Language/Finnish/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting

Finnish → Vocabulary → Numbers and Counting

As a Finnish language teacher, I know that learning numbers and counting correctly is essential for communicating in Finnish. Numbers are used in a wide range of situations, from telling time to counting money. In this lesson, you will learn how to count and use numbers in Finnish.

Finnish Numbers

The Finnish number system is based on the decimal system, just like in English. However, Finnish numbers have specific forms for singular and plural, which means that the form of the noun following the number will also change depending on whether the number is singular or plural.

Below are the numbers 1-10 in Finnish:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
yksi	/'yksi/	one
kaksi	/'kɑksi/	two
kolme	/'kolme/	three
neljä	/'ne̞ljæ/	four
viisi	/'viisi/	five
kuusi	/'kuʉsi/	six
seitsemän	/'se̞itse̞mæn/	seven
kahdeksan	/'kɑhde̞ksɑn/	eight
yhdeksän	/'yhde̞ksæn/	nine
kymmenen	/'kymme̞ne̞n/	ten

As you can see, Finnish numbers have unique pronunciations that may be difficult to master at first. It is important to pay attention to the accentuation and vowel sounds to accurately pronounce the numbers in Finnish.

Counting in Finnish

Once you have learned the numbers 1-10, counting in Finnish becomes much easier. To count from 11 onwards, simply combine the last digit of the number with the Finnish word for ten, “kymmenen.”

For example:

• 11 in Finnish is "yksitoista," which is "yksi" (one) + "toista" (ten).
• 12 in Finnish is "kaksitoista," which is "kaksi" (two) + "toista" (ten).
• 13 in Finnish is "kolmetoista," which is "kolme" (three) + "toista" (ten).
• And so on...

Here are some examples of higher numbers in Finnish:

Finnish	English
20	kaksikymmentä	twenty
30	kolmekymmentä	thirty
40	neljäkymmentä	forty
50	viisikymmentä	fifty
60	kuusikymmentä	sixty
70	seitsemänkymmentä	seventy
80	kahdeksankymmentä	eighty
90	yhdeksänkymmentä	ninety
100	sata	one hundred

It is also important to note that the Finnish language uses a comma instead of a decimal point to separate the whole and fractional parts of a number. For example, "3,14" in Finnish is equivalent to "3.14" in English.

Using Numbers in Finnish

Numbers are used in a variety of everyday expressions in Finnish. Here are a few examples:

• "Mitä kello on?" - What time is it?
• "Minulla on kaksi kissaa." - I have two cats.
• "Menen nukkumaan kymmeneltä." - I go to sleep at ten.
• "Ostan kolme makkaraa." - I'll buy three sausages.

Remember that the form of the following noun changes depending on whether the number is singular or plural. For example:

• yksi koira (one dog)
• kaksi koiraa (two dogs)

Conclusion

In this lesson, you learned how to count and use numbers in Finnish. Remember to pay close attention to pronunciation since Finnish has many unique sounds. Practice counting and using numbers in everyday expressions, and you'll soon gain confidence in your Finnish language skills.

Sources

• Finnish Numbers - How to count in Finnish - ielanguages.com
• Finnish Numbers: How to Count in Finnish
• Flashcards for learning the Finnish language

Related Lessons

• Problems in Finnish
• Transportation and Travel
• Colors and Shapes
• How to count in Finnish
• Verb Types
• Essential Phrases in Finnish
• At Home
• Feelings and Emotions
• How to Say Hello and Greetings