Order anything by pointing in Finnish
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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 11 Finnish phrases in this lesson
- 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...
Literally "could I get": saisinko kahvin, could I have a coffee. The most polite way to order.
Point at the item and say tämä. Very useful at deli counters or when you want a specific item from a display and cannot name it.
The natural way to ask the price of something. Maksaa means "costs," so you are literally asking "how much does it cost?"
Ask for the bill after a meal. Lasku means bill or invoice; kiitos makes this a polite request.
Means by card. Use it when asked how you want to pay: kortilla, kiitos. The ending -lla expresses the means of payment here.
Means in cash. Käteinen is cash; käteisellä is the form used for paying with it. Keep both ä vowels distinct from a.
The basic word for water. Hanavesi means tap water and kivennäisvesi means mineral water. Vettä, kiitos is a simple request for some water.
The word for coffee. To order one, say kahvi, kiitos. For filter coffee specifically, look for suodatinkahvi.
In a bar, "yksi olut" or "iso olut", a large beer.
Ilman sokeria, without sugar.