Counting to ten in Finnish
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers. Play the ten Finnish words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Finnish phrases in this lesson
- 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
The number one. Also used when ordering a single item. The "y" is a front vowel, similar to the "u" in French "lune."
The number two. There is only one k in each position in kaksi, so do not hold it like the double kk in pankki (bank). After two, euro becomes euroa: kaksi euroa.
The number three. In prices, kolme euroa means three euros. After numbers greater than one, the noun usually takes the singular partitive form.
Keep the l and the following y sound separate: nel-jä. The final ä sounds like a in cat, not a in father.
Note the double "ii," which makes the vowel longer than a single i. Length is always meaningful in Finnish.
Also the word for spruce.
The double "mm" is held a beat longer. Prices are often quoted in round tens, so this number comes up often at markets and cafes.