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Learn Finnish ten words at a time

Suomi

Ten short games: the 102 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.

Forested islands scattered across Lake Pielinen seen from the hills of Koli National Park
Challenge
Finnish challenge
12 questions from the 102 phrases, new every time
Transfer87, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Finnish · 0 of 10 lessons passed

Greetings and politeness

Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on.

HeiHEI
Hello
Hyvää huomentaHÜ-vää HUO-men-ta
Good morning
Hyvää iltaaHÜ-vää IL-taa
Good evening
NäkemiinNÄ-ke-miin
Goodbye
NähdäänNAH-h-daan
See you
Ole hyväO-le HÜ-vä
Please
KiitosKII-tos
Thank you
Eipä kestäEI-pä KES-tä
You're welcome
Olen pahoillaniO-len PA-hoil-la-ni
Sorry
AnteeksiAN-teek-si
Excuse me
Hauska tutustuaHAUS-ka TU-tus-tu-a
Nice to meet you
Lake Särkijärvi and forest stretching toward the Pallastunturi fells in Finnish Lapland
Greetings and politeness
11 words · 20 seconds each · 9 of 11 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Order anything by pointing

I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.

Saisinko...SAI-sin-ko
I would like...
TämäTÄ-mä
This one
Paljonko maksaa?PAL-yon-ko MAK-saa
How much is it?
Lasku, kiitosLAS-ku, KII-tos
The bill, please
KortillaKOR-til-la
By card
KäteiselläKÄ-tei-sel-lä
In cash
VesiVE-si
Water
KahviKAH-vi
Coffee
TeeTEH-eh
Tea
OlutO-lut
Beer
Ilman...IL-man
Without...
Turku Castle in Finland, with its medieval stone walls and towers
Order anything by pointing
11 words · 20 seconds each · 9 of 11 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Otto Jula, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yes, no and the essentials

The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.

KylläKÜL-lä
Yes
EiEI
No
OkeiO-kei
Okay
En ymmärräEN ÜM-mär-rä
I don't understand
Puhutko englantia?PU-hut-ko ENG-lan-ti-a
Do you speak English?
Voisitko toistaa?VOI-sit-ko TOIS-taa
Can you repeat that?
Hitaammin, kiitosHI-taam-min, KII-tos
Slowly, please
Mikä tämä on?MI-kä TÄ-mä ON
What is this?
Tarvitsen...TAR-vit-sen
I need...
Voitko auttaa minua?VOIT-ko AUT-taa MI-nu-a
Can you help me?
The sweeping wooden facade of Helsinki’s Oodi Central Library
Yes, no and the essentials
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Cope Baronet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Counting to ten

One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.

YksiÜK-si
One
KaksiKAK-si
Two
KolmeKOL-me
Three
NeljäNEL-yä
Four
ViisiVII-si
Five
KuusiKUU-si
Six
SeitsemänSEIT-se-män
Seven
KahdeksanKAH-dek-san
Eight
YhdeksänÜH-dek-sän
Nine
KymmenenKÜM-me-nen
Ten
Historic red-brick industrial buildings in Tampere, Finland
Counting to ten
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shops and hotels

Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.

Onko teillä...?ON-ko TEIL-lä
Do you have...?
Missä on...?MIS-sä ON
Where is...?
AvoinnaA-voin-na
Open
SuljettuSUL-jet-tu
Closed
Pussi?PUS-si
A bag?
Liian kallisLII-an KAL-lis
Too expensive
Minulla on varausMI-nul-la ON VA-ra-us
I have a reservation
Kuuluuko aamiainen hintaan?KUU-luu-ko AA-mi-ai-nen HIN-taan
Is breakfast included?
Mikä on wifin salasana?MI-kä ON VII-fin SA-la-sa-na
What's the wifi password?
Voinko...?VOIN-ko
Can I...?
Helsinki’s waterfront Market Square and city buildings at dusk
Shops and hotels
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Mikkoau, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cafe and restaurant

A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.

