Language/Finnish/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-Introductions
Welcome to the "Greetings and Introductions" lesson of our Complete 0 to A1 Finnish Course! In this lesson, we’ll embark on an exciting journey into the world of Finnish greetings and how to introduce ourselves in this beautiful language.
The ability to greet someone and introduce yourself is one of the most fundamental aspects of any language, and Finnish is no exception. Knowing how to say hello, ask someone how they are, and share a little about yourself sets the stage for meaningful conversations and connections.
Today, we’ll cover two main topics: Basic Greetings and Introducing Yourself. We will explore common phrases, their pronunciations, and English translations to help you feel comfortable using them in real-life situations. Additionally, we’ll have fun exercises to practice what you learn, ensuring you leave this lesson with confidence.
Basic Greetings[edit | edit source]
Let's start with the essentials—greetings! In Finnish culture, greetings are not just a formality; they reflect respect and friendliness. Here are some common greetings to get you started:
| Finnish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hei | /hei/ | Hi |
| Moi | /moi/ | Hey |
| Terve | /ˈter.ve/ | Hello (more formal) |
| Hyvää huomenta | /ˈhy.ʋɑː ˈhu.o.men.tɑ/ | Good morning |
| Hyvää päivää | /ˈhy.ʋɑː ˈpæi̯.ʋæː/ | Good day |
| Hyvää iltaa | /ˈhy.ʋɑː ˈil.tɑː/ | Good evening |
| Näkemiin | /ˈnæ.ke.miːn/ | Goodbye |
| Hei hei | /hei hei/ | Bye-bye |
| Moikka | /ˈmoik.kɑ/ | Bye (casual) |
| Kuinka voit? | /ˈkui̯n.kɑ voi̯t/ | How are you? |
To make your greetings even more engaging, you can ask how someone is doing. Here are some responses you might get:
| Finnish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hyvin, kiitos! | /ˈhy.ʋin ˈkiː.tos/ | Good, thank you! |
| Ei kovin hyvin. | /ei ˈko.ʋin ˈhy.ʋin/ | Not very well. |
| Ihan hyvin. | /ˈi.hɑn ˈhy.ʋin/ | Quite well. |
| Entä sinä? | /ˈen.tæ ˈsi.næ/ | And you? |
Introducing Yourself[edit | edit source]
Now that we have a grasp on greetings, let’s move on to introductions. It's important to know how to share a little about yourself. Here are some key phrases to help you introduce yourself:
| Finnish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Olen [your name]. | /ˈo.len [your name]/ | I am [your name]. |
| Olen kotoisin [country]. | /ˈo.len ˈko.to.isin [country]/ | I am from [country]. |
| Asun [city]. | /ˈɑ.sun [city]/ | I live in [city]. |
| Työskentelen [profession]. | /ˈtyœs.ken.te.len [profession]/ | I work as a [profession]. |
| Harrastan [hobby]. | /ˈhɑr.rɑ.stɑn [hobby]/ | I enjoy [hobby]. |
| Puhun [languages]. | /ˈpu.hun [languages]/ | I speak [languages]. |
| Mukava tavata! | /ˈmu.kɑ.vɑ ˈtɑ.vɑ.tɑ/ | Nice to meet you! |
You can combine these sentences to create a brief introduction. For example:
Finnish: Olen Anna. Olen kotoisin Suomesta. Asun Helsingissä.
Pronunciation: /ˈo.len ˈɑn.nɑ. ˈo.len ˈko.to.isin ˈsu.o.mes.tɑ. ˈɑ.sun ˈhel.sin.ki.sʲ.ɑ/
English: I am Anna. I am from Finland. I live in Helsinki.
Practice Makes Perfect[edit | edit source]
To help solidify your understanding of greetings and introductions, we’ve prepared some exercises for you to practice.
Exercises[edit | edit source]
1. Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with appropriate greetings or introductions.
a. _____! (Hi)
b. Olen _____ (your name).
c. Hyvää _____ (morning).
Answers:
a. Hei!
b. Olen [your name].
c. Hyvää huomenta.
2. Match the Finnish Phrases to English
Match the Finnish phrases on the left with their English translations on the right.
a. Hyvää päivää
b. Työskentelen opettajana
c. Näkemiin
d. Hyvin, kiitos!
e. Olen kotoisin Ruotsista
1. Good day
2. Goodbye
3. I am from Sweden
4. I work as a teacher
5. Good, thank you!
Answers:
a - 1
b - 4
c - 2
d - 5
e - 3
3. Role Play
Pair up with a partner. One student greets and introduces themselves, while the other responds appropriately. Switch roles after a few minutes.
4. Translate the Sentences
Translate the following sentences into Finnish:
a. My name is Mark.
b. I live in London.
c. How are you?
Answers:
a. Olen Mark.
b. Asun Lontoossa.
c. Kuinka voit?
5. Complete the Dialogue
Fill in the blanks in the dialogue:
A: _____! (Hello)
B: Hei! _____? (How are you?)
A: _____, kiitos! (Good, thank you!)
Answers:
A: Terve!
B: Kuinka voit?
A: Hyvin, kiitos!
6. Create Your Introduction
Write down five sentences introducing yourself in Finnish, using the phrases learned in this lesson.
7. Listening Practice
Listen to a recorded conversation in Finnish where two people greet and introduce themselves. Write down what you hear and translate it into English.
8. Group Discussion
In small groups, discuss your hobbies and interests in Finnish using the sentence structures learned.
9. Identify the Mistakes
Read the following introduction and identify the mistakes:
"Olen Matti. Asun Helsingissä. Hyvää päivää!"
Answer: The greeting should be "Hei!" instead of "Hyvää päivää!" if it's the start of a conversation.
10. Flashcards
Create flashcards for the greetings and introductions. Practice with a partner by showing them the Finnish phrase and asking for the English translation, and vice versa.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations on completing the "Greetings and Introductions" lesson! You've learned essential phrases that will help you connect with Finnish speakers. Remember, practice is key to becoming comfortable with a new language. Keep using these phrases in your daily life, whether chatting with friends, meeting new people, or just practicing on your own.
As you continue your journey through the Complete 0 to A1 Finnish Course, look forward to delving into nouns, adjectives, numbers, verbs, and much more. Each lesson will build on what you've learned, leading you to fluency step by step.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Learn Finnish! Lesson 2: Greetings - Tervehdyksiä - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Learn Finnish - Finnish in Three Minutes - Greetings - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Learn Finnish :How to Greet in formal and informal situations ...[edit | edit source]
Finnish lesson 1. (Greetings) - Opiskele suomea! - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- How to introduce yourself in Finnish - A good place to start learning ...
- Finnish Greetings: Hello in Finnish and 15 Other Great Greeting Words
- FINN-111 Finnish 1A, Open uni: Finnish 1A, summer (June) 20/6–7 ...
- Uncover the Finnish Language: Easy Basics of Finnish Start Here
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Transportation and Travel
- Animal
- Verb Types
- Basic Phrases in Finnish
- Problems in Finnish
- Adverbs in Finnish
- Dinner Table
- Numbers and Counting
- How to count in Finnish
- Home