Starting with the most common Finnish phrases is a great way to build confidence. Whether you’re traveling to Finland or just getting started with the language, these everyday expressions and greetings will help you sound natural from the beginning.
Finnish pronunciation may look tricky at first, but don’t worry — once you hear it and repeat it a few times, it becomes surprisingly consistent. Below you’ll find two core categories of phrases, each with audio support to help with correct pronunciation.
Basic Everyday Phrases
These phrases will help you handle common situations like asking for help, saying thank you, or excusing yourself in Finnish.
| English | Finnish with pronunciation volume_down |
|---|---|
| Yes | Kyllä |
| No | Ei |
| Please | Ole hyvä |
| Thank you | Kiitos |
| You are welcome | Ole hyvä |
| Excuse me | Anteeksi |
| Sorry | Anteeksi |
| I don’t understand | En ymmärrä |
| Do you speak English? | Puhutko englantia? |
| Can you help me? | Voitko auttaa minua? |
| How old are you? | Kuinka vanha olet? |
| I am 20. | Olen kaksikymmentä |
| What is your name? | Mikä sinun nimesi on? |
| My name is Maria. | Minun nimeni on Maria |
| Where are you from? | Mistä olet kotoisin? |
| I am from England. | Olen Englannista |
| Nice to meet you. | Hauska tutustua |
| Can you help me? | Voitko auttaa minua? |
| Is everything okay? | Onko kaikki hyvin? |
| Help! | Apuva! |
| Call the police! | Soita poliisi! |
Basic Greetings
Knowing how to greet people in Finnish is essential, whether you’re saying hello in the morning or wishing someone goodnight. These greetings are used in both casual and polite situations.
| English | Finnish with pronunciation volume_down |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Hyvää huomenta |
| Good afternoon | Hyvää iltapäivää |
| Good evening | Hyvää iltaa |
| Hello | Hei |
| Goodbye | Näkemiin |
| How are you? | Mitä kuuluu? |
| I’m good, thank you. And you? | Hyvää kuuluu, kiitos. Entä sinulle? |
| Have a nice day! | Mukavaa päivänjatkoa! |
Tips for Practice
Try repeating each phrase out loud after listening to the audio. Finnish is a phonetic language, which means what you see is usually what you say. Focus on the vowel sounds and the rhythm of each sentence — they tend to be even and clear.
What’s Next?
Once you’re comfortable with these basics, you can move on to Finnish numbers, personal pronouns, or common questions. Each new topic builds on the previous one, helping you form complete sentences faster.