Finnish is not a language you can fake. Unlike French or Spanish, where a confident attitude can get you surprisingly far, Finnish speakers will immediately notice whether you’ve put in real effort – and they’ll respect you for it. I’ve had the same experience learning Norwegian: the moment you attempt even a few phrases correctly, the response changes completely.
Finnish has a few quirks that make phrases behave differently from what you’d expect. There’s no word for “please” – politeness is expressed through tone, phrasing, and context instead. And Finnish has two registers that matter in practice: formal written Finnish (kirjakieli) and colloquial spoken Finnish (puhekieli), which differ so much that beginners sometimes think they’re hearing two different languages. Where it’s useful, I’ve marked both.
The 5 most essential Finnish phrases
- Hei – Hi (universal, works in all situations)
- Kiitos – Thank you
- Anteeksi – Sorry / Excuse me
- Puhutko englantia? – Do you speak English?
- En ymmärrä – I don’t understand
These five will get you through most unexpected situations in Finland. Scroll down for the full list by category.
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A note on Finnish pronunciation before you start
Finnish pronunciation is actually one of the friendlier aspects of the language: every letter is pronounced, every vowel is always the same sound, and stress always falls on the first syllable. The challenge is vowel length – a short vowel and a long vowel (written as a double letter) are completely different words. Tuli means fire. Tuuli means wind. Tulli means customs. Getting this wrong won’t cause offense, but it will cause confusion.
The two sounds that trip up most English speakers: ä (like the ‘a’ in “cat”) and ö (like the German ö, or the ‘u’ in “burn”). The IPA transcriptions in the tables below will help you get close.
Finnish greetings – formal and casual
Finnish greetings are refreshingly direct. Hei is used universally – in shops, offices, with strangers and friends alike. The more formal Hyvää päivää exists but you’ll mainly hear it in official or older contexts. Colloquially, Finns often just say Moi – it’s the linguistic equivalent of a friendly nod.
| English | Finnish | Register | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hi / Hello | Hei | Universal | [ˈhei] |
| Hi (casual) | Moi | Casual | [ˈmoi] |
| Good day | Hyvää päivää | Formal | [ˈhyʋæː ˈpæiʋæː] |
| Good morning | Hyvää huomenta | Formal | [ˈhyʋæː ˈhuo̯mentɑ] |
| Morning! (casual) | Huomenta! | Casual | [ˈhuo̯mentɑ] |
| Good evening | Hyvää iltaa | Formal/Neutral | [ˈhyʋæː ˈiltɑː] |
| Welcome! | Tervetuloa! | Universal | [ˈterʋetuloɑ] |
| Good to see you | Kiva nähdä sinua | Casual | [ˈkiʋɑ ˈnæhdæ ˈsinuɑ] |
How are you? – asking and answering in Finnish
This is where Finnish culture shows up clearly in language. The standard Miten menee? (“How’s it going?”) is genuinely used – but Finns tend to answer honestly rather than reflexively saying “fine.” If someone asks, they expect a real answer. A brief but genuine response is appreciated far more than an enthusiastic but hollow one.
| English | Finnish | Register | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How are you? (formal) | Kuinka voitte? | Formal | [ˈkuiŋkɑ ˈʋoitːe] |
| How’s it going? | Miten menee? | Casual | [ˈmiten ˈmeneː] |
| What’s up? (very casual) | Mitä kuuluu? | Casual | [ˈmitæ ˈkuːluː] |
| I’m fine, thank you | Kiitos, voin hyvin | Neutral | [ˈkiːtos ˈʋoin ˈhyʋin] |
| Pretty good | Ihan hyvin | Casual | [ˈihɑn ˈhyʋin] |
| Not so well | Ei kovin hyvin | Neutral | [ˈei ˈkoʋin ˈhyʋin] |
How to say goodbye in Finnish
Näkemiin is the formal goodbye – literally “until we see each other again.” In everyday speech you’ll hear Hei hei or just Moi moi far more often. Finns say goodbye efficiently – don’t expect a long drawn-out farewell.
| English | Finnish | Register | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodbye (formal) | Näkemiin | Formal | [ˈnækemiːn] |
| Bye bye (casual) | Hei hei / Moi moi | Casual | [ˈhei ˈhei] / [ˈmoi ˈmoi] |
| See you tomorrow | Nähdään huomenna | Casual | [ˈnæhdæːn ˈhuo̯menːɑ] |
| See you soon | Nähdään pian | Casual | [ˈnæhdæːn ˈpiɑn] |
| Good night | Hyvää yötä | Neutral | [ˈhyvæː ˈyøtæ] |
| Take care | Pidä huolta itsestäsi | Warm/Casual | [ˈpidæ ˈhuoltɑ ˈitːestæsi] |
| Nice to have met you | Oli mukava tavata | Neutral | [ˈoli ˈmukɑʋɑ ˈtɑʋɑtɑ] |
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Introducing yourself in Finnish
One thing worth knowing: Finnish doesn’t have a formal “you” (like German Sie or French vous). Everyone is addressed as sinä (or colloquially just sä). This makes introductions feel more direct and equal than in many European languages.
