this section is for you!

The verbs we’ll focus on are pitää or tykätä (“to like”) and rakastaa (“to love”).

Let’s take a look at some examples of the Finnish sentence structure using pitää (“to like”) + a noun in the elative case:

• Minä pidän hänestä. (“I like him/her.”)
• Minä pidän intialaisesta ruoasta. (“I like Indian food.”)
• Minä pidän raittiista ilmasta. (“I like fresh air.”)
• Minä pidän haastavista lautapeleistä. (“I like challenging board games.”)
• Minä pidän oluesta, mutta juon mieluummin viiniä. (“I like beer, but prefer to drink wine.”)

A common way to express that you like doing something in spoken language is to use the verb tykätä (“to like”) + a verb in the infinitive form:

• Minä tykkään laittaa ruokaa. (“I like to cook.”)
• Minä tykkään herätä aikaisin. (“I like to wake up early.”)
• Minä tykkään poimia marjoja. (“I like picking berries.”)
• Minä tykkään kuunnella rock-musiikkia. (“I like to listen to rock music.”)
• Minä tykkään neuloa sukkia lapsilleni. (“I like to knit socks for my children.”)

If you truly love something or want to emphasize just how much you like it, you can use the verb rakastaa (“to love”) + a noun in the partitive case or a verb in the infinitive form:

• Minä rakastan sinua. (“I love you.”)
• Minä rakastan perhettäni. (“I love my family.”)
• Minä rakastan puhua filosofiasta samanhenkisten ihmisten kanssa. (“I love to talk about philosophy with like-minded people.”)

 Dating a Finn? Then you’ll need this lesson on romantic words!

Minä rakastan perhettäni. (“I love my family.”)

6. Confirming That You Can Do Something: I Can…

A word of warning: Finns are usually very modest and aren’t fans of excessive bragging! However, there are situations in which it’s very useful to be able to state that you can do something.

All of these three verbs mean “can,” but note the slight differences in meaning:

• Osata (“have the skills to”)
• Pystyä (“have the ability to”)
• Voida (“to be willing to”)

Let’s look at some specific examples:

• Minä osaan uida. (“I can swim.”)
• Minä osaan puhua suomea. (“I can speak Finnish.”)

• Minä pystyn siihen! (“I can do it!”)
• Minä pystyn olemaan hiljaa, jos todella yritän. (“I can be quiet if I really try.”)

• Minä voin auttaa sinua. (“I can help you.”)
• Minä voin tulla sinua asemalle vastaan. (“I can come and meet you at the station.”) 

These sports are popular in Finland—can you play any of them?

 7. Stating How You’re Feeling: I Am… / I Feel…

Letting others know how we feel can be really important sometimes! And sometimes, it’s very simple. Just look at these straightforward examples:

• Minä olen onnellinen. (“I am happy.”)
• Minä olen surullinen. (“I am sad.”)

However, when talking about how you’re feeling (especially physically), you’ll typically want to use the following sentence structure:

Minulla on (“I have”) + a noun in the nominative case, such as nälkä (“hunger”). 

Let’s take a look at some examples:

• Minulla on nälkä. (“I am hungry.”)
• Minulla on huono olo. (“I am feeling unwell.”)
• Minulla on ikävä sinua. (“I miss you.”)

Learn more words and phrases to describe how you’re feeling, and prepare for emergencies by learning these important phrases.

Minulla on nälkä. (“I am hungry.”)

8. The 5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) and How

Whether you need to ask for directions or want to get to know someone better, learning how to ask questions should be a top priority for anyone learning Finnish! We’ll get you started by covering the most important question words and how to use them.

• Kuka (“Who”)
• Mikä / Mitä (“What”)
• Milloin (“When”)
• Missä (“Where”)
• Miksi (“Why”)
• Miten (“How”)

Note that question words can be singular or plural, and used in different cases—we’ll keep things simple and focus on the most basic ones here. FinnishPod101.com has more relevant lessons on how to use question words that you can check out, though. Why not start with the word “what”?

 Here are the question words we mentioned in action: 

• Kuka on Suomen presidentti? (“Who is Finland’s president?”)
• Mikä on hyvä lahja 5-vuotiaalle? (“What is a good gift for a 5-year-old?”)
• Mitä tämä tarkoittaa? (“What does this mean?”)
• Milloin pääset töistä? (“When do you get off work?”)
• Missä haluaisit tavata? (“Where would you like to meet?”)
• Miksi et tullut juhliimme? (“Why didn’t you come to our party?”)
• Miten pääsen täältä keskustaan? (“How do I get from here to the city center?”)

To figure out whether to use mikä or mitä (“what”), follow this rule of thumb: Use mikä when the subject is concrete, defined, or countable. Use mitä when the subject is abstract, undefined, or uncountable.Get even more confident in your question-asking skills by learning the top fifteen questions in Finnish with FinnishPod101.com.

Miten pääsen täältä keskustaan? (“How do I get from here to the city center?”)

9. Asking for Permission: Can I…? / Could I…?

Finns appreciate good manners, and knowing how to ask for something politely will always help you make a good first impression. 

The verbs we’re going to use are saada and voida.

• Saanko…? (“Can I…?”)
• Saisinko…? (“Could I…?”)
• Voinko…? (“Can I…?”)
• Voisinko…? (“Could I…?”)

 Here are a few examples. (Using the equivalent of “could I” is more polite.)

• Saanko ehdottaa jotakin? (“Can I suggest something?”)
• Saisinko ruokalistan? (“Could I have the menu?”)
• Voinko tulla sisään? (“Can I come in?”)
• Voisinko puhua kanssasi? (“Could I talk with you?”)

 Learn more about manners and the power of “thank you” in Finland on our blog.

10. Turning a Statement into a Question: Do You…?

Here’s a neat trick that you can use to turn a statement sentence in Finnish into a question. First, take a simple sentence like the ones we looked at earlier in this article:

• Hän on suomalainen. (“He/she is Finnish.”)

Now, switch the verb and the noun around and add -ko or -kö to the verb (use -kö if the verb also contains ä or ö; otherwise, stick to -ko), and your question looks like this:

• Onko hän suomalainen? (“Is he/she Finnish?”)

Here are a few more examples:

• Sinä syöt lihaa. (“You eat meat.”) > Syötkö sinä lihaa? (“Do you eat meat?”)
• Sinä pidät koirista. (“You like dogs.”) > Pidätkö sinä koirista? (“Do you like dogs?”)
• Hän lukee sanomalehtiä. (“He/she reads newspapers.”) > Lukeeko hän sanomalehtiä? (“Does he/she read newspapers?”)
• Elina osti leipää. (“Elina bought bread.”) > Ostiko Elina leipää? (“Did Elina buy bread?”)

Who knew Finnish sentence patterns could be this easy? Why not try your hand at forming more questions like the ones above? Look up more common Finnish verbs in FinnishPod101’s guide to the fifty most common Finnish verbs.

11. Final Thoughts

You’ve now learned the ten most useful Finnish sentence patterns, and are hopefully feeling excited about going out there and using them in real life! 

Keep practicing those skills, and do visit FinnishPod101.com anytime to further increase your vocabulary, learn correct pronunciation, and brush up on your grammar!

If you have any questions about this lesson, or if we didn’t cover a sentence pattern you want to know, don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments. We’ll do our best to help!

You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in Finnish! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a Finnish keyboard.

