Learn the question "What is your name?" in Finnish and how to answer it
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Gina: In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Finnish learners, and then learn how to answer it like a native. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Gina: In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question What's your name? In Finnish this is |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun nimesi on? |
| Gina: The first word in the question is |
| Jarmo: Mikä |
| Gina: meaning what in English. |
| Jarmo: (Slow, by syllable) Mikä |
| Gina: Listen again and repeat. |
| Jarmo: Mikä |
| {Pause} |
| Gina: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
| Jarmo: sinun |
| Gina: meaning your. |
| Jarmo: (Slow, by syllable) sinun |
| Gina: Now repeat. |
| Jarmo: sinun |
| {Pause} |
| Gina: Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat. |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun |
| {pause} |
| Gina: And after that |
| Jarmo: nimesi |
| Gina: meaning your name. |
| Jarmo: (Slow, by syllable) nimesi |
| Gina: Now repeat. |
| Jarmo: nimesi |
| {Pause} |
| Gina: Listen to the the first 3 words of the question and repeat. |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun nimesi |
| {pause} |
| Gina: Next is |
| Jarmo: on |
| Gina: meaning is. |
| Jarmo: (Slow, by syllable) on |
| Gina: Now repeat. |
| Jarmo: on |
| {Pause} |
| Gina: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun nimesi on |
| {pause} |
| Gina: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question What's your name?? |
| Jarmo: Minun nimeni on Mikko. |
| Gina: ""My name is Mikko.. Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Jarmo: (Slow) Minun nimeni on Mikko. |
| {pause} |
| Gina: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word: |
| Jarmo: minun |
| Gina: means my. |
| Jarmo: (Slow, by syllable) minun |
| Gina: Now repeat |
| Jarmo: minun |
| {Pause} |
| Gina: And next |
| Jarmo: nimeni |
| Gina: meaning my name. |
| Jarmo: (Slow, by syllable) nimeni |
| Gina: Now repeat. |
| Jarmo: nimeni |
| {Pause} |
| Gina: And next |
| Jarmo: on |
| Gina: meaning is. |
| Jarmo: (Slow, by syllable) on |
| Gina: Now repeat. |
| Jarmo: on |
| {Pause} |
| Gina: And next |
| Jarmo: Mikko |
| Gina: meaning Mikko. |
| Jarmo: (Slow, by syllable) Mikko |
| Gina: Now repeat. |
| Jarmo: Mikko |
| {Pause} |
| Gina: Listen to the speaker say, My name is Mikko., and then repeat. |
| Jarmo: Minun nimeni on Mikko. |
| {pause} |
| Gina: To expand on the pattern, replace Mikko with Simone. |
| Jarmo: Simone |
| Gina: Simone |
| Jarmo: (slow) Simone (regular) Simone |
| Gina: Listen to the phrase again, this time with Simone |
| Jarmo: Minun nimeni on Simone. |
| Gina: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace Mikko. Say My name is Simone. |
| {pause} |
| Jarmo: Minun nimeni on Simone. |
| Gina: To use a different phrase, replace Simone with Maria. |
| Jarmo: Maria |
| Gina: Maria |
| Jarmo: (slow) Maria (regular) Maria |
| Gina: Listen to the phrase again, this time with Maria |
| Jarmo: Minun nimeni on Maria. |
| Gina: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace the name Simone. Say My name is Maria. |
| {pause} |
| Jarmo: Minun nimeni on Maria. |
| Gina: To expand on the pattern, replace Maria with Katja. |
| Jarmo: Katja |
| Gina: Katja |
| Jarmo: (slow) Katja (regular) Katja |
| Gina: Listen to the phrase again, this time with Katja |
| Jarmo: Minun nimeni on Katja. |
| Gina: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace the name Maria. Say My name is Katja. |
| {pause} |
| Jarmo: Minun nimeni on Katja. |
| QUIZ |
| Gina: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you're visiting Finland and someone asks you your name. Your name is Mikko. Respond to the question. |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun nimesi on? (five seconds) Minun nimeni on Mikko. |
| Gina: Now, your name is Simone Respond to the question. |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun nimesi on? (five seconds) Minun nimeni on Simone. |
| Gina: Imagine your name is Maria. . Answer the speaker's question. |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun nimesi on? (five seconds) Minun nimeni on Maria. |
| Gina: Imagine your name is Katja. Respond to the question. |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun nimesi on? (five seconds) Minun nimeni on Katja. |
| Gina: You want to learn that person's name. Ask the question |
| (5 seconds) |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun nimesi on? |
| Gina: Now it's time to answer the question with actual information about yourself. |
| Jarmo: Mikä sinun nimesi on? |
| [pause] |
Outro |
| Gina: This is the end of Lesson 1 |
71 Comments
HidePlease give your answer to the question below!
Hello Bret,
Thank you for your comment.
Yes, we can say it like this in Finnish. One can't just implement the English language strictly to some other language. It doesn't work that way, unfortunately.
it is very much correct to say "mikä sinun nimesi on" Finnish or "minun nimeni on" In the Finnish language you can and will add personal conjugation and leave "sinun" in front of it but you can leave it out but also.
Hope this helps.
Let us know if you have any question.
Cheers,
Aarni
Team FinnishPod101.com
If sinun means "your" and nimesi means "your name" why are we saying "your" twice in the phrase. Mika sinun nimesi on? Aren't we saying "what is your your name?
Same question for minun nimeni... Aren't we saying "my my name"?
Hi Madza Ednir,
Welcome to FinnishPod101.com! Thank you for your kind feedback! ❤️️ We are very happy to have you here studying with us and that you are enjoying our lessons. Keep up the good work! 👍
If you ever have any questions, please let us know. :)
Kind regards,
Levente
Team FinnishPod101.com
Well, after 3 lessons I already know how to introduce myself: - "MINUN nimeni on Madza "; How to ask what is the other's name : "Mikä SINUN nimesi on " . I know how to say _ Nice to meet you: "Hauska tutustua" , how to say thank you: "Kiitos " and "You are welcome: "Ole Hyvä" (informal) or "Olkaa Hyvä". I have already a vocabulary of around 10 words in Finnnish : 1 Kiitos ( thanks ) 2 Paljon ( Much); 3 Minun ( my); 4Sinun ( your) , 5Nimeni ( my name ) .6 Nimesi ( Your name ) ; 7 Mikkä (What); 8-Ole (be); 9- Hyvä (good) ; 10- Ei - No
Kiitos paljon ! Kiitoksia !
Hello Cosima,
Thank you for your question. In Finnish, both types of sentences can be used freely and both are correct. Using the word "sinun" sounds more personal though. Finnish people use this long-form bit more often. Hope this helps.
Let us know if you have any question.
Cheers,
Aarni
Team FinnishPod101.com
Hi,
Why is sinun or minun needed when you already have nimesi or nimeni which is already 'your' or' my name'?
Hello josh,
Thank you for your question.
When the subject can be defined, concrete or something countable, you mostly use mikä.
When the subject is undefined or uncountable, you use mitä. for example, you want to know what material something is made of or what’s inside something, food, for example. Also, when just asking what someone is doing or how someone is, you use mitä. "Mitä kuuluu?" or "mitä teet?"
I hope this helps a bit.
Let us know if you have any question.
Cheers,
Aarni
Team FinnishPod101.com
I thought 'what' translates to 'mita' in Finnish, not 'mika'? or is it different when you are using it in certain sentences?
Hi Wafa,
Thank you very much for the thumbs-up!
Let us know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Cristiane
Team FinnishPod101.com
👍