| English | Finnish | Register | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| My name is [name] | Minun nimeni on [nimi] | Neutral | [ˈminun ˈnimeni on] |
| I’m called… (casual) | Mä oon [nimi] | Very casual | [mæ oːn] |
| What is your name? | Mikä sinun nimesi on? | Neutral | [ˈmikæ ˈsinun ˈnimesi on] |
| Where are you from? | Mistä olet kotoisin? | Neutral | [ˈmistæ ˈolet ˈkotoisin] |
| I’m from [city/country] | Olen kotoisin [kaupunki] | Neutral | [ˈolen ˈkotoisin] |
| Do you speak English? | Puhutko englantia? | Neutral | [ˈpuhutko ˈeŋlɑntiɑ] |
| I understand a little Finnish | Ymmärrän vähän suomea | Neutral | [ˈymːærːæn ˈvæhæn ˈsuomeɑ] |
| I don’t understand | En ymmärrä | Universal | [ˈen ˈymːærræ] |
| Could you repeat that? | Voisitko toistaa? | Polite | [ˈʋoisitko ˈtoistɑː] |
Essential Finnish travel phrases
Finland is exceptionally well-organised for visitors – most Finns in cities speak excellent English. But attempting Finnish, even imperfectly, signals genuine respect for the culture. In my experience learning languages, locals always respond more warmly to the attempt than to defaulting straight to English.
| English | Finnish | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Where is…? | Missä on…? | [ˈmissæ on] |
| How much does this cost? | Paljonko tämä maksaa? | [ˈpɑljonko ˈtæmæ ˈmɑksɑː] |
| A table for two, please | Pöytä kahdelle, kiitos | [ˈpøytæ ˈkɑhdelːe ˈkiːtos] |
| The bill, please | Lasku, kiitos | [ˈlɑsku ˈkiːtos] |
| Where is the toilet? | Missä on vessa? | [ˈmissæ on ˈvesːɑ] |
| I’m lost | Olen eksyksissä | [ˈolen ˈeksyksisːæ] |
| I need help | Tarvitsen apua | [ˈtɑrʋitsen ˈɑpuɑ] |
| Call an ambulance! | Soita ambulanssi! | [ˈsoitɑ ˈɑmbulɑnssi] |
| I am allergic to… | Olen allerginen… | [ˈolen ˈɑllerɡinen] |
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Thank you, sorry and polite expressions in Finnish
Remember: Finnish has no direct equivalent of “please.” Instead, kiitos (thank you) does a lot of the politeness work – you’ll add it to requests the way other languages add “please.” Anteeksi covers both “sorry” and “excuse me,” depending on context.
| English | Finnish | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you | Kiitos | [ˈkiːtos] |
| Thank you very much | Paljon kiitoksia | [ˈpɑljon ˈkiːtoksiɑ] |
| You’re welcome | Ole hyvä | [ˈole ˈhyʋæ] |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Anteeksi | [ˈɑnteːksi] |
| I apologise | Pyydän anteeksi | [ˈpyːdæn ˈɑnteːksi] |
| No problem | Ei se mitään | [ˈei se ˈmitæːn] |
| Of course | Tietenkin | [ˈtietenkin] |
| Yes / No | Kyllä / Ei | [ˈkylːæ] / [ˈei] |
Useful everyday sentences in Finnish
| English | Finnish | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| I am hungry | Minulla on nälkä | [ˈminullɑ on ˈnælkæ] |
| I am tired | Olen väsynyt | [ˈolen ˈʋæsynyt] |
| I am in a hurry | Minulla on kiire | [ˈminullɑ on ˈkiːre] |
| I am ill | Olen sairas | [ˈolen ˈsɑirɑs] |
| I am happy | Olen iloinen | [ˈolen ˈiloinen] |
| I am a tourist | Olen turisti | [ˈolen ˈturisti] |
| I am late | Olen myöhässä | [ˈolen ˈmyøhæssæ] |
| I need help | Tarvitsen apua | [ˈtɑrʋitsen ˈɑpuɑ] |
Useful signs and notices in Finnish
Finnish public signage is consistent and logical. A few words worth recognising before you arrive – they’ll save confusion in airports, shops and public buildings.