Table of Contents

1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Finnish
2. Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Finnish
3. How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer
4. How to Change the Language Settings to Finnish on Your Computer
5. Activating the Finnish Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet
6. Finnish Keyboard Typing Tips
7. How to Practice Typing Finnish

1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Finnish

Learning a new language is made so much easier when you’re able to read and write/type it. This way, you will:

• Get the most out of any dictionary and Finnish language apps on your devices
• Expand your ability to find Finnish websites and use the various search engines
• Be able to communicate much better online with your Finnish teachers and friends, and look super cool in the process! 

2. Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Finnish

It takes only a few steps to set up any of your devices to read and type in Finnish. It’s super-easy on your mobile phone and tablet, and a simple process on your computer.

On your computer, you’ll first activate the onscreen keyboard to work with. You’ll only be using your mouse or touchpad/pointer for this keyboard. Then, you’ll need to change the language setting to Finnish, so all text will appear in Finnish. You could also opt to use online keyboards instead. Read on for the links!

On your mobile devices, it’s even easier—you only have to change the keyboard. We also provide a few alternatives in the form of online keyboards and downloadable apps.

3. How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer

1- Mac

1. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard.

2. Check the option “Show Keyboard & Character Viewers in Menu Bar.”

3. You’ll see a new icon on the right side of the main bar; click on it and select “Show Keyboard Viewer.”

2- Windows

1. Go to Start > Settings > Easy Access > Keyboard.

2. Turn on the option for “Onscreen Keyboard.”

3- Online Keyboards

If you don’t want to activate your computer’s onscreen keyboard, you also have the option to use online keyboards. Here are some good options:

• Type Finnish Characters
• Branah
• Finnish Keyboard

4- Add-ons of Extensions for Browsers

Instead of an online keyboard, you could also choose to download a Google extension to your browser for a language input tool. The Google Input Tools extension allows users to use input tools in Chrome web pages, for example.

4. How to Change the Language Settings to Finnish on Your Computer

Now that you’re all set to work with an onscreen keyboard on your computer, it’s time to download the Finnish language pack for your operating system of choice:

• Windows 8 (and higher)
• Windows 7
• Mac (OS X and higher)

1- Windows 8 (and higher)

1. Go to “Settings” > “Change PC Settings” > “Time & Language” > “Region & Language.”
2. Click on “Add a Language” and select “Finnish.” This will add it to your list of languages. It will appear as suomi with the note “language pack available.”
3. Click on “suomi” > “Options” > “Download.” It’ll take a few minutes to download and install the language pack.
4. As a keyboard layout, you’ll only need the one marked as “Finnish – suomi.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts.

2- Windows 7

1. Go to “Start” > “Control Panel” > “Clock, Language, and Region.”
2. On the “Region and Language” option, click on “Change Keyboards or Other Input Methods.”
3. On the “Keyboards and Languages” tab, click on “Change Keyboards” > “Add” > “Finnish.”
4. Expand the option of “Finnish” and then expand the option “Keyboard.” Select the keyboard layout marked as “Finnish.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts. Click “OK” and then “Apply.”

3- Mac (OS X and higher)

If you can’t see the language listed, please make sure to select the right option from System Preferences > Language and Region

1. From the Apple Menu (top left corner of the screen) go to System Preferences > Keyboard.

2. Click the Input Sources tab and a list of available keyboards and input methods will appear.

3. Click on the plus button, select “Finnish,” and add the “Finnish” keyboard.

5. Activating the Finnish Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet

Texting and searching in Finnish will greatly help you master the language! Adding a Finnish keyboard on your mobile phone and/or tablet is super-easy.

You could also opt to download an app instead of adding a keyboard. Read on for our suggestions.

Below are the instructions for both iOS and Android mobile phones and tablets.

1- iOS

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.

2. Tap “Keyboards” and then “Add New Keyboard.”

3. Select “Finnish” from the list.

4. When typing, you can switch between languages by tapping and holding on the icon to reveal the keyboard language menu.

2- Android

1. Go to Settings > General Management > Language and Input > On-screen Keyboard (or “Virtual Keyboard” on some devices) > Samsung Keyboard.

2. Tap “Language and Types” or “ + Select Input Languages” depending on the device and then “MANAGE INPUT LANGUAGES” if available.

3. Select “suomi” from the list.

4. When typing, you can switch between languages by swiping the space bar.

3- Applications for Mobile Phones

If you don’t want to add a keyboard on your mobile phone or tablet, this is a good app to consider:

• Finnish keyboard lite

6. Finnish Keyboard Typing Tips

Typing in Finnish can be very challenging at first! Therefore, we added here a few useful tips to make it easier to use your Finnish keyboard.

1- Computer

• If you don’t have access to a virtual keyboard, the Finnish letter “Ä” can be written as “ae” and “Ö” can be written as “oe.” This system is used internationally in official documents (such as passports and ID cards) and even in sports competitions. 

2- Mobile Phones

• Like before, if you don’t have access to a virtual keyboard, the Finnish letter “Ä” can be written as “ae” and “Ö” can be written as “oe.” On a mobile keyboard, though, these characters should appear as options if you press and hold the “A” and “O” keys, respectively.

7. How to Practice Typing Finnish

As you probably know by now, learning Finnish is all about practice, practice, and more practice! Strengthen your Finnish typing skills by writing comments on any of our lesson pages, and our teacher will answer. If you’re a FinnishPod101 Premium PLUS member, you can directly text our teacher via the My Teacher app—use your Finnish keyboard to do this!

Do you remember the moment you fell in love with languages?

Do you desire to learn or advance in Finnish quickly and effectively?

Then you need a Finnish tutor.

A common question that first-time language-learners ask is “Where do I begin?” The answer? Guidance.

For native English-speakers who want to learn Asian languages, for example, timelines provided by the U.S. Foreign Service Institute can appear discouraging. However, defeating these odds is not unheard of. If you want to beat the odds yourself, one of the best learning options is a subscription to Premium PLUS from Innovative Language.

As an active Premium PLUS member of JapanesePod101.com and KoreanClass101.com myself, I have an enjoyable experience learning at an accelerated pace with at least thirty minutes of study daily. The following Premium PLUS features contribute to my success:

• Access to thousands of lessons
• A voice recorder 
• Spaced-repetition system (SRS) flashcards
• Weekly homework assignments
• A personal language instructor

As someone who decided to make Japanese her second language one year ago, I am extremely grateful for Premium PLUS.

Allow me to emphasize on how these Premium PLUS features strengthen my language studies.

Gain Unlimited Access to Audio and Video Lessons!

As a Premium PLUS member, I have full access to the lesson library and other Premium features. Best of all, I’m not limited to one level; I can learn to my heart’s content with upper-level courses.

There are lessons on various topics that tackle crucial language-learning elements, such as:

• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking
• Conversation

Specifically, there are pathways. Pathways are collections of lessons that center on a specific topic. Some Innovative Language sites, like JapanesePod101.com, even have pathways geared toward proficiency tests. For example, the JLPT N3 Master Course pathway.

Because of the abundance of lessons, I’ve found pathways in the lesson library to help me prepare for certain events. Thanks to the “Speaking Perfect Japanese at a Restaurant” pathway, I spoke fully in Japanese while dining in Japan. Additionally, I participated in conversations at language exchange meetups in South Korea after completing the “Top 25 Korean Questions You Need to Know” pathway.

Each lesson has lesson notes, which I read while simultaneously listening to the audio lesson. This strategy enables me to follow along on key points. Lesson notes generally contain the following:

• Dialogue
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As someone who’s constantly on-the-go, I heavily benefit from mobile access to lessons. Podcasts and lesson notes are available on the Innovative Language app and/or Podcasts app for iOS.

All lessons and their contents are downloadable. Prior to my flights to Japan and South Korea, I downloaded lessons on my iPhone. The apps make learning more convenient for me during my commutes.

