Practise understanding prices, paying at a shop and asking for help in Finland. Allow about 30–45 minutes, or study one lesson at a time. These short phrases are useful even if you only know a little Finnish.
Back to Everyday Finnish for Beginners
Module 3 contents
Lesson 1 — Understanding Prices
Lesson 2 — Paying and Shopping
Lesson 3 — Asking for Help
Mini Review Quiz
Read each explanation, say the examples aloud and try the activity before clicking a self-check question to reveal its answer. This learning prototype has no automatic scoring, saved progress or certificates.
Lesson 1 — Understanding Prices
A price tells you how much something costs. Finnish prices commonly use a comma between euros and cents: 2,50 € means two euros and fifty cents. Practise reading the price and asking about it. You can also show the price on a label if you do not understand the spoken answer.
Useful vocabulary
hinta — price
euro — euro
sentti — cent
maksaa — to cost / to pay
tarjous — special offer
alennus — discount
Practical examples
Kuinka paljon tämä maksaa? — How much does this cost?
Mikä tämän hinta on? — What is the price of this?
Se maksaa kaksi euroa. — It costs two euros.
Se maksaa kaksi euroa ja viisikymmentä senttiä. — It costs two euros and fifty cents (2,50 €).
Onko tämä tarjouksessa? — Is this on special offer?
Pronunciation practice: Stress the first syllable. Double letters last longer: practise the long aa in maksaa and the double tt in sentti. For a numbers reminder, revisit Module 2 — Numbers.
Practice: Write imaginary price labels for 2,00 €, 2,50 € and 5,00 €. Ask “Kuinka paljon tämä maksaa?” and say each price. Use the full euros-and-cents example for 2,50 €. You do not need to buy anything.
Self-check 1: What does 2,50 € mean?
Two euros and fifty cents.
Self-check 2: How do you ask “How much does this cost”?
Kuinka paljon tämä maksaa?
Self-check 3: What does tarjous mean on a shop sign?
A special offer. Check the label to see which item and price the offer applies to.
Next lesson — Paying and Shopping · Back to Everyday Finnish for Beginners
Lesson 2 — Paying and Shopping
At the checkout, you may be asked about a bag or a receipt. Learn a few short answers and a phrase for your payment method. Card and cash acceptance can vary, so ask instead of assuming.
Useful vocabulary
kauppa — shop
kassa — checkout / till
kortti — card
käteinen — cash
kuitti — receipt
pussi — bag
Practical examples
Voinko maksaa kortilla? — Can I pay by card?
Maksan kortilla. — I am paying by card.
Maksan käteisellä. — I am paying in cash.
Haluatko kuitin? — Do you want a receipt?
Kyllä, kiitos. — Yes, please.
Ei, kiitos. — No, thank you.
Tarvitsen pussin. — I need a bag.
Example conversation
Customer: Voinko maksaa kortilla? — Can I pay by card?
Cashier: Kyllä. Haluatko kuitin? — Yes. Do you want a receipt?
Customer: Kyllä, kiitos. — Yes, please.
Pronunciation practice: Hold the double consonants a little longer in kortti, kuitti and pussi. The ä in käteinen is different from a. For sound length and vowel support, revisit Module 1 — Alphabet & pronunciation.
Practice: Role-play a checkout with a partner or yourself. Ask to pay by card, answer the receipt question and ask for a bag. Repeat with “Maksan käteisellä.” Keep your card PIN private; this activity needs no real payment details.
Self-check 1: How do you ask to pay by card?
Voinko maksaa kortilla?
Self-check 2: What is a kuitti?
A receipt.
Self-check 3: How do you politely decline a receipt?
Ei, kiitos. — No, thank you.
Previous lesson — Understanding Prices · Next lesson — Asking for Help · Back to Everyday Finnish for Beginners
Lesson 3 — Asking for Help
Start politely with “Anteeksi” to get someone’s attention. Then ask a short question. If you do not understand, ask them to repeat or speak more slowly. Pointing to an item can help you communicate.
Useful phrases
Anteeksi. — Excuse me / Sorry.
Voitko auttaa? — Can you help?
Missä on kassa? — Where is the checkout?
Etsin maitoa. — I am looking for milk.
En ymmärrä. — I do not understand.
Voisitko toistaa? — Could you repeat?
Voisitko puhua hitaammin? — Could you speak more slowly?
Puhutko englantia? — Do you speak English?
Kiitos avusta. — Thank you for your help.
Example conversation
Customer: Anteeksi. Missä on kassa? — Excuse me. Where is the checkout?
Assistant: Tuolla. — Over there.
Customer: Kiitos avusta. — Thank you for your help.
Listening support: InfoFinland — useful Finnish phrases and pronunciation video (opens in a new tab). Listen for “Anteeksi”, “Puhutko englantia” and the request to repeat. Pause and repeat one phrase, then return to your practice here. This resource supports the help phrases; it is not audio for every shopping example.
Practice: Imagine you cannot find the checkout. Say “Anteeksi” and ask where it is. Then imagine you did not understand the answer: ask the person to repeat. Finish by thanking them. Repeat once using the question about speaking English.
Self-check 1: What can you say to politely get someone’s attention?
Anteeksi. — Excuse me.
Self-check 2: How do you ask someone to speak more slowly?
Voisitko puhua hitaammin?
Self-check 3: What does “Etsin maitoa” mean?
I am looking for milk.
Previous lesson — Paying and Shopping · Next — Mini Review Quiz · Back to Everyday Finnish for Beginners
Mini Review Quiz
Try these without looking back. Say or write your answer before clicking each question to reveal a suggested answer. There is no automatic score or submission. Repeat the lesson examples whenever you need more practice.
Return to Lesson 3 — Asking for Help · Back to Everyday Finnish for Beginners
Review 1: What is 2,50 €? Ask how much an item costs in Finnish.
Two euros and fifty cents. Kuinka paljon tämä maksaa?
Review 2: Ask to pay by card, then politely accept a receipt.
Voinko maksaa kortilla? Kyllä, kiitos. The second phrase answers “Haluatko kuitin?”
Review 3: Politely ask where the checkout is. Then ask the person to repeat.
Anteeksi. Missä on kassa? Voisitko toistaa?
What next? Practise the shopping conversation again or Back to Everyday Finnish for Beginners. Continue to Module 4 — Transport.