Finnish is known to be a difficult language to learn, so focusing will be essential for gaining some fluency. What do you need? Internet, your reliable computer and a small investment. Read this guide to find out how to start studying. Onnea ("good luck")!
Steps
Step 1. Find a tutor
An effective way to learn a language is to listen, understand and repeat. Talk to an expert to master the basics. Make sure they know the difference between written and spoken Finnish.
Step 2. Start practicing
It is imperative that you practice orally. Find native speakers in your area and arrange meetings so you can chat in a relaxed environment. You will find yourself speaking fluently without even realizing it.
Step 3. Focus on the written forms
Practice with the oral language is not enough, you must also familiarize yourself with the written one. You can do this by posting ads on the internet or by looking for a Finnish pen pal. Not only will you practice reading and writing, you'll also have an international friend! Keep seeing the tutor anyway.
Step 4. Correct mistakes and keep practicing regularly
If possible, plan a vacation to Finland and get involved in activities that allow you to talk as much as possible!
Step 5. Learn some simple Finnish phrases:
- Moi! ("Hello", informal).
- Hyvää huomenta / päivää / iltaa! (the first two mean "Good morning", the third "Good evening"; they are more formal than Moi).
- Mitä kuuluu? ("How are you?").
- Nähdään myöhemmin! ("Later").
- At least on_. ("My name is_").
- Mikä päivä tänään on? ("What day is today?").
- Tänään on maanantai, tiistai, keskiviikko, torstai, perjantai, lauantai, sunnuntai (“Today is Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday / Sunday”).
- Minä olen_ vuotta vanha. ("I _ years old").
- Minä asun _ssa. ("I live in_").
Step 6. Learn the following numbers in Finnish:
- 1 = yksi.
- 2 = kaksi.
- 3 = kolme.
- 4 = neljä.
- 5 = viisi.
- 6 = kuusi.
- 7 = seitsemän.
- 8 = kahdeksan.
- 9 = yhdeksän.
- 10 = kymmenen.
Step 7. Counting from 11 to 19 is very simple
All you have to do is add the suffix -toista to the numbers between 1 and 9.
- 11 = yksitoista.
- 12 = kaksitoist.
- 13 = Kolmetoist.
- 14 = neljätoista.
- 15 = visitor.
- 16 = Kuusitoist.
- 17 = seitsemäntoista.
- 18 = kahdeksantoist.
- 19 = yhdeksäntoista.
Step 8. The numbers 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 are just as simple
Just take the numbers between 1 and 9 and add the suffix -kymmentä. Example: kaksi + -kymmentä = Kaksikymmentä, which means 20 in Finnish.
- 20 = Kaksikymmentä.
- 30 = Kolmekymmentä.
- 40 = Neljäkymmentä.
- 50 = Viisikymmentä.
- 60 = Kuusikymmentä.
- 70 = Seitsemänkymmentä.
- 80 = Kahdeksankymmentä.
- 90 = Yhdeksänkymmentä.
Step 9. And how to write numbers like 21, 56, 78, 92 and so on?
This step is also easy. Just add a number between 1 and 9 after writing the ten, that is:
- 25 = Kaksikymmentäviisi (20 = kaksikymmentä, 5 = viisi).
- 87 = Kahdeksankymmentäseitsemän (80 = kahdeksankymmentä, 7 = seitsemän).
- 39 = Kolmekymmentäyhdeksän (30 = kolmekymmentä, 9 = yhdeksän).
Step 10. Numbers beyond 100 are also simple
Here are some of them:
- 100 = Sata.
- 1000 = Tuhat.
- 1,000,000 = Miljoona.
- 1,000,000,000 = Miljardi.
Step 11. The letter ä is pronounced as if it were an aspirated 'a
Step 12. Anteeksi, missä on _?
("Excuse me, where is _?").
Step 13. Voitteko auttaa minua?
("Can you help me?").
Advice
- Remember not to get confused between the a and the ä and the o and the ö. They are different letters and are pronounced differently.
- The Finnish pronunciation of a letter is always the same, in any position within a word, whether it is at the beginning, in the center or at the end. Learn the alphabet, it will be simple.
- On the internet you will find several sites to learn more about this language and learn it.
- Practice your pronunciation.
- Finnish is not easy, but don't give up, just keep practicing!
- If you are going to Finland and you don't know the language well, bring a phrasebook with you.
- Buy a grammar book and a workbook.