Practice Speaking with the Voice Recording Tool!

Pronunciation is an essential ingredient in language-learning. Proper pronunciation prompts clear understanding during conversations with native speakers.

Prior to learning full Korean sentences, my online Korean language tutor assigned the “Hana Hana Hangul” pathway to me. It demonstrated the writing and pronunciation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Throughout this pathway, I submitted recordings of my Hangul character pronunciations to my language teacher for review.

I was given a similar task on JapanesePod101.com with the “Ultimate Japanese Pronunciation Guide” pathway. My Japanese language teacher tested my pronunciation of the Japanese characters kana. My completion of the two pathways boosted my confidence in speaking.

Speaking is one of the more challenging components of learning a language. The voice recording tool in particular was a great way for me to improve my speaking skills. Further, because the lesson dialogues are spoken by native speakers, I’m able to practice speaking naturally.

This feature is also available for vocabulary words and sample sentences. Being able to hear these recordings improves my pronunciation skills for languages like Japanese, where intonation can change the meaning of a word entirely. The voice recorder examines my speed and tone. I also follow up by sending a recording to my online language tutor for feedback.

A great way to boost one’s speaking confidence is to shadow native speakers. During the vocabulary reviews, it’s helpful for me to hear the breakdown of each word; doing so makes a word that was originally difficult to even read a breeze to say!

Some lessons create opportunities to speak your own sentences. For example, the “Top 25 Korean Questions You Need to Know” pathway presents opportunities to answer questions personally. This helps you gain the ability to give answers as the unique individual you are.

Example Scenario:

The host asks the following question:

어디에 살고 있습니까?

eodieseo salgo isseumnikka

“Where do you live?”

If you live in Tokyo, you would readily say the following:

도쿄에 살고 있습니다.

Tokyo-e salgo isseumnida.

“I live in Tokyo.”

Increase Your Vocab with Spaced-Repetition Flashcards and More!

Imagine having a conversation with a native speaker and hesitating because you lack a solid vocabulary base.

Premium PLUS offers various features to expand learners’ vocabulary, including Free Gifts of the Month. FinnishPod101’s free gifts for April 2020 included an e-book with “400 Everyday Phrases for Beginners,” and the content is updated every month. When I download free resources like this, I find opportunities to use them with co-teachers, friends, or my language tutors.

An effective way to learn vocabulary is with SRS flashcards. SRS is a system designed for learning a new word and reviewing it in varying time intervals.

You can create and study flashcard decks, whether it’s your Word Bank or a certain vocabulary list. For example, if you need to visit a post office, the “Post Office” vocabulary list for your target language would be beneficial to study prior to your visit.

In addition to the SRS flashcards, each lesson has a vocabulary slideshow and quiz to review the lesson’s vocabulary.

There’s also the 2000 Core Word List, which includes the most commonly used words in your target language. Starting from the 100 Core Word List, you’ll gradually build up your knowledge of useful vocabulary. These lists can be studied with SRS flashcards, too.

With the SRS flashcards, you can change the settings to your liking. The settings range from different card types to number of new cards per deck. Personally, I give myself vocabulary tests by changing the settings.

After studying a number of flashcards, I change the card types to listening comprehension and/or production. Then I test myself by writing the translation of the word or the spoken word or phrase.

The change in settings allow me to remember vocabulary and learn how to identify the words. This is especially helpful with Japanese kanji!

Complete Homework Assignments!

Homework assignments are advantageous to my language studies. There are homework assignments auto-generated weekly. They range from multiple-choice quizzes to writing assignments.

Language tutors are readily available for homework help. Some writing assignments, for instance, require use of unfamiliar vocabulary. In such cases, my language teachers assist me by forwarding related lessons or vocabulary lists.

In addition to these auto-generated homework tasks, language tutors customize daily assignments. My daily homework assignments include submitting three written sentences that apply the target grammar point of that lesson, and then blindly audio-recording those sentences. My personal language tutor follows up with feedback and corrections, if needed.

Your language tutors also provide assignments upon requests. When I wanted to review grammar, my Korean teacher sent related quizzes and assignments. Thus, you are not only limited to the auto-generated assignments.

Every weekend, I review by re-reading those written sentences. It helps me remember sentence structures, grammar points, and vocabulary to apply in real-world contexts.

Furthermore, I can track my progress with language portfolios every trimester. It’s like a midterm exam that tests my listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

Get Your Own Personal Language Teacher!

My language teachers cater to my goals with personalized and achievable learning programs. The tangible support of my online language teachers makes it evident that we share common goals.

Once I share a short-term or long-term goal with my teacher, we establish a plan or pathway that will ultimately result in success. I coordinate with my teachers regularly to ensure the personalized learning programs are prosperous. For example, during my JLPT studies, my Japanese language tutor assigned me practice tests.

Your language tutor is available for outside help as well. When I bought drama CDs in Japan, I had difficulty transliterating the dialogue. My Japanese teacher forwarded me the script to read along as I listened.

Additionally, I often practice Korean and Japanese with music. I memorize one line of the lyrics daily. Every time, I learn a new grammar point and new vocabulary. I add the vocabulary to my SRS flashcards, locate the grammar in the Grammar Bank, and study the associated lessons online.

I send my teachers the name of the songs, making them aware of my new goal. One time, my song for Korean was “If You Do” by GOT7. My Korean teacher revealed that she was a huge fan of GOT7 like me! For Japanese, it was “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA,” also known as the Dragonball Z theme song. My Japanese teacher excitedly told me that she sang the song a lot as a kid!

A remarkable thing happened to me in South Korea. I was stressed about opening a bank account with limited Korean. I sought help from my Korean teacher. She forwarded me a script of a bank conversation.

After two days, I visited the local bank. It all started with my opening sentence:

은행 계좌를 만들고 싶어요

eunhaeng gyejwaleul mandeulgo sip-eoyo.

I want to open a bank account.

Everything went smoothly, and I exited the bank with a new account!

The MyTeacher Messenger allows me to share visuals with my teachers for regular interaction, including videos to critique my pronunciation mechanisms. I improve my listening and speaking skills by exchanging audio with my teachers. In addition to my written homework assignments, I exchange messages with my language teachers in my target language. This connection with my teachers enables me to experience the culture as well as the language.

Why You Should Subscribe to Premium PLUS

It’s impossible for me to imagine my continuous progress with Japanese and Korean without Premium PLUS. Everything—from the SRS flashcards to my language teachers—makes learning languages enjoyable and clear-cut.

You’re assured to undergo the same experience with Premium PLUS. You’ll gain access to the aforementioned features as well as all of the Premium features.

Complete lessons and assignments to advance in your target language. Increase your vocabulary with the “2000 Core Word List” for that language and SRS flashcards. Learn on-the-go with the Innovative Language app and/or Podcasts app for iOS users.

Learning a new language takes dedication and commitment. The Premium PLUS features make learning irresistibly exciting. You’ll look forward to learning daily with your language tutor.

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Do you know your left from your right in Finnish? Asking for directions can mean the difference between a heavenly day on the beach and a horrible day on your feet, hot and bothered and wondering how to even get back to the hotel. Believe me – I know! On my earlier travels, I didn’t even know simple terms like ‘go straight ahead’ or ‘go west,’ and I was always too shy to ask locals for directions. It wasn’t my ego, but rather the language barrier that held me back. I’ve ended up in some pretty dodgy situations for my lack of directional word skills.

This never needs to happen! When traveling in Finland, you should step out in confidence, ready to work your Finnish magic and have a full day of exploring. It’s about knowing a few basic phrases and then tailoring them with the right directional words for each situation. Do you need to be pointed south in Finnish? Just ask! Believe me, people are more willing to help than you might think. It’s when you ask in English that locals might feel too uncertain to answer you. After all, they don’t want to get you lost. For this reason, it also makes sense that you learn how to understand people’s responses. 

