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Forested islands scattered across Lake Pielinen seen from the hills of Koli National Park
Forested islands scattered across Lake Pielinen seen from the hills of Koli National Park. Transfer87, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Finnish course

Learn Finnish ten words at a time

Suomi

Ten games of ten words: the hundred most useful Finnish words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.

Finnish challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
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Finnish · 0 of 10 lessons passed
Finnish · Lesson 1 of 10

Greetings and politeness

Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.

Heihay
Hello
Moimoy
Hi
Hyvää huomentaHEW-vaa HUO-men-tah
Good morning
Hyvää yötäHEW-vaa EW-er-ta
Good night
Kiitos paljonKEE-tos PAHL-yon
Thank you very much
KiitosKEE-tos
Thanks
Ole hyväOH-leh HEW-va
You're welcome
KiitosKEE-tos
Please
AnteeksiAHN-tayk-see
Excuse me
NäkemiinNA-keh-meen
Goodbye
Two people shaking hands across a cafe table
Greetings and politeness
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. The next lesson starts itself when this one ends.

rawpixel.com, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · Lesson 2 of 10

Order anything by pointing

One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.

Yksi olut, kiitosUUK-si O-lut, KEE-tos
One beer please
Yksi tätä, kiitosUUK-si TA-ta, KEE-tos
One of these
KahviKAH-vi
Coffee
Kaksi, kiitosKAK-si, KEE-tos
Two please
Vielä yksiVIE-la UUK-si
One more
Paljonko maksaa?PAL-yon-ko MAK-saa
How much?
Lasku, kiitosLAS-ku, KEE-tos
The bill
Se on kaikkiSE on KAI-ki
That's everything
KippisKIP-pis
Cheers
Terveydeksiter-VAY-dek-see
Bless you
A coffee counter under chalked menu boards and an ORDER HERE sign
Order anything by pointing
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. The next lesson starts itself when this one ends.

Jazmin Quaynor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · Lesson 3 of 10

Yes, no and the essentials

The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.

KylläKUL-la
Yes
EiAY
No
OkeiO-kay
Okay
Selvä juttuSEL-va YUT-tu
Sure, no problem
En tiedäEN TIE-da
I don't know
En ymmärräEN UUM-mar-ra
I don't understand
Puhutko englantia?PU-hut-ko ENG-lan-tia
Do you speak English?
VähänVA-han
A little
TietystiTIE-tus-ti
Of course
Kaikki on hyvinKAI-ki on HUU-vin
Everything is fine
A dictionary open at a page of definitions
Yes, no and the essentials
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. The next lesson starts itself when this one ends.

Romain Vignes, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · Lesson 4 of 10

Numbers and money

Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.

YksiUUK-si
One
KaksiKAK-si
Two
KolmeKOL-me
Three
NeljäNEL-ya
Four
ViisiVEE-si
Five
KymmenenKUUM-me-nen
Ten
SataSA-ta
One hundred
EuroEH-oo-ro
Euro
KortillaKOR-til-la
By card
KäteiselläKA-tay-sel-la
In cash
Five stacks of coins standing in a rising row
Numbers and money
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. The next lesson starts itself when this one ends.

Kevin Schneider, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · Lesson 5 of 10

At the supermarket

Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.

LeipäLAY-pa
Bread
MaitoMAI-to
Milk
JuustoYUU-sto
Cheese
VesiVE-si
Water
Pussi?PUS-si
A bag?
Onko teillä...?ON-ko TAY-la
Do you have...?
Missä on...?MIS-sa on
Where is...?
TämäTA-ma
This one
Ei muutaAY MUU-ta
Nothing else
Hyvää päivänjatkoaHUU-vaa PAI-van-yat-ko-a
Have a nice day
A supermarket aisle between stacked shelves and a chilled cabinet
At the supermarket
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. The next lesson starts itself when this one ends.

Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · Lesson 6 of 10

Cafe and restaurant

A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.

