Introduction to Finnish Language and Culture

Jenni Laine 9.6.2015

Finnish language - different, not difficult

● Finnish belongs to the Finno-Ugrian language

family (like Estonian and Hungarian).

● Therefore the structure and the vocabulary of

Finnish language differ from the most

European languages.

● No articles

Auto a car, the car

● No grammatical gender

Hän he, she

What is different in Finnish?

● The basic principle of word formation in

Finnish is the additions of endings and suffixes

to the words.

● The Finnish language has many case endings

which correspond often to the prepositions or

other individual words in other languages.

Endings and suffixes

auto a car

-ssa in

auto+ssa in a car

-ni my (possessive suffix)

-kin also, too

auto+ssa+ni+kin = in my car, too

Example of word formation

Compound words

Sana (word) + kirja (book) => sanakirja

Tieto (knowledge) + kone (machine) => tietokone

Lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoali-upseerioppilas

Guinness World Records 2006

● Written language (standard, literary Finnish) is

used in newspapers, instructions, formal

situations, books, news etc.

● Spoken language (colloquial Finnish) is used

in daily communication.

Written and spoken language

Written language: Minä olen

I am

Spoken language:

Mä oon

Dialects: Mää oon, mie oon,

mää ole...

● Finnish language has quite many international

words, borrowed from the Indo-European

languages (mainly Swedish and English).

● Loan words have been ”Finnishized”, adjusted

to Finnish ortography and pronunciation.

Something familiar?

Do you know what these mean? taksi

bussi

pubi

filmi

hotelli

posti

pankki

rokki

musiikki

presidentti

teatteri

banaani

museo

● Finland has two official languages, Finnish and

Swedish.

● Approximately 6 % of Finns speak Swedish as

their mother tongue.

● Many places have a Finnish and a Swedish

name:

Turku Åbo

Helsinki Helsingfors

Porvoo Borgå

Two official languages

● Especially in the coastal areas general signs and notices are in both languages.

● Sometimes it may be easier to understand the Swedish word!

Finnish Swedish English

ravintola restaurang restaurant

yliopisto universitet university

asema station station

General signs and notices

● HEI! MOI! Hello!

● HYVÄÄ PÄIVÄÄ! Good day!

● MIKÄ SINUN NIMESI ON? What's your name?

● MINUN NIMENI ON... My name is...

● HAUSKA TUTUSTUA! Nice to meet you!

● KIITOS SAMOIN! Thank you, same!

● NÄHDÄÄN! See you!

● Hyöhen löytyi yöllä työpöydältä.

Practise Finnish! MOIKKA!

TERVE!

ADVICE FOR FOREIGNERS By Finnish summer course students

Ole ajoissa!

• Be on time!

Syö salmiakkia ja

korvapuustia!

• Eat salmiakki and

cinnamon bun!

Käy saunassa!

• Go to sauna!

Pukeudu lämpimästi

talvella!

• Dress warmly in the

winter!

Käy Lapissa!

• Visit Lapland!

Kävele luonnossa!

• Walk in the nature!

Opiskele suomea!

• Study Finnish!

Hyvää kesää ja kiitos!