Everyday Finnish for Beginners · Module 1. Take about 30–45 minutes, or split this module into three short sessions. By the end, practise recognising key Finnish sounds, greeting someone and introducing yourself. This draft prototype uses self-check answers; it does not record scores or award certificates.
Module 1 contents
1. Finnish alphabet & pronunciation
2. Basic greetings
3. Introducing yourself
Mini review quiz
Start with Lesson 1. Try each practice activity before revealing its answers, then use the next-lesson link to continue.
Lesson 1 — Finnish alphabet & pronunciation
Listening support: Open InfoFinland’s phrases and pronunciation video for spoken examples. For vowel length and stress, see Kielibuusti’s pronunciation guide. These external resources open in a new tab; return to this lesson tab to practise.
Finnish spelling is usually a reliable guide to pronunciation. Start with sounds in useful words rather than trying to memorise everything at once. Put the main word stress on the first syllable. A doubled vowel is held longer; a doubled consonant is also longer. Length can change the meaning.
Alphabet: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Å Ä Ö. Several letters mainly occur in names and borrowed words. Å is particularly common in Swedish names. Ä and Ö are separate letters; their dots matter.
Vowels to notice: a, e, i, o, u, y, ä, ö. As a rough starting aid, ä resembles the vowel in English “cat”. For y, try an “ee” tongue position with rounded lips; for ö, try an “eh” tongue position with rounded lips. These are approximations: listen to Finnish speech to refine them. Finnish j sounds like English y in “yes”.
Examples: tuli = fire; tuuli = wind. Hold uu longer in tuuli. tapa = way or habit; tappaa = to kill: the doubled p and aa change the word. Practise the sounds carefully; do not use these words interchangeably. minä = I; työ = work.
Practice: Read minä, tuuli and työ slowly. Circle doubled letters. Say tuli, then tuuli, stretching only the vowel in the second word. Look for ä and ö on a Finnish keyboard. Listen to a Finnish speaker or the pronunciation resources in the Listening support section at the beginning of Lesson 1, then repeat.
Self-check 1: Where is the main stress in a Finnish word?
On the first syllable. A long sound later in the word does not move the main stress.
Self-check 2: What changes between tuli and tuuli?
Tuuli has a longer u sound, written uu. Tuli means fire; tuuli means wind. Sound length matters.
Self-check 3: Can you replace ä with a when writing minä?
No. Ä is a separate letter and should be kept. Minä means I.
Next lesson: Basic greetings →
Lesson 2 — Basic greetings
Use a short greeting when meeting a neighbour, entering a shop or speaking to a colleague. Hei works in many everyday situations. Moi is an informal greeting. A greeting does not require a long conversation.
Hei! — Hello!
Moi! — Hi! (informal)
Hyvää huomenta! — Good morning!
Hyvää päivää! — Good day!
Hyvää iltaa! — Good evening!
Hei hei! — Bye!
Kiitos. — Thank you.
Anteeksi. — Excuse me / sorry.
Example at a shop:
Customer: Hei!
Staff member: Hei!
Customer, after being helped: Kiitos. Hei hei!
Practice: Choose a greeting for the morning, one for the evening and one for leaving. Say them aloud. Rehearse the shop dialogue with a friend or play both parts yourself.
Self-check 1: What could you say to a neighbour in the morning?
Hyvää huomenta! You can also use Hei! as a general greeting.
Self-check 2: Which phrase means “thank you”?
Kiitos. Use it after receiving help or a service.
Self-check 3: How do you end the shop dialogue politely?
Kiitos. Hei hei! — Thank you. Bye!
← Previous lesson: Alphabet & pronunciation · Next lesson: Introducing yourself →
Lesson 3 — Introducing yourself
Begin with your name, then add where you live or where you are from. These examples use clear standard Finnish. You may hear shorter spoken forms, such as mä for minä, in everyday conversation. Start with the standard forms below.
Minä olen Amina. — I am Amina.
Minun nimeni on Amina. — My name is Amina.
Asun Vantaalla. — I live in Vantaa.
Olen kotoisin Kamerunista. — I am from Cameroon.
Opiskelen suomea. — I am studying Finnish.
Hauska tavata! — Nice to meet you!
Useful questions:
Mikä sinun nimesi on? — What is your name?
Missä asut? — Where do you live?
Mistä olet kotoisin? — Where are you from?
Place names need different endings: use the example for Vantaa; do not attach the same ending to every city.
Example conversation:
A: Hei! Minä olen Amina. Mikä sinun nimesi on?
B: Minä olen Olli. Hauska tavata!
A: Hauska tavata! Asun Vantaalla. Opiskelen suomea.
Practice: Replace Amina with your own first name. Say three sentences: your name, where you live (use Asun Vantaalla if correct for you), and Opiskelen suomea. Rehearse the name question and answer. You do not need to share personal details online.
Self-check 1: Complete “Minä ___ Amina.”
Olen. Minä olen Amina. Replace Amina with your own name when practising.
Self-check 2: What does “Asun Vantaalla” mean?
I live in Vantaa. It describes where you live, not where you are originally from.
Self-check 3: How could you ask someone their name?
Mikä sinun nimesi on? — What is your name?
← Previous lesson: Basic greetings · Next: Mini review quiz →
Module 1 — Mini review quiz
← Return to Lesson 3 — Introducing yourself · Back to the course overview
Try these without looking back. Write your answers on paper, then reveal the suggested answers. There is no automatic score or submission.
1. Say hello, introduce yourself and say you are studying Finnish.
One possible answer: Hei! Minä olen Amina. Opiskelen suomea. Use your own name.
2. Which has the longer vowel: tuli or tuuli?
Tuuli. The doubled uu represents a longer vowel.
3. Someone helps you. What do you say before leaving?
Kiitos. Hei hei! — Thank you. Bye!
Optional listening and further practice
Use InfoFinland’s useful Finnish phrases and pronunciation video to hear greetings. For sound length and stress, see Kielibuusti: Phonetics for Finnish Learners. These are external resources. The lesson explanations and activities here are ChikieChikie prototype material.
When you are ready, continue to Module 2 — Everyday Conversation using the link below. Repeat this module until the phrases feel familiar.