Basic Finnish for Tourists - Learn Finnish

If you are heading to Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, or anywhere else in Finland you don't really need to worry about speaking Finnish as the Finns speak multiple languages and are great at English. However, to be a nice tourist it is nice to use and learn some of the local language, so here we go through some basic Finnish language for tourists.
Finnish language class
Learn Finnish
Filmed in Helskink, Finland
Copyright Mark Wolters 2022

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[jussim.konttinen]

Hay-nah-koo (heinäkuu) literally means hay moon, which you know as July, in honor of Julius Caesar. Ehlow-koo (elokuu) means harvest moon.

[anias]

I noticed same inhaling response from danish folks from Jutland. They said 'ja' (simple 'yes') while inhaling. It was strange at first, now I find it adorable.

[jpc]

Wonderful video, thanks ☺ I believe it's just common courtesy to atleast try and learn a few basics when travelling. Plus it pays dividends as you feel great each time you use your phrases and locals tend to respond with joy! My only issue has been in the Netherlands as they hear I'm not local and immediately switch languages, I'm like "please let me practice my Dutch!" 😆

[Pressplay_Media_EU]

So with the breathing in and breathing out, does that mean that when people talk they sound like a hacksaw cutting wood??

I live in Nova Scotia so I already deal with this deep scraping / sandpaper-wheezing sound every day😆

[damarh]

Kuusi