Asking directions in Finland is inevitable. So, learn to love it! Our job here at FinnishPod101 is to give you the confidence you need to fully immerse and be the intrepid adventurer you are.

Table of Contents

1. Talking about position and direction in Finnish
2. Getting directions in Finnish
3. Conclusion

1. Talking about position and direction in Finnish

Have you ever tried saying the compass directions of north, south, east and west in Finnish? These words are good to know, being the most natural and ancient method of finding direction. In the days before GPS – before the invention of the compass, even – knowing the cardinal directions was critical to finding the way. Certainly, if you were lost somewhere in the mountain regions now and using a map to navigate, you’d find them useful. Even more so if you and a Finnish friend were adrift at sea, following the stars!

In most situations, though, we rely on body relative directions – your basic up, down, left and right, forward and backwards. Most cultures use relative directions for reference and Finnish is no exception. Interestingly, in a few old languages there are no words for left and right and people still rely on cardinal directions every day. Can you imagine having such a compass brain?

Well, scientists say that all mammals have an innate sense of direction, so getting good at finding your way is just a matter of practice. It’s pretty cool to think that we were born already pre-wired to grasp directions; the descriptive words we invented are mere labels to communicate these directions to others! Thus, the need to learn some Finnish positional vocabulary. So, without further ado… let’s dive in.

1- Top – huippu

If planting a flag at the top of the highest mountain in Finland is a goal you’d rather leave for  adrenaline junkies, how about making it to the top of the highest building? Your view of the city will be one you’ll never forget, and you can take a selfie  for Twitter with your head in the clouds. 

2- Bottom – pohja

The ‘bottom’ can refer to the lower end of a road, the foot of a mountain, or the ground floor of a building. It’s the place you head for after you’ve been to the top!

What are your favorite ‘bottoms’? I love the first rung of a ladder, the base of a huge tree or the bottom of a jungle-covered hill. What can I say? I’m a climber. Divers like the bottom of the ocean and foxes like the bottom of a hole. Since you’re learning Finnish, hopefully you’ll travel from the top to the bottom of Finland.

3- Up – ylös

This is a very common and useful word to know when seeking directions. You can go up the street, up an elevator, up a cableway, up a mountain… even up into the sky in a hot air balloon. It all depends on how far up you like to be!

4- Down – alas

What goes up, must surely come down. This is true of airplanes, flaming arrows and grasshoppers – either aeronautics or gravity will take care of that. In the case of traveling humans who don’t wish to go down at terminal velocity, it’s useful to know phrases such as, “Excuse me, where is the path leading back down this mountain?”

5- Middle – keskikohta

In Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s characters live in Middle-earth, which is just an ancient word for the inhabited world of men; it referred to the physical world, as opposed to the unseen worlds above and below it. The ancients also thought of the human world as vaguely in the middle of the encircling seas.

When we talk about the ‘middle’, we’re referring to a point that’s roughly between two horizontal lines – like the middle of the road or the middle of a river. While you’re unlikely to ask for directions to the ‘middle’ of anything, you might hear it as a response. For example, “You’re looking for the castle ruins? But they’re in the middle of the forest!”

6- Center – keskusta

Although similar in meaning to ‘middle’, this word is more specific. Technically, it means the exact central point of a circular area, equally distant from every point on the circumference.  When asking for directions to the center of town, though, we don’t mean to find a mathematically-accurate pinpoint!

7- Front – etuosa

The front is the place or position that is seen first; it’s the most forward part of something.  In the case of a hotel, the front is going to be easy to recognize, so if you call a taxi and are told to wait “in front of the hotel”, you won’t have a problem. It’s pretty cool how just knowing the main Finnish directional words can help you locate something if there’s a good landmark nearby.

8- Back – takapuoli

I once rented a house in a charming little street that was tucked away at the back of a popular mall. It was so easy to find, but my boss took three hours to locate it from 300 meters away. Why? Well, because she spoke no English and I had no clue what the word for ‘back’ was. All she heard, no matter which way I said it, was “mall, mall, mall”.  As a result, she hunted in front of and next to the mall until she was frazzled. 

Knowing how to describe the location of your own residence is probably the first Finnish ‘directions’ you should practice. This skill will certainly come in handy if you’re lost and looking for your way home. 

9- Side – puoli

If the place you’re looking for is at the ‘side’ of something, it will be located to the left or the right of that landmark. That could mean you’re looking for an alleyway beside a building, or a second entrance (as opposed to the main entrance). 

As an example, you might be told that your tour bus will be waiting at the right side of the building, not in front. Of course, then you’ll also need to understand “It’s on the right” in Finnish.

10- East – itä

If you’re facing north, then east is the direction of your right hand. It’s the direction toward which the Earth rotates about its axis, and therefore the general direction from which the sun appears to rise. If you want to go east using a compass for navigation, you should set a bearing of 90°. 

We think of Asia as the ‘East’. Geographically, this part of the world lies in the eastern hemisphere, but there’s so much more that we’ve come to associate with this word. The East signifies ancient knowledge and is symbolic of enlightenment in many cultures.

11- West – länsi

West is the opposite to east and it’s the direction in which the sun sets. To go west using a compass, you’ll set a bearing of 270 degrees. 

If you were on the planet Venus, which rotates in the opposite direction from the Earth (retrograde rotation), the Sun would rise in the west and set in the east… not that you’d be able to see the sun through Venus’s opaque clouds. 

Culturally, the West refers mainly to the Americas and Europe, but also to Australia and New Zealand, which are geographically in the East. The Western way of thinking is very different to that of the East. One of the most striking differences is individualism versus collectivism. In the West, we grew up with philosophies of freedom and independence, whereas in the East concepts of unity are more important. 

Food for thought: as a traveler who’s invested in learning the languages and cultures of places you visit, you have an opportunity to become a wonderfully balanced thinker – something the world needs more of.

12- North – pohjoinen

North is the top point of a map and when navigating, you’d set a compass bearing of 360 degrees if you want to go that way. Globes of the earth have the north pole at the top, and we use north as the direction by which we define all other directions.

If you look into the night sky, the North Star (Polaris) marks the way due north. It’s an amazing star, in that it holds nearly still in our sky while the entire northern sky moves around it. That’s because it’s located nearly at the north celestial pole – the point around which the entire northern sky turns. Definitely a boon for lost travelers!

13- South – etelä

South is the opposite of north, and it’s perpendicular to the east and west. You can find it with a compass if you set your bearings to 180 degrees. 

The south celestial pole is the point around which the entire southern sky appears to turn. In the night sky of the southern hemisphere, the Southern Cross is a very easy to find constellation with four points in the shape of a diamond. If you come from the southern hemisphere, chances are your dad or mum pointed it out to you when you were a kid. You can use the Southern Cross to find south if traveling by night, so it’s well worth figuring it out!

14- Outside – ulkona

This word refers to any place that is not under a roof. Perhaps you’ve heard talk about some amazing local bands that will be playing in a nearby town on the weekend. If it’s all happening outside, you’ll be looking for a venue in a park, a stadium or some other big open space. Come rain or shine, outside definitely works for me!

15- Inside – sisällä

I can tolerate being inside if all the windows are open, or if I’m watching the latest Homeland episode. How about you? I suppose going shopping for Finnish-style accessories would be pretty fun, too, and that will (mostly) be an inside affair. 

16- Opposite – vastakkainen

This is a great word to use as a reference point for locating a place. It’s right opposite that other place! In other words, if you stand with your back to the given landmark, your destination will be right in front of you. 

