Language/Finnish/Pronunciation/Alphabet-and-Pronunciation

Finnish 🇫🇮 is the official language of Finland and is spoken by about 5.5 million people worldwide.

It uses the Latin alphabet, but with a few unique letters and sounds.

Happy learning!

After mastering the basics of Finnish pronunciation, you might also be interested to learn more about the basic Finnish phonetics and other aspects of the Finnish language and culture. For instance, you can dive into the world of Finnish traditional crafts to learn more about the rich cultural heritage of Finland. Additionally, you can expand your vocabulary by learning about Finnish family terms and how they are used in everyday conversations.

The Finnish Alphabet

The Finnish alphabet has 29 letters, with the following additional letters not found in English:

• Ä ä - pronounced like the "a" in "cat" Ö ö - pronounced like the "u" in "fur".
• The rest of the letters are the same as in English, except for "w", "x", "y", and "z", which are only used in loanwords.

Letter (Latin)	Letter (IPA)	English Approximation
A	[a:]	father
B	[be:]	baby
C	[se:]	set
D	[de:]	dog
E	[e:]	set
F	[æf]	off
G	[ge:]	go
H	[ho:]	hot
I	[i:]	meet
J	[ji:]	yes
K	[ko:]	coat
L	[æl]	let
M	[æm]	met
N	[æn]	net
O	[o:]	own
P	[pe:]	pet
Q	[ku:]	cue
R	[ær]	red
S	[æs]	set
T	[te:]	ten
U	[u:]	boot
V	[ve:]	vet
W	[ve:], [kaksoisve:]	vet, double-v
X	[æks]	axe
Y	[y:]	cute
Z	[tset]	zebra
Å	[o:], [ruotsalainen o:]	own, Swedish o
Ä	[æ:]	cat
Ö	[ø:]	bird

Finnish Pronunciation

Finnish vowel harmony is an essential aspect of the language that affects not only the sound but also the meaning of words. The two classes of vowels, front and back vowels, must match within a word. For instance, in the word "koti" (home), both vowels "o" and "i" are back vowels, while in the word "keittiö" (kitchen), the first vowel "e" is a front vowel, and the second vowel "i" is also a front vowel. Paying attention to vowel harmony is crucial when learning to speak Finnish, as using the wrong type of vowel can lead to miscommunication. In addition to vowel harmony, Finnish has other unique pronunciation characteristics. For example, Finnish is syllable-timed, meaning that each syllable is pronounced with the same amount of time, giving the language a rhythmic and melodic quality. Furthermore, the stress in Finnish always falls on the first syllable of a word. English speakers may find some Finnish sounds challenging to master, such as the rolled "r" sound and the "l" sound pronounced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth. Additionally, Finnish has five diphthongs made up of two vowel sounds pronounced together as one sound, such as "ai," "ei," "oi," "ui," and "yi." Learning to correctly pronounce these sounds is important to improve one's spoken Finnish.

Examples:

• "Koti" - "Koh-tee"
• "Keittiö" - "Kayt-tee-oh"
• "Kissat" - "Kiss-aht"
• "Mökki" - "Merk-kee"
• "Sisko" - "Sis-koh"
• "Yö" - "Yuh"

Long and short sounds

Because Finnish uses few sounds, the length of similar sounds is important. As example - tapaan sinut "I meet you" and tapan sinut "I murder you".

ee, aa, oo, uu

So if you see ee, aa, oo, uu - read them loooong . Usual letters you read in a usual manner.

It is a bit trickier with long consonants , they are also important. Try to NOT speak them as two discrete k-k, t-t etc. Try instead :

• Set your mouth as if you are ready to say it.
• Take a very short pause.
• Say the sound - but strongly.

Congratulations, you've done it! :)

Perhaps it would be good if you train a bit with kk, pp, tt.

mm, ss, rr, nn, ll

Sounds mm, ss, rr, nn, ll don't need such an articulation, just say them a bit longer.

Ä, Y, Ö

Ä, Y, Ö are authentic for Finnish.

• Ä resembles "cAt" or "bAd" in English.
• Y resembles German Über or French vU
• Ö resembles the same sound in German

Finnish Diphthongs

Finnish diphthongs are combinations of two vowels that are pronounced together within the same syllable. They play an important role in the Finnish language, as they can change the meaning of a word and also influence the stress and rhythm of speech. Finnish diphthongs can be categorized into two main groups: native diphthongs and foreign diphthongs.

Native Diphthongs

Native Finnish diphthongs are those that are inherent to the language and can be found in many common words. These are the most frequently used diphthongs in Finnish:

• ai: like 'ai' in "aisle" (e.g., "kai" – probably)
• ei: like 'ei' in "eight" (e.g., "meitä" – us)
• oi: like 'oi' in "oil" (e.g., "poika" – boy)
• ui: like 'ui' in "suit" (e.g., "suihku" – shower)
• yi: like 'yi' in "yield" (e.g., "tyi" – had to)
• äi: like 'ay' in "bay" with a more open mouth (e.g., "häitä" – weddings)
• öi: like 'eu' in "neutron" (e.g., "möi" – sold)
• au: like 'ou' in "house" (e.g., "kauppa" – shop)
• eu: like 'eu' in "neutron" (e.g., "leukka" – snip)
• ou: like 'ou' in "boulder" (e.g., "koulu" – school)
• äu: like 'eu' in "neutron" with a more open mouth (e.g., "väu" – son-in-law)
• iu: like 'ew' in "new" (e.g., "hiu" – hair)
• iä: like 'ya' in "yarn" (e.g., "siä" – in there)
• ie: like 'ye' in "yes" (e.g., "lie" – flame)
• uo: like 'wo' in "won" (e.g., "kuori" – peel)
• yö: like 'yö' in "yodel" (e.g., "yö" – night)

Foreign Diphthongs

Foreign diphthongs are found in loanwords and are less common in Finnish. They include combinations like:

• ae: like 'ai' in "aisle" (e.g., "kae" – look for)
• oe: like 'eu' in "neutron" (e.g., "voe" – woe)
• ue: like 'we' in "wet" (e.g., "kue" – clue)

Pronunciation Tips

When pronouncing Finnish diphthongs, it is important to remember that both vowels should be clearly articulated within the same syllable. Avoid inserting a pause or break between the vowels, and try to maintain a smooth transition from one vowel sound to the other. This may take some practice, but with time, you'll become more comfortable with the unique sounds of Finnish diphthongs.

In conclusion, Finnish diphthongs are an essential aspect of the language and contribute to its distinct phonetic qualities. Understanding and practicing these diphthongs will greatly improve your Finnish pronunciation and overall language skills.

Finnish Online Virtual Keyboard

Authors

Alexofwermland