The most important step in learning a new language is to build a strong vocabulary. Here are the most fundamental Finnish words you need to learn as a beginner.
Greetings and Farewell
The first words you use when communicating:
- Hei / Moi - Hello / Hi
- Hyvää huomenta - Good morning
- Hyvää päivää - Good day
- Hyvää iltaa - Good evening
- Hyvää yötä - Good night
- Näkemiin - Goodbye
- Moi moi / Heippa - Bye bye
Basic Question Words
Words you need to ask questions:
- Mitä? - What?
- Kuka? - Who?
- Missä? - Where?
- Milloin? - When?
- Miksi? - Why?
- Miten? - How?
- Paljonko? - How much? / How many?
Numbers (1-10)
Counting in Finnish is easy:
- Yksi - One
- Kaksi - Two
- Kolme - Three
- Neljä - Four
- Viisi - Five
- Kuusi - Six
- Seitsemän - Seven
- Kahdeksan - Eight
- Yhdeksän - Nine
- Kymmenen - Ten
Family Members
Basic words used to describe your family:
- Perhe - Family
- Äiti - Mother
- Isä - Father
- Sisko - Sister
- Veli - Brother
- Tyttö / Tytär - Girl / Daughter
- Poika - Boy / Son
- Lapsi - Child
- Vauva - Baby
Common Verbs
The most commonly used verbs in daily life:
- Olla - To be
- Puhua - To speak
- Syödä - To eat
- Juoda - To drink
- Mennä - To go
- Tulla - To come
- Nähdä - To see
- Haluta - To want
- Ymmärtää - To understand
Common Adjectives
Words to describe objects and situations:
- Hyvä - Good
- Huono - Bad
- Iso - Big
- Pieni - Small
- Uusi - New
- Vanha - Old
- Kuuma - Hot
- Kylmä - Cold
- Kaunis - Beautiful
Important Connector Words
Words to connect your sentences:
- Ja - And
- Mutta - But
- Tai - Or
- Koska - Because
- Jos - If
- Myös - Also
Vocabulary Learning Tips
1. Use Post-it Notes
Write the Finnish names of objects in your home on small papers and stick them on the objects. For example, stick a note saying "Ovi" on the door.
2. Learn with Associations
Try to create stories or images in your mind to remember words. For example, the word "Kuusi" means 'six' but also means 'spruce tree'. Imagine 6 spruce trees.
3. Daily Practice
Try to learn 5 new words every day. At the end of a month, you will have learned 150 words! You can do regular practice on our LearnFinnish platform.
4. Use It in Sentences
Don't just learn "Omena" (Apple). Learn the sentence "Syön omenaa" (I am eating an apple). Seeing words in context makes it easier to remember them.
Conclusion
This list is a great start for your Finnish learning journey. By learning these basic words, you can start understanding simple sentences and expressing yourself.
Remember: Repetition is the mother of learning ("Kertaus on opintojen äiti"). Review these words regularly and don't forget to practice on LearnFinnish.