Pöytä kahdelle, kiitosPÖÜ-tä KAH-del-le, KII-tos
A table for two
Ruokalista, kiitosRUO-ka-lis-ta, KII-tos
The menu, please
Mitä suosittelette?MI-tä SUO-sit-te-let-te
What do you recommend?
En syö...EN SÜÖ
I don't eat...
Olen allerginen...O-len AL-ler-gi-nen
I'm allergic to...
LihaLI-ha
Meat
KanaKA-na
Chicken
KalaKA-la
Fish
Se on herkullistaSE ON HER-kul-lis-ta
It's delicious
KippisKIP-pis
Cheers
A Finnish Karelian pie with a rye crust and rice-porridge filling
Cafe and restaurant
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Jarno Elonen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Meeting people

How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.

Kuinka voitte?KUIN-ka VOIT-te
How are you?
Hyvää, kiitosHÜ-vää, KII-tos
I'm fine, thanks
Entä te?EN-tä TE
And you?
Mikä sinun nimesi on?MI-kä SI-nun NI-me-si ON
What's your name?
Nimeni on...NI-me-ni ON
My name is...
Mistä olet kotoisin?MIS-tä O-let KO-toi-sin
Where are you from?
Olen kotoisin...O-len KO-toi-sin
I'm from...
Pidän tästäPI-dän TÄS-tä
I like it
Se on kaunisSE ON KAU-nis
It's beautiful
TervetuloaTER-ve-tu-lo-a
Welcome
A traditional wooden smoke sauna in Enonkoski, Finland
Meeting people
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
SM, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Getting around

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

Missä on vessa?MIS-sä ON VES-sa
Where is the toilet?
Miten pääsen...?MI-ten PÄÄ-sen
How do I get to...?
VasemmalleVA-sem-mal-le
To the left
OikealleOI-ke-al-le
To the right
Suoraan eteenpäinSUO-raan E-teen-päin
Straight ahead
TässäTÄS-sä
Here
RautatieasemaRAU-ta-tie-a-se-ma
Train station
BussiBUS-si
Bus
LentoasemaLEN-to-a-se-ma
Airport
Yksi lippu, kiitosÜK-si LIP-pu, KII-tos
One ticket, please
The illuminated granite facade of Finland’s Parliament House in Helsinki at dusk
Getting around
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Juha Agren, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Time and days

Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.

NytNÜT
Now
MyöhemminMÜÖ-hem-min
Later
TänäänTÄ-nään
Today
HuomennaHUO-men-na
Tomorrow
Tänä iltanaTÄ-nä IL-ta-na
Tonight
Milloin?MIL-loin
When?
Mihin aikaan se aukeaa?MI-hin AI-kaan SE AU-ke-aa
What time does it open?
HetkinenHET-ki-nen
One moment, please
MinuuttiaMI-nuut-ti-a
Minutes
TuntiaTUN-ti-a
Hours
A Saimaa ringed seal resting on a rock in Rantasalmi, Finland
Time and days
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Linda Lötjönen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Help and emergencies

The words you hope to never need.

Apua!A-pu-a
Help!
Kutsukaa lääkäriKUT-su-kaa LÄÄ-kä-ri
Call a doctor
PoliisiPO-lii-si
Police
ApteekkiAP-teek-ki
Pharmacy
SairaalaSAI-raa-la
Hospital
Olen eksynytO-len EK-sü-nüt
I'm lost
Minulla on paha ollaMI-nul-la ON PA-ha OL-la
I don't feel well
Se varastettiinSE VA-ras-tet-tiin
It was stolen
Tämä on hätätilanneTÄ-mä ON HÄ-tä-ti-lan-ne
It's an emergency
Jätä minut rauhaanJÄ-tä MI-nut RAU-haan
Leave me alone
An aerial view of Suomenlinna’s fortress islands off Helsinki
Help and emergencies
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Migro, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Finnish beyond the words

16 questions on where Finnish is spoken and who speaks it. You find the places on a real map, answer questions about the people and the language itself, and say a word from six of the lessons along the way.

Forested islands scattered across Lake Pielinen seen from the hills of Koli National Park
Further context
Finnish in context
16 questions · 20 seconds each
On the mapThe peopleThe words

Find Finland, meet its languages, then try the words for everyday life.

Transfer87, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where Finnish is spoken