Language/Finnish/Vocabulary/Basic-Greetings
As a Finnish language teacher with 20 years of experience, I know that learning basic greetings is essential for your communication in Finnish. In this lesson, we will cover common phrases that you can use to greet people, introduce yourself, and ask how they are doing.
Basic Greetings
Let’s start with some basic Finnish greetings that you can use in any situation.
- Hei - Hello
- Moi - Hi
- Terve - Hi/Hello
- Hyvää päivää - Good day/Good afternoon
- Hyvää iltaa - Good evening
Each of these expressions can be used to say hello to someone. Nevertheless, depending on the situation and the person you're talking to, you might prefer one over the other.
For example, "Hei" and "Moi" are more casual, typically used when talking to friends, acquaintances, or younger people. "Terve" is a bit more formal, but still appropriate in most situations. On the other hand, "Hyvää päivää" and "Hyvää iltaa" are more formal greetings and are often used when talking to strangers, older people, or in formal settings.
It's essential to note that although Finnish people are generally open-minded and friendly, they can be somewhat reserved with strangers. Therefore, it's always a good idea to greet people with a smile when meeting them for the first time.
Goodbyes
When it comes to goodbyes, Finnish people typically use the phrase "Nähdään" or "Moikka" - "Nähdään" means "see you" and "Moikka" is a more casual way of saying goodbye.
- Nähdään - See you
- Hei hei - Bye bye
- Moikka - Bye
These are the most common ways of saying goodbye, depending on the situation and your relationship with the person you're talking to, you might use one over the other.
How are you?
It's always good to know how to ask someone how they are doing, even if you’re a beginner in Finnish.
In Finnish, there are several ways to ask someone how they are doing; let's see some of them:
- Mitä kuuluu? – What's up?/How are you?
- Miten menee? – How's it going?
- Kuinka voit? – How are you?
The most common way of answering these questions is by using "Hyvin, kiitos" which means, "I'm well, thank you." or "Kiitos hyvin" which means, "Thank you, well."
Moreover, it's common in Finnish culture to ask how someone's day has been, and a polite way to do this is by saying: "Miten päiväsi on mennyt?" which means, "How has your day gone?"
Practice
The best way to learn and memorize these greetings is through practice. Here are some exercises you could do to help you cement that knowledge in your brain:
- Greet your Finnish colleagues, friends or family members every time you see them, using the different greetings we have learned in this lesson.
- Watch Finnish TV shows or movies and pay attention to how characters greet each other.
- Use these phrases every day for a week, every time someone greets you or you greet someone.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you have learned common Finnish greetings you can use to say hello, how to say goodbye in Finnish, and how to ask someone how they are doing. Remember that greeting someone in Finnish is a way to show politeness, and it's always good to learn some of the cultural norms and customs when you're learning a new language.
Always remember that practice makes perfect, so use these phrases every opportunity you have to greet someone in Finnish. If you keep practicing, you will soon be able to use them with confidence.
Videos
20 Finnish Words for Everyday Life - Basic Vocabulary #1 - YouTube
Learn Finnish - Basic Phrases for Tourists - YouTube
Related Lessons
- Daily Routine
- Colors
- Verb Types
- Telling Time
- Science and Technology
- Animals
- Days of the Week
- Colors and Shapes
- Camping
- Numbers
Sources
- Finnish Greetings: Hello in Finnish and 15 Other Great Greeting Words
- How to Say Hello in Finnish: Guide to Finnish Greetings
- Useful Finnish Words and Phrases for Travelers