17- Adjacent – läheinen

So, the adorable old man from next door, who looks about ninety-nine, explains in Finnish that the food market where he works is adjacent to the community hall on the main road. ‘Adjacent’ just means next to or adjoining something else, so… head for the hall! 

While you’re marveling at the wondrous and colorful displays of Finnish food, think about how all of these delicious stalls lie adjacent to one another. Having a happy visual association with a new word is a proven way to remember it!

18- Toward – kohti

To go toward something is to go in its direction and get closer to it. This word can often appear in a sentence with ‘straight ahead’, as in:

“Go straight ahead, toward the park.”

If you’ve come to Finland to teach English, you might have to ask someone how to find your new school. Depending on what town you’re in, you could simply head toward the residential area at lunch time. You’ll see (and probably hear) the primary school soon enough – it will be the big fenced building with all the kids running around the yard!

19- Facing – vastatusten

If you look at yourself in a mirror, you’ll be facing your reflection. In other words: you and your reflection look directly at each other.  Many plush hotels are ocean-facing or river-facing, meaning the main entrance is pointed directly at the water, and the beach out front faces the hotel. 

20- Beside – vieressä

I know of a special little place where there’s a gym right beside a river. You can watch the sun go down over the water while working out – it’s amazing. What’s more, you can park your scooter beside the building and it will still be there when you come out.

21- Corner – kulma

I love a corner when it comes to directions. A street corner is where two roads meet at an angle – often 90 degrees – making it easier to find than a location on a straight plane. 

“Which building is the piano teacher in, sir?”

“Oh, that’s easy – it’s the one on the corner.”

The key to a corner is that it leads in two directions. It could form a crossroads, a huge intersection, or it could be the start of a tiny one-way cobblestone street with hidden treasures waiting in the shadow of the buildings.

22- Distant – kaukainen

When a location is distant, it’s in an outlying area. This Finnish word refers to the remoteness of the site, not to how long it takes to get there. For that reason, it’s a very good idea to write the directions down, rather than try to memorize them in Finnish. Even better, get a Finnish person to write them down for you. This may seem obvious, but always include the location of your starting point! Any directions you’re given will be relative to the exact place you’re starting from.

23- Far – kaukana

This word has a similar meaning to the previous one, but it speaks more about the fact that it will take some time to get there. If you’re told that your destination is “far”,  you’ll no doubt want to go by public transport if you don’t have your own vehicle. Get your hands on a road map and have the directions explained to you using this map. Don’t hesitate to bring out the highlighters. 

24- Close – lähellä

This word is always a good one to hear when you have your heart set on a very relaxing day in the sun. It means there’s only a short distance to travel, so you can get there in a heartbeat and let the tanning commence. Remember to grab your Nook Book – learning is enhanced when you’re feeling happy and unencumbered. Being close to ‘home’ also means you can safely steal maximum lazy hours and leave the short return trip for sunset! 

25- By – mennessä

This word identifies the position of a physical object beside another object or a place. A Bed and Breakfast can be ‘by the sea’ if it’s in close proximity to the sea. 

‘By’ can also be used to describe the best mode of transport for your route, as in:

“You can get there by bus.”

26- Surrounding – ympäröivä

If something is surrounding you, it is on every side and you are enclosed by it – kind of like being in a boat. Of course, we’re not talking about deep water here, unless you’re planning on going fishing. Directions that include this word are more likely to refer to the surrounding countryside, or any other features that are all around the place you’re looking for.

27- All sides – kaikki puolet

Another useful descriptive Finnish term to know is ‘all sides’. It simply means that from a particular point, you will be able to see the same features to the front, back and sides of you. It doesn’t necessarily imply you’ll be completely surrounded, just more-or-less so. Say, for example, you’re visiting the winelands for the day. When you get there, you’ll see vineyards on all sides of you. How stunning! Don’t neglect to sample the local wines – obviously. 

28- Next to – vieressä

The person giving you directions is probably standing next to you. The place being described as ‘next to’ something is in a position immediately to one side of it. It could refer to adjoining buildings, neighbouring stores, or the one-legged beggar who sits next to the beautiful flower vendor on weekdays. ‘Next to’ is a great positional term, as everything is next to something! 

“Excuse me, Ma’am.  Where is the train station?”

“It’s that way – next to the tourist market.”

29- Above – yläpuolella

This is the direction you’ll be looking at if you turn your head upwards. Relative to where your body is, it’s a point higher than your head. If you’re looking for the location of a place that’s ‘above’ something, it’s likely to be on at least the first floor of a building; in other words, above another floor.

‘Above’ could also refer to something that will be visible overhead when you get to the right place. For example, the road you’re looking for might have holiday decorations strung up from pole to pole above it. In the cities, this is very likely if there’s any kind of festival going on.

30- Under – alla

Under is the opposite of above, and refers to a place that lies beneath something else. In the case of directions in Finnish, it could refer to going under a bridge – always a great landmark – or perhaps through a subway. In some parts of the world, you can even travel through a tunnel that’s under the sea!

Of course, you might just be missing your home brew and looking for an awesome coffee shop that happens to be under the very cool local gym you were also looking for. Nice find!

2. Getting directions in Finnish

The quickest and easiest way to find out how to get where you’re going is simply to ask someone. Most people on the streets of Finland won’t mind being asked at all and will actually appreciate your attempt to ask directions in Finnish. After all, most tourists are more inclined to ask in their own language and hope for the best. How pedestrian is that, though?

I know, I know – you normally prefer to find your own way without asking. Well, think of it like this: you obviously need to practice asking questions in Finnish as much as you need to practice small talk, counting, or ordering a beer. Since you can’t very well ask a complete stranger if they would please help you count to five hundred, you’ll have to stick with asking directions!

We spoke earlier about body relative directions and these tend to be the ones we use most. For example:

“Turn left.”

“Go straight.”

“Turn right.” 

Remember, too, that your approach is important. Many people are wary of strangers and you don’t want to scare them off. It’s best to be friendly, direct and get to the point quickly.  A simple ‘Hi, can you help me?” or “Excuse me, I’m a bit lost,” will suffice. If you have a map in your hand, even better, as your intentions will be clear. 

The bottom line is that if you want to find your way around Finland with ease, it’s a good idea to master these basic phrases. With a little practice, you can also learn how to say directions in Finnish. Before you know it, you’ll be the one explaining the way!

3. Conclusion

Now that you have over thirty new directional phrases you can learn in Finnish, there’s no need to fear losing your way when you hit the streets of Finland. All you need is a polite approach and your own amazing smile, and the locals will be excited to help you. It’s a chance for them to get better at explaining things to a foreigner, too. Most will enjoy that!

I advise keeping a few things handy in your day pack: a street map, a highlighter, a small notebook and pen, and your Finnish phrasebook. It would be useful to also have the Finnish WordPower app installed on your phone – available for both iPhone and Android. 

Here’s a quick challenge to get you using the new terms right away. Can you translate these directions into Finnish?

“It’s close. Go straight ahead to the top of the hill and turn left at the corner. The building is on the right, opposite a small bus stop.”

You’re doing amazingly well to have come this far! Well done on tackling the essential topic of ‘directions’ – it’s a brave challenge that will be immensely rewarding. Trust me, when you’re standing at a beautiful location that you found just by knowing what to ask in Finnish, you’re going to feel pretty darn good.