| English | Finnish | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance | Sisäänkäynti | [ˈsisæːnˌkæynti] |
| Exit | Uloskäynti | [ˈulosˌkæynti] |
| Toilet | Vessa / WC | [ˈvesːɑ] |
| Open / Closed | Auki / Kiinni | [ˈɑuki] / [ˈkiːnni] |
| Police | Poliisi | [ˈpoliːsi] |
| Emergency services | Hätäkeskus | [ˈhætæˌkeskus] |
| No entry | Kulku kielletty | [ˈkulku ˈkielːetty] |
| Caution! | Varo! | [ˈʋɑro] |
Numbers in Finnish – 1 to 25
Finnish numbers follow a clean logic. Once you know 1–10 and the word for “ten” (kymmenen), the teens are just number + toista. Eleven is literally “one-second” (yksitoista). It clicks quickly.
| English | Finnish | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| One | Yksi | [ˈyksi] |
| Two | Kaksi | [ˈkɑksi] |
| Three | Kolme | [ˈkolme] |
| Four | Neljä | [ˈneljæ] |
| Five | Viisi | [ˈʋiːsi] |
| Six | Kuusi | [ˈkuːsi] |
| Seven | Seitsemän | [ˈseitsemæn] |
| Eight | Kahdeksan | [ˈkɑhdekːsɑn] |
| Nine | Yhdeksän | [ˈyhdekːsæn] |
| Ten | Kymmenen | [ˈkymːenen] |
| Eleven | Yksitoista | [ˈyksitoistɑ] |
| Twelve | Kaksitoista | [ˈkɑksitoistɑ] |
| Fifteen | Viisitoista | [ˈʋiːsitoistɑ] |
| Twenty | Kaksikymmentä | [ˈkɑksikymːentæ] |
| Twenty-five | Kaksikymmentäviisi | [ˈkɑksikymːentæˌʋiːsi] |
Colours in Finnish
| English | Finnish | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Punainen | [ˈpunɑinen] |
| Blue | Sininen | [ˈsininen] |
| White | Valkoinen | [ˈʋɑlkoinen] |
| Green | Vihreä | [ˈʋihreæ] |
| Black | Musta | [ˈmustɑ] |
| Yellow | Keltainen | [ˈkeltɑinen] |
| Orange | Oranssi | [ˈorɑnssi] |
Days, months and seasons in Finnish
A small cultural note: Finnish weeks start on Monday (maanantai), not Sunday. Finnish month names are entirely native – no Latin roots – which makes them completely opaque at first but quite logical once you know them. Tammikuu (January) literally means “oak moon.” Helmikuu (February) means “pearl moon,” referring to ice pearls forming in winter.
| English | Finnish | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Maanantai | [ˈmɑːnɑntɑi] |
| Tuesday | Tiistai | [ˈtiːstɑi] |
| Wednesday | Keskiviikko | [ˈkeskiˌʋikːo] |
| Thursday | Torstai | [ˈtorstɑi] |
| Friday | Perjantai | [ˈperjɑntɑi] |
| Saturday | Lauantai | [ˈlɑuɑntɑi] |
| Sunday | Sunnuntai | [ˈsunːuntɑi] |
| January | Tammikuu (oak moon) | [ˈtɑmːikuː] |
| February | Helmikuu (pearl moon) | [ˈhelmikuː] |
| March | Maaliskuu | [ˈmɑːliskuː] |
| June | Kesäkuu (summer moon) | [ˈkesækuː] |
| December | Joulukuu (Christmas moon) | [ˈjoulukuː] |
| Spring | Kevät | [ˈkeʋæt] |
| Summer | Kesä | [ˈkesæ] |
| Autumn | Syksy | [ˈsyksy] |
| Winter | Talvi | [ˈtɑlʋi] |
Want to go beyond phrases?
Knowing phrases is a start. Building a real vocabulary that sticks is the next step. The 17-Minute-Languages Finnish course uses a long-term memory method to do exactly that – in 15–20 minutes per day.
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More about the Finnish language course – full guide to learning Finnish online.
Related pages:
- Learn Finnish – courses, methods and where to start
- Learn Finnish with Mondly – honest review
- Language learning methods compared
- How to learn vocabulary effectively
- Staying motivated when learning a language
- Can you learn a language fast?
- Types of language learners
About the author: Sven Mancini
Sven is a published author of four language learning vocabulary books and has been learning languages through self-study since 2005. He speaks Norwegian (business fluent), Danish and Swedish (conversationally fluent) and French (B1/B2), and is currently learning Spanish. One thing he’s found consistent across all of them: starting with the phrases that come up every single day makes everything else easier. He founded Learn-A-New-Language.eu to share honest, experience-based guidance on courses and methods.