Language/Finnish/Vocabulary/Food-Vocabulary

Finnish → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Food and Dining → Food Vocabulary

As a Finnish language teacher, I believe that learning Finnish vocabulary related to food and dining is essential for students who want to fully immerse themselves in Finnish culture. Finnish cuisine is unique, with strong Scandinavian and Russian influences, as well as a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Fortunately, Finnish food vocabulary is relatively straightforward, with many foods having similar or identical names to their English counterparts. However, there are still many nuances and interesting facts to explore.

In this lesson, we will cover basic Finnish vocabulary related to food, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and beverages. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to read a Finnish menu, order food at a restaurant, and even impress your Finnish friends with your knowledge of Finnish cuisine.

Fruits and Berries

In Finland, the summers are short but sweet, with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. As a result, Finnish cuisine relies heavily on fresh fruits and berries, which are harvested in the late summer and early fall. Here are some of the most common Finnish fruits and berries, along with their Finnish names and pronunciations:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English Translation
omena	oh-meh-nah	apple
banaani	bah-nah-ni	banana
mustikka	moos-tik-kah	blueberry
mansikka	man-sik-kah	strawberry
vadelma	vah-del-mah	raspberry
viinirypäle	vee-nee-roo-pah-leh	grape
sitruuna	sit-ruu-na	lemon
lime	lee-meh	lime
appelsiini	ah-pel-see-nee	orange
päärynä	pah-yeh-ruu-nah	pear
persikka	pehr-sik-kah	peach
ananas	ah-nah-nas	pineapple
kirsikka	keer-sik-kah	cherry
luumu	loo-muu	plum
mustaherukka	moos-tah-heh-rook-kah	blackcurrant
punaherukka	poo-na-heh-rook-kah	redcurrant

The pronunciation column includes the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) pronunciation, as well as an anglicized pronunciation. Keep in mind that Finnish is a phonetic language, meaning that once you learn the basic rules of pronunciation, you can pretty much read any Finnish word with confidence.

Vegetables

Vegetables are also an important part of Finnish cuisine, especially during the winter months when fresh produce is scarce. Here are some of the most common Finnish vegetables, along with their Finnish names and pronunciations:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English Translation
porkkana	pork-kah-nah	carrot
kurkku	kurk-kuu	cucumber
kesäkurpitsa	keh-sah-kurp-pitsah	summer squash
munakoiso	moo-nah-koi-soh	eggplant
paprika	pap-ree-kah	bell pepper
peruna	peh-ruu-nah	potato
pinaatti	pee-nah-ah-tee	spinach
sipuli	see-poo-li	onion
tomaatti	toh-mah-tee	tomato
parsakaali	pahr-sah-kah-lee	broccoli
kukkakaali	kook-kah-kah-lee	cauliflower
herne	hehr-neh	pea
papu	pah-puu	bean
retiisi	reh-tii-sii	radish

As you can see, many Finnish vegetable names are similar to their English counterparts. However, keep in mind that Finnish uses more complex cases and endings, which can change depending on the sentence structure and context.

Meats and Fish

Finnish cuisine is known for its hearty meats and fresh fish, which are often prepared with minimal seasoning to let the natural flavors shine through. Here are some of the most common Finnish meats and fish, along with their Finnish names and pronunciations:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English Translation
nauta	now-tah	beef
kana	kah-nah	chicken
kinkku	keeng-kkuu	ham
karitsa	kah-reet-sah	lamb
liha	lee-hah	meat
possu	pohs-suu	pork
makkara	mahk-kah-rah	sausage
kala	kah-lah	fish
lohi	loh-hee	salmon
siika	see-kah	whitefish
ahven	ah-venn	perch
silli	sill-lee	herring
silakka	sil-ah-kkah	Baltic herring
mäti	maah-tee	roe

As you can see, Finnish meat and fish names are generally short and easy to pronounce. Keep in mind that Finnish cuisine also includes many game meats, such as reindeer and elk, which are considered delicacies in Finland.

Beverages

No Finnish meal is complete without a refreshing beverage to wash it all down. Finland is known for its coffee, with the average Finn consuming more than 10 kilograms of coffee per year. However, Finland also has a thriving beer and cider culture, as well as a long history of vodka production. Here are some of the most common Finnish beverages, along with their Finnish names and pronunciations:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English Translation
vesi	veh-see	water
maito	mah-ee-toh	milk
kahvi	kahv-ee	coffee
tee	teh	tea
olut	oh-luut	beer
siideri	see-deh-ree	cider
viini	vee-nee	wine
viina	vee-nah	vodka
lonkero	lawn-kehr-oh	long drink

Keep in mind that while coffee and tea are popular in Finland, they are usually served black, without milk or sugar. Also, Finland has a unique drink called "lonkero", which is a mix of grapefruit soda and vodka, and is often enjoyed on warm summer evenings.

Conclusion

Learning Finnish food and dining vocabulary is not only useful for ordering food at a restaurant, but also for understanding Finnish culture and way of life. As you continue to explore Finnish cuisine, you will discover new and interesting foods, as well as social norms and customs related to food and dining. Keep practicing your Finnish pronunciation and vocabulary, and soon you'll be a Finnish food expert in no time!

Table of Contents - Finnish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Finnish

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Adjectives

• Noun Cases
• Adjective Agreement

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Leisure

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Forming Questions
• Negation

  ---

Food and Dining

• Food Vocabulary
• Dining Out

  ---

Prepositions and Postpositions

• Prepositions
• Postpositions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Finnish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Finnish Sauna

  ---

Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

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Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses

• Conjunctions
• Subordinate Clauses

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Finnish Literature and Music

• Finnish Literature
• Finnish Music

Related Lessons

• Dinner Table
• Idiomatic Expressions
• Education
• Business and Finance
• Food
• Geography
• Feelings and Emotions
• Introducing Yourself
• Problems in Finnish
• Family

Sources

• A Mini Finnish-English Dictionary For Your Food Related Vocabulary
• 14 Words for Food in Finnish.
• Finnish Vocabulary: Food