Pöytä kahdelle, kiitosPER-yta KAH-del-le, KEE-tos
A table for two
Ruokalista, kiitosRUO-ka-lis-ta, KEE-tos
The menu please
SuodatinkahviSUO-da-tin-KAH-vi
Filter coffee
Lasi viiniä, kiitosLA-si VEE-ni-a, KEE-tos
A glass of wine
Yksi Karjala, kiitosUUK-si KAR-ya-la, KEE-tos
A Karjala beer
LohikeittoLO-hi-kayt-to
Salmon soup
Se on herkullistaSE on HER-kul-lis-ta
It's delicious
Ilman jäätäIL-man YAA-ta
Without ice
MukaanMU-kaan
To take away
Pitäkää vaihtorahatPI-ta-kaa VAIH-to-ra-hat
Keep the change
A stained glass lamp hanging over a table in a restaurant
Cafe and restaurant
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. The next lesson starts itself when this one ends.

Ehud Neuhaus, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · Lesson 7 of 10

Small talk and neighbors

How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.

Kuinka voitte?KUIN-ka VOI-te
How are you (polite)
Mitä kuuluu?MI-ta KUU-luu
How are you (casual)
Hyvin, kiitosHUU-vin, KEE-tos
I'm fine
Entä sinulle?EN-ta SI-nul-le
And you?
Mitä uutta?MI-ta UUT-ta
What's new?
Mukava ilma, eikö?MU-ka-va IL-ma, AY-ker
Nice weather huh?
Nähdään pianNA-hdaan PI-an
See you soon
Hyvää iltaaHUU-vaa IL-taa
Have a nice evening
Terveiset perheelleTER-vay-set PER-heel-le
Say hi to the family
Kaikkea hyvääKAI-ke-a HUU-vaa
All the best
Two older people stopped for a conversation on the street
Small talk and neighbors
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. The next lesson starts itself when this one ends.

Cristina Gottardi, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · Lesson 8 of 10

Getting around

Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.

Missä on vessa?MIS-sa on VES-sa
Where is the toilet?
VasemmalleVA-sem-mal-le
Left
OikealleOI-ke-al-le
Right
Suoraan eteenpäinSUO-raan E-teen-pain
Straight ahead
TässäTAS-sa
Here
TuollaTUO-la
There
RaitiovaunuRAI-tio-vau-nu
Tram
RautatieasemaRAU-ta-tie-a-se-ma
Train station
Yksi lippu, kiitosUUK-si LIP-pu, KEE-tos
One ticket please
Pysähtykää tässä, kiitosPUU-sa-htuu-kaa TAS-sa, KEE-tos
Stop here please
The tiled edge of an underground platform running off into the tunnel
Getting around
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. The next lesson starts itself when this one ends.

MontyLov, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · Lesson 9 of 10

Time and days

Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.

TänäänTA-naan
Today
HuomennaHUO-men-na
Tomorrow
EilenAY-len
Yesterday
NytNUUT
Now
MyöhemminMUUH-hem-min
Later
Paljonko kello on?PAL-yon-ko KEL-lo on
What time is it?
MaanantaiMAA-nan-tai
Monday
LauantaiLAU-an-tai
Saturday
SunnuntaiSUN-nun-tai
Sunday
ViikonloppuVEE-kon-lop-pu
The weekend
A round clock alone on a bare wall
Time and days
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. The next lesson starts itself when this one ends.

Eder Pozo Pérez, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · Lesson 10 of 10

Help and emergencies

The words you hope to never need.

Apua!A-pua
Help!
Kutsukaa lääkäriKUT-su-kaa LAA-ka-ri
Call a doctor
PoliisiPO-lee-si
Police
ApteekkiAP-teek-ki
Pharmacy
SairaalaSAI-raa-la
Hospital
Olen eksynytO-len EK-suu-nuut
I'm lost
Minulla on paha ollaMI-nul-la on PA-ha OL-la
I don't feel well
LompakkoniLOM-pak-ko-ni
My wallet
Se varastettiinSE VA-ras-tet-teen
It was stolen
Se on kiireellistäSE on KEE-reel-lis-ta
It's urgent
A lit green pharmacy cross hanging over a street
Help and emergencies
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it

Plays right here. Choose another lesson when this one ends.

Daniel Stockman, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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