If you’re as excited as I am about taking Finnish to an even deeper level, we have so much more to offer you. Did you know that we’ve already had over 1 billion lesson downloads? I know – we’re blown away by that, too. It’s amazing to be bringing the world’s languages to people who are so hungry for learning. Let me share some of our best options for you:

• If you haven’t done so already, grab your free lifetime account as a start. You’ll get audio and video lessons, plus vocabulary building tools. 
• My favorite freebie is the word of the day, which will arrive in your inbox every morning. Those are the words I remember best!
• Start listening to Finnish music. I’m serious – it really works to make the resistant parts of the brain relax and accept the new language. Read about it here for some tips.
• If you enjoy reading, we have some great iBooks for your daily commute.
• If you have a Kindle and prefer to do your reading on a picnic blanket,  there are over 6 hours of unique lessons in Finnish for you right there.

That’s it for today! Join FinnishPod101 to discover many more ways that we can offer you a truly fun and enriching language learning experience. Happy travels!

What is the most defining moment you will face this year? From memories that you immortalize in a million photographs, to days you never wish to remember, one thing’s for certain: big life events change you. The great poet, Bukowski, said, “We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us.” The older I get, the more I agree with him!

Talking about significant events in our lives is part of every person’s journey, regardless of creed or culture. If you’re planning to stay in Finland for more than a quick visit, you’re sure to need at least a few ‘life events’ phrases that you can use. After all, many of these are shared experiences, and it’s generally expected that we will show up with good manners and warm wishes.

Table of Contents

1. Life Events
2. Marriage Proposal Lines
3. Talking About Age
4. Conclusion

1. Life Events

Do you know how to say “Happy New Year” in Finnish? Well, the New Year is a pretty big deal that the whole world is in on! We celebrate until midnight, make mindful resolutions, and fill the night sky with the same happy words in hundreds of languages. No doubt, then, that you’ll want to know how to say it like a local!

Big life events are not all about fun times, though. Real life happens even when you’re traveling, and certain terminology will be very helpful to know. From talking about your new job to wishing your neighbors “Merry Christmas” in Finnish, here at FinnishPod101, we’ve put together just the right vocabulary and phrases for you.

1- Birthday – syntymäpäivä

If you’re like me, any excuse to bring out a pen and scribble a note is a good one. When there’s a birthday, even better: hello, handwriting!

Your Finnish friend will love hearing you wish them a “Happy birthday” in Finnish, but how much more will they appreciate a thoughtful written message? Whether you write it on their Facebook wall or buy a cute card, your effort in Finnish is sure to get them smiling! Write it like this:

Hyvää syntymäpäivää

Now that you know the words, I challenge you to put them to music and sing your own “Happy birthday” song in Finnish! It’s not impossible to figure out even more lyrics, once you start discovering the language from scratch.

2- Buy – ostaa

If there’s a special occasion, you might want to buy somebody a gift. As long as you’ve checked out Finnish etiquette on gift-giving (do a Google search for this!), it will be a lovely gesture. If you’re not sure what to buy, how about the awesome and universally-appealing gift of language? That’s a gift that won’t stop giving!

3- Retire – jäädä eläkkeelle

If you’re planning to expand your mind and retire in Finland, you can use this word to tell people why you seem to be on a perpetual vacation!

Retirement is also a great time to learn a new language, don’t you think? And you don’t have to do it alone! These days it’s possible to connect to a vibrant learning community at the click of a button. The added benefit of a Daily Dose of Language is that it keeps your brain cells alive and curious about the world. After all, it’s never too late to realize those long-ignored dreams of traveling the globe…

4- Graduation – valmistuminen

When attending a graduation ceremony in Finland, be prepared for a lot of formal language! It will be a great opportunity to listen carefully and see if you can pick up differences from the everyday Finnish you hear.

5- Promotion – ylennys

Next to vacation time, receiving a promotion is the one career highlight almost everyone looks forward to. And why wouldn’t you? Sure, it means more responsibility, but it also means more money and benefits and – the part I love most – a change of scenery! Even something as simple as looking out a new office window would boost my mood.

6- Anniversary – vuosipäivä

Some anniversaries we anticipate with excitement, others with apprehension. They are days marking significant events in our lives that can be shared with just one person, or with a whole nation. Whether it’s a special day for you and a loved one, or for someone else you know, this word is crucial to know if you want to wish them a happy anniversary in Finnish.

7- Funeral – hautajaiset

We tend to be uncomfortable talking about funerals in the west, but it’s an important conversation for families to have. Around the world, there are many different customs and rituals for saying goodbye to deceased loved ones – some vastly different to our own. When traveling in Finland, if you happen to find yourself the unwitting observer of a funeral, take a quiet moment to appreciate the cultural ethos; even this can be an enriching experience for you.

8- Travel – matkustaa

Travel – my favorite thing to do! Everything about the experience is thrilling and the best cure for boredom, depression, and uncertainty about your future. You will surely be forever changed, fellow traveler! But you already know this, don’t you? Well, now that you’re on the road to total Finnish immersion, I hope you’ve downloaded our IOS apps and have your Nook Book handy to keep yourself entertained on those long bus rides.

9- Graduate – valmistua

If you have yet to graduate from university, will you be job-hunting in Finland afterward? Forward-looking companies sometimes recruit talented students who are still in their final year. Of course, you could also do your final year abroad as an international student – an amazing experience if you’d love to be intellectually challenged and make a rainbow of foreign friends!

10- Wedding – häät

One of the most-loved traditions that humans have thought up, which you’ll encounter anywhere in the world, is a wedding. With all that romance in the air and months spent on preparations, a wedding is typically a feel-good affair. Two people pledge their eternal love to each other, ladies cry, single men look around for potential partners, and everybody has a happy day of merrymaking.

Ah, but how diverse we are in our expression of love! You will find more wedding traditions around the world than you can possibly imagine. From reciting love quotes to marrying a tree, the options leave no excuse to be boring!

11- Move – muuttaa

I love Finland, but I’m a nomad and tend to move around a lot, even within one country. What are the biggest emotions you typically feel when moving house? The experts say moving is a highly stressful event, but I think that depends on the circumstances. Transitional periods in our lives are physically and mentally demanding, but changing your environment is also an exciting adventure that promises new tomorrows!

12- Be born – syntyä

I was not born in 1993, nor was I born in Asia. I was born in the same year as Aishwarya Rai, Akon, and Monica Lewinsky, and on the same continent as Freddy Mercury. When and where were you born? More importantly – can you say it in Finnish?

13- Get a job – saada työpaikka

The thought of looking for a job in a new country can be daunting, but English speakers are in great demand in Finland – you just have to do some research, make a few friends and get out there! Also, arming yourself with a few Finnish introductions that you can both say and write will give you a confidence boost. For example, can you write your name in Finnish?

14- Die – kuolla

Death is a universal experience and the final curtain on all other life events. How important is it, then, to fully live before we die? If all you have is a passport, a bucket list, and a willingness to learn some lingo, you can manifest those dreams!

15- Home – koti

If home is where the heart is, then my home is on a jungle island completely surrounded by the turquoise ocean. Right now, though, home is an isolation room with a view of half a dry palm tree and a tangle of telephone wires.

If you’re traveling to Finland for an extended stay, you’ll soon be moving into a new home quite unlike anything you’ve experienced before!

16- Job – työ

What job do you do? Does it allow you much time for travel, or for working on this fascinating language that has (so rightfully) grabbed your attention? Whatever your job, you are no doubt contributing to society in a unique way. If you’re doing what you love, you’re already on the road to your dream. If not, just remember that every single task is one more skill to add to your arsenal. With that attitude, your dream job is coming!

17- Birth – syntymä

Random question: do you know the birth rate of Finland?

