Here are some important Finnish words that every traveler should know when visiting Finland:
1. Suurlähetystö: translates as “Embassy”. While it may seem difficult, the pronunciation is quite straightforward. It is pronounced as “Soor-lahe-tys-ta.” An example would be: “Missä on suurlähetystöön?” – “Where is the embassy?”
2. Miehet: translates as “Men.” Knowledge of how to differentiate between genders is helpful when looking for trail rooms and restrooms. “Miehet” (pronounced as “mi-ye-het”) is one of the most common signs for men indoors and outdoors.
3. Naiset: translates as “Women.” Pronounced as ‘na-i-set’, it is the term used throughout Finland to refer to women’s toilets and courtrooms.
4. Aika: translates as “Time.” It is pronounced as “aa-i-ka.” An example would be: “Mikä on aika?” – “What time is it?”
5. Poliisi: translates to “police.” It is pronounced as “Po-lee-si.” They are also known as ‘Poliisilaitos’, but the term is too long to remember: therefore the shortened colloquial version is used. An example would be: “Aion soittaa poliisille”. – ‘I’m going to call the police.’
6. Markkinat: translates to “Market”. It is pronounced as “Mar-ki-nat.” Many other terms are used to refer to a market, but “Markkinat” is the colloquially accepted term. An example would be: “Mihin suuntaan markkinat?” – “Which way to the market?”
7. Hotelli: translates to “Hotel”. It is pronounced as “Hote-lli.” An example would be: “Mihin suuntaan hotelli?” – “Which way to the hotel?”
8. Sisäänkäynti: translates as “Entrance”. It is pronounced as “Si-saan-ka-yan-ti.” For those who find it too complex and daunting to pronounce, there is also the term ‘Pääsy’, which is loosely translated as ‘admission’ or ‘access’ and pronounced as ‘Paa-sy’. An example would be: “En sisäänkäynti”. – “There is the entrance.”
9. Poistuminen: translates as “Exit.” The pronunciation is like “paw-is-tyu-mi-nen.” There are other Finnish terms used to refer to departures, such as “uloskäynti” (“ulos-ka-yanti”) and “maastalähtö” (“maa-as-ta-lah-t”). An example would be: “Mikä tapa poistua?” – “Which way to the exit?”
10. Apua !: Translates to “Help!” It is pronounced like “Aa-pua”. It is a useful term to know if you are in trouble. An example would be: “Auttakaa minua”. – “Please help.”
One remarkable thing about Finnish is that there is no specific word in the vocabulary to define the English word ‘Please’. The term often changes with the context in which it is used. Common uses are “Saisinko” which means “Could you please” and “Voisitko” which means “Could you please”. Apart from this minor quirk,
Finnish is a very easy language to learn, although you may not need it, as most locals speak or at least know English. However, it is good to learn some basic and important Finnish words, because Finns are said to love it when they hear foreigners speak in their language.
There is no language from Iceland to India that Finnish can identify with. In fact, the culture of Finland itself sets itself apart from the rest of Europe, which is what makes it so unique. Famous for its many lakes, and the view of the Northern Lights at night, Finland is a true delight for nature lovers and individualists. It is quite easy to learn since almost all words are pronounced exactly as they are written.
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