Finnish is a foreign looking and foreign sounding language to Anglophones. While many Finns speak English quite well, knowing a few words will make your trip easier.
The Finnish language is one of Europe’s most difficult languages to learn, since it is not related to any other European language family. Finnish is part of the Finno-Ugric language family, of which Estonian and Hungarian are the only other members. There are relatively few cognates between Finnish and English, so unlike Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, German, or any of the Latin-based languages, English speaking visitors to Finland will recognize almost nothing when they look at signs or brochures.
Don’t despair, Finns recognize that their language is extremely difficult and the majority of them speak English quite well. But, a few basic Finnish phrases go a long way to reading street signs and greasing the skids a bit on your next trip to Finland. A couple of pronunciation tips: pronounce each letter separately – Finnish is pronounced as it appears on paper. The letter j is pronounced as the letter y in English.
GREETINGS and CONVERSATION
English - Finnish
- Hello - Hei, Moi
- Goodbye -Hei Hei, Moi Moi
- Yes - Ja/Kylla
- No - Ei
- Thank you (very much) – Kiitos (paljon)
- You’re welcome - Ole hyvä
- Excuse me – Anteeksi
- I’m sorry – Olen pahoillani.
- Do you speak English? – Puhutteko englantia?
- What’s your name? – Mikä sinun nimi on?
- My name is… - Minun nimeni on…
SHOPPING and SERVICES
English - Finnish
- bank - pankki
- chemist/pharmacy - apteekki
- newsagent - kioski
- market – tori
- covered market – kauppatori
TRANSPORTATION
English - Finnish
- airport - lentoasema
- boat/ferry – vene/lautta
- bus – bussi
- bus station – linja-autoasema
- station - asema
- train - juna
- tram - raitiovaunu
- ticket - lippu
- one way ticket - yhdensuuntainen
- return ticket – menopaluu (lippu)
- timetable - aikataulu
EMERGENCIES
English - Finnish
- Help! – Apua!
- Call a doctor! - Kutsu lääkäari!
- Call the police – Kutsu polisii!
- Go away! – Meme pois!
SIGNS
English - Finnish
- Entrance - sisään
- Exit - ulos
- Open – avoinna/auki
- Closed - suljettu
- Prohibited - kielletty
- Telephone - Puhelin
- Toilets – WC/yleinen käymälä
- Men's Toilet - Miestenhuone
- Women - Naiset
- Sauna - Sauna
For seafood and fish translations, visit the Nordic Fish Guide. For basic phrases in other Nordic languages, see the Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian Cheat Sheet.
English to Finnish translations taken from Lonely Planet Finland, 4th Edition, April 2003 and the Berlitz Finnish – English Dictionary, Revised Edition, 1981.
