Language/Finnish/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-Introductions

Finnish Vocabulary → Everyday Phrases and Expressions → Greetings and Introductions

As a Finnish language teacher with 20 years of experience, I understand the importance of mastering basic greetings and introductions in any language. In this lesson, you will learn how to greet and introduce yourself in Finnish, perfect for beginners in the language.

Basic Greetings

Finnish greetings are usually informal, and there are various ways to say hello and goodbye depending on the time of day or the situation. Below are some basic Finnish greetings and their meanings:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
Hei	[ˈhe̞i]	Hello/Hi
Moi	[mo̞i]	Hi
Hyvää päivää	[ˈhy̯ʋæː ˈpæ̌iʋæ̌ː]	Good day (formal)
Hyvää iltaa	[ˈhy̯ʋæː ˈil̺t̪æː]	Good evening (formal)
Heippa	[ˈheit̪ːp̬ɑ]	Bye
Näkemiin	[ˈnæ̌kemiːn]	Goodbye (formal)

Introducing Yourself

To introduce yourself to someone in Finnish, it is common to use the phrase "Minä olen" ("I am"). Here is an example:

• Minä olen Anna. - I am Anna.

You can also include information about where you are from or what you do:

• Minä olen Anna ja olen kotoisin Suomesta. - I am Anna and I am from Finland.
• Minä olen Anna ja olen opettaja. - I am Anna and I am a teacher.

When meeting someone for the first time, it is polite to ask for their name:

• Mikä sinun nimesi on? - What is your name? (Lit. "What is your name?")

To respond to this question, you can say:

• Minun nimeni on... - My name is...

Formal vs. Informal

In Finnish, there is an informal and a formal way to address someone. It is important to choose the appropriate form depending on the situation. The informal way is to use "sinä" when speaking to friends or family members, while the formal way is to use "te" when speaking to strangers, elders or in a professional setting.

Here are some examples of how to use the informal and formal forms:

• Sinä olet kiva - You are nice (informal)
• Te olette kiva - You are nice (formal)

To make the phrases above negative, you can use the word "et" (informal) or "ette" (formal):

• Sinä et ole kiva - You are not nice (informal)
• Te ette ole kiva - You are not nice (formal)

Saying Thank You

Gratitude is an important aspect of Finnish culture and it is common to express thanks for even the smallest favors.

Here are some ways to say "thank you" in Finnish:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
Kiitos	[ˈkiito̞s]	Thank you
Kiitti	[ˈki̯it̪t̪i]	Thanks (informal)
Kiitoksia paljon	[ˈki̯it̪o̞ks̠i̯ɑ ˈpɑljo̞n]	Many thanks (formal)

Conclusion

Learning basic Finnish greetings and introductions is essential for effectively communicating with Finnish speakers. Remember to use the right formality and practice expressing thanks. With these simple phrases, you will be able to make a good impression and show respect for Finnish culture.

Sources

• Finnish language
• Thank you

Table of Contents - Finnish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Finnish

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

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Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Nouns and Adjectives

• Noun Cases
• Adjective Agreement

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Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

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Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Leisure

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Questions and Negation

• Forming Questions
• Negation

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Food and Dining

• Food Vocabulary
• Dining Out

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Prepositions and Postpositions

• Prepositions
• Postpositions

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

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Finnish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Finnish Sauna

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Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

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Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses

• Conjunctions
• Subordinate Clauses

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

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Finnish Literature and Music

• Finnish Literature
• Finnish Music

Related Lessons

• 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