If you’re lucky enough to be invited to see a friend’s baby just after they are born, you’ll have all my respect and all my envy. There is nothing cuter! Depending on which part of the country you’re in, you may find yourself bearing witness to some pretty unexpected birth customs. Enjoy this privilege!

18- Engaged – mennä kihloihin

EE Cummings said, “Lovers alone wear sunlight,” and I think that’s most true at the moment she says “yes.” Getting engaged is something young girls dream of with stars in their eyes, and it truly is a magical experience – from the proposal, to wearing an engagement ring, to the big reveal!

In the world of Instagram, there’s no end to the antics as imaginative couples try more and more outrageous ways to share their engagement with the world. I love an airport flashmob, myself, but I’d rather be proposed to on a secluded beach – salt, sand, and all!

Engagement customs around the world vary greatly, and Finland is no exception when it comes to interesting traditions. Learning their unique romantic ways will inspire you for when your turn comes.

Speaking of romance, do you know how to say “Happy Valentine’s Day” in Finnish?

19- Marry – mennä naimisiin

The one you marry will be the gem on a shore full of pebbles. They will be the one who truly mirrors your affection, shares your visions for the future, and wants all of you – the good, the bad and the inexplicable.

From thinking up a one-of-a-kind wedding, to having children, to growing old together, finding a twin flame to share life with is quite an accomplishment! Speaking of which…

2. Marriage Proposal Lines

Ah, that heart-stopping moment when your true love gets down on one knee to ask for your hand in marriage, breathlessly hoping that you’ll say “Yes!” If you haven’t experienced that – well, it feels pretty darn good, is all I can say! If you’re the one doing the asking, though, you’ve probably had weeks of insomnia agonizing over the perfect time, location and words to use.

How much more care should be taken if your love is from a different culture to yours? Well, by now you know her so well, that most of it should be easy to figure out. As long as you’ve considered her personal commitment to tradition, all you really need is a few words from the heart. Are you brave enough to say them in Finnish?

3. Talking About Age

Part of the wonder of learning a new language is having the ability to strike up simple conversations with strangers. Asking about age in this context feels natural, as your intention is to practice friendly phrases – just be mindful of their point of view!

When I was 22, I loved being asked my age. Nowadays, if someone asks, I say, “Well, I’ve just started my fifth cat life.” Let them ponder that for a while.

In Finland, it’s generally not desirable to ask an older woman her age for no good reason, but chatting about age with your peers is perfectly normal. Besides, you have to mention your birthday if you want to be thrown a birthday party!

4. Conclusion

Well, there you have it! With so many great new Finnish phrases to wish people with, can you think of someone who has a big event coming up? If you want to get even more creative, FinnishPod101 has much to inspire you with – come and check it out! Here’s just some of what we have on offer at FinnishPod101:

• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Finnish with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Finnish dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about FinnishPod101…!
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• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters, as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Finnish teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
• Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Finnish word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Finnish level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

Learning a new language can only enrich your life, and could even open doors towards great opportunities! So don’t wonder if you’ll regret enrolling in FinnishPod101. It’s the most fun, easy way to learn Finnish.

Did you know that every minute of the day, one billion tons of rain falls on the earth? Hard to believe, considering the climate crisis! Of course, all that rain is not equally shared across the planet.

So, would you mention this fascinating fact to your new Finnish acquaintance? Well, small talk about local weather is actually a great conversation-starter. Everyone cares about the weather and you’re sure to hear a few interesting opinions! Seasons can be quite unpredictable these days and nobody knows the peculiarities of a region better than the locals.

FinnishPod101 will equip you with all the weather vocabulary you need to plan your next adventure. The weather can even be an important discussion that influences your adventure plans. After all, you wouldn’t want to get caught on an inflatable boat with a two-horsepower motor in Hurricane Horrendous!

Table of Contents

1. Talking about the weather in Finland
2. Words for the first day of spring
3. Do You Know the Essential Summer Vocabulary?
4. Must-Know Autumn vocabulary
5. Winter
6. FinnishPod101 can prepare you for any season.

1. Talking about the weather in Finland

If you’re like me, your day’s activity plan is likely to begin with a strong local coffee and a chat about what the sky is doing. After all, being prepared could be the difference between an amazing day and a miserable one! Luckily, it’s not difficult to comment on Finnish weather – just start with these simple words and phrases.

1- The rain is falling on the street – Sade putoaa kadulle.

Watercolor artists, take out your paints! You might not be able to venture out on foot today, but just embrace the rain as part of your Finnish experience. When the rain stops, the air will be clean and colours vibrant.

2- Falling snow – satava lumi

A fresh blanket of snow is irresistibly beautiful. Pull on your boots and beanie, and leave your tracks in this foreign landscape. Don’t resist the urge to build a snowman – you need this!

3- Fluffy cloud – pehmeä pilvi

When you’re waiting for a warm beach day, fluffy white clouds in a blue sky are a good sign. Don’t forget your sunscreen, as clouds will intensify the UV rays hitting your skin.

4- The water froze on the glass – Vesi jäätyi lasissa.

Night temperatures can get chilly and might freeze the condensation on your windows. A good way to clear them up is with warm salt water.

5- The heavy rain could cause flash flooding – Tämä rankkasade voisi aiheuttaa suuren tulvan.

If you’re visiting Finland in the wet season, it’s important to stay informed when heavy rain sets in, so keep an eye on the weather radar. Avoid river activities and rather spend this time making a home-cooked meal and brushing up on your Finnish weather words.

6- Flood – tulva

If you do get caught in a flood, your destination should no longer be ‘home’, but the nearest high ground.

7- The typhoon has hit – Hirmumyrsky on iskenyt.

Not all countries experience typhoons, but you need to know when to prepare for one! It will be very scary if you’ve never experienced one before. Your local neighbours are the best people to advise you on where to take shelter, as they’ve been doing it for generations. Be sure to get the low-down at the first sign of rough weather!

8- Check the weather report before going sailing – Katso säätiedotus ennenkuin lähdet purjehtimaan.

When planning an outdoor activity, especially on a body of water, always be prepared for a change in the weather. Ask your hotel receptionist or neighbour where you can get a reliable daily weather report, and don’t forget your sweater!

9- Today’s weather is sunny with occasional clouds – Tänään on ajoittain pilvinen aurinkoinen ilma.

Sunny weather is the dream when traveling in Finland! Wake up early, pack the hats and sunblock and go and experience the terrain, sights and beautiful spots. You’ll be rewarded with happy vibes all around.

10- A rainy day – sateinen päivä

Remember when you said you’d save the Finnish podcasts for a rainy day? Now’s that day!

11- Scenic rainbow – luonnonkaunis sateenkaari

The best part about the rain is that you can look forward to your first rainbow in Finland. There’s magic in that!

12- Flashes of lightning can be beautiful, but are very dangerous – Salaman välähtelyt voivat olla kauniita, mutta ne ovat vaarallisia.

Lightning is one of the most fascinating weather phenomena you can witness without really being in danger – at least if you’re sensible and stay indoors! Did you know that lightning strikes the earth 40-50 times per second? Fortunately, not all countries experience heavy electric storms!

13- 25 degrees Celsius – 25 celsiusastetta

Asking a local what the outside temperature will be is another useful question for planning your day. It’s easy if you know the Finnish term for ‘degrees Celsius’.

14- Water freezes at thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit – Vesi jäätyy 32 Fahrenheit-asteessa.

Although the Fahrenheit system has been replaced by Celsius in almost all countries, it’s still used in the US and a few other places. Learn this phrase in Finnish in case one of your companions develops a raging fever.

15- Clear sky – pilvetön

Clear skies mean you’ll probably want to get the camera out and capture some nature shots – not to mention the great sunsets you’ll have later on. Twilight can lend an especially magical quality to a landscape on a clear sky day, when the light is not filtered through clouds.

16- Light drizzle – kevyt tihkusade

Days when it’s drizzling are perfect for taking in the cultural offerings of Finland. You could go to the mall and watch a Finnish film, visit museums and art galleries, explore indoor markets or even find the nearest climbing wall. Bring an umbrella!

17- Temperature – lämpötila

Because of the coronavirus, many airports are conducting temperature screening on passengers. Don’t worry though – it’s just a precaution. Your temperature might be taken with a no-touch thermometer, which measures infrared energy coming off the body.

18- Humid – kostea

I love humid days, but then I’m also a water baby and I think the two go
together like summer and rain. Find a pool or a stream to cool off in – preferably in the shade!

19- With low humidity the air feels dry – Ilmankosteuden ollessa matala ilma tuntuu kuivalta.

These are the best days to go walking the hills and vales. Just take at least one Finnish friend with you so you don’t get lost!

20- The wind is really strong – Tuuli on todella kova.

A strong wind blows away the air pollution and is very healthy in that respect. Just avoid the mountain trails today, unless you fancy being blown across the continent like a hot air balloon.

21- It’s windy outside – Ulkona on tuulista.

Wind! My least favourite weather condition. Of course, if you’re a kitesurfer, a windy day is what you’ve been waiting for!

22- Wet roads can ice over when the temperature falls below freezing – Märät tiet voivat jäätyä kun lämpötila putoaa nollan alapuolelle.

The roads will be dangerous in these conditions, so please don’t take chances. The ice will thaw as soon as the sun comes out, so be patient!

23- Today is very muggy – Tänään on erittäin kuumankosteaa.

Muggy days make your skin feel sticky and sap your energy. They’re particular to high humidity. Cold shower, anyone? Ice vest? Whatever it takes to feel relief from the humidity!

24- Fog – sumu

Not a great time to be driving, especially in unknown territory, but keep your fog lights on and drive slowly.

25- Hurricane – hurrikaani

Your new Finnish friends will know the signs, so grab some food and candles and prepare for a night of staying warm and chatting about wild weather in Finland.

26- Big tornado – suuri pyörremyrsky

If you hear these words, it will probably be obvious already that everyone is preparing for the worst! Definitely do whatever your accommodation hosts tell you to do when a tornado is expected.

27- Cloudy – pilvinen

While there won’t be any stargazing tonight, the magnificent clouds over Finland will make impressive photographs. Caption them in Finnish to impress your friends back home!

28- Below freezing temperatures – pakkasasteet

When the temperature is below freezing, why not take an Uber and go shopping for some gorgeous Finnish winter gear?

29- Wind chill is how cold it really feels outside – Pakkasen purevuus kertoo kuinka kylmä ulkona oikeastaan on.

Wind doesn’t change the ambient temperature of the air, it just changes your body temperature, so the air will feel colder to you than it actually is. Not all your Finnish friends will know that, though, so learn this Finnish phrase to sound really smart!

30- Water will freeze when the temperature falls below zero degrees celsius – Vesi jäätyy kun lämpötila laskee alle nollan celsiusasteen.

If you’re near a lake, frozen water is good news! Forgot your ice skates? Don’t despair – find out where you can hire some. Be cautious, though: the ice needs to be at least four inches thick for safe skating. Personally, I just slide around on frozen lakes in my boots!

31- Clear up – seljetä

Waiting for the weather to clear up so you can go exploring is frustrating, let’s be honest. That’s why you should always travel with two things: a scintillating novel and your Finnish Nook Book.

32- Avoid the extreme heat – välttää hellettä

Is the heat trying to kill you? Unless you’re a hardened heatwave hero, definitely avoid activity, stay hydrated and drink electrolytes. Loose cotton or linen garb is the way to go!

33- Morning frost – aamukuura

Frost is water vapour that has turned to ice crystals and it happens when the earth cools so much in the night, that it gets colder than the air above it. Winter is coming!

34- Rain shower – sadekuuro

Rain showers are typically brief downpours that drench the earth with a good drink of water.

35- In the evening it will become cloudy and cold – Illalla pilvistyy ja viilenee.

When I hear this on the Finnish weather channel, I buy a bottle of wine (red, of course) and wood for the fireplace. A cold and cloudy evening needs its comforts!

36- Severe thunderstorm – raju ukkosmyrsky

Keep an eye on the Finnish weather maps if it looks like a big storm is coming, so you’ll be well-informed.

37- Ice has formed on the window – Ikkunaan on muodostunut jäätä.

You could try this phrase out on the hotel’s helpful cleaning staff, or fix the problem yourself. Just add a scoop or two of salt to a spray bottle of water – that should work!

38- Large hailstones – suuria rakeita

As a kid, I found hail crazy exciting. Not so much now – especially if I’m on the road and large hailstones start pummeling my windscreen!

39- Rolling thunder – jyrisevä ukkonen

The rumble of rolling thunder is that low-volume, ominous background sound that goes on for some time. It’s strangely exciting if you’re safely in your hotel room; it could either suddenly clear up, or escalate to a storm.

40- Sleet – räntä

Sleet is tiny hard pieces of ice made from a mixture of rain and melted snow that froze. It can be messy, but doesn’t cause major damage the way hail does. Pretty cool to know this word in Finnish!

2. Words for the first day of spring

You know the feeling: your heart skips a beat when you wake up and spring has sprung! Spring will reward you with new blossoms everywhere, birdsong in the air, kittens being born in the neighborhood and lovely views when you hit the trails. Pack a picnic and ask a new Finnish friend to show you the more natural sights. Don’t forget a light sweater and a big smile. This is the perfect time to practice some Finnish spring words!

3. Do You Know the Essential Summer Vocabulary?

Summer! Who doesn’t love that word? It conjures up images of blue skies, tan skin, vacations at the beach and cruising down the coast in an Alfa Romeo, sunglasses on and the breeze in your hair. Of course, in Finland there are many ways to enjoy the summer – it all depends on what you love to do. One thing’s for sure: you will have opportunities to make friends, go on picnics, sample delicious local ice-cream and maybe even learn to sing some Finnish songs. It’s up to you! Sail into Finnish summer with this summer vocab list, and you’ll blend in with ease.

4. Must-Know Autumn vocabulary

Victoria Ericksen said, “If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour,” and I agree. Who can resist the beauty of fall foliage coloring the Finnish landscape? Birds prepare to migrate; travelers prepare to arrive for the best weather in Finland.

The autumnal equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night almost equal in length. The cool thing about this event is that the moon gets really bright – the ‘harvest moon’, as it’s traditionally known.

So, as much as the change of season brings more windy and rainy days, it also brings celebration. Whether you honor Thanksgiving, Halloween or the Moon Festival, take some time to color your vocabulary with these Finnish autumn words.

5. Winter

Winter is the time the natural world slows down to rest and regroup. I’m a summer girl, but there are fabulous things about winter that I really look forward to. For one, it’s the only season I get to accessorize with my gorgeous winter gloves and snug down coat!

Then, of course, there’s ice skating, holiday decorations and bonfires. As John Steinbeck said, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” Get ready for the cold season with our list of essential Winter words!

6. FinnishPod101 can prepare you for any season.

Now that you know how to inquire and comment on the weather in Finland, you
can confidently plan your weather-ready travel itinerary. How about this for an idea: the next
time you’re sitting in a Finnish street café, try asking someone local this question:

“Do you think the weather will stay like this for a few days?” If you loved learning these cool Finnish weather phrases with us, why not take it a step further and add to your repertoire? FinnishPod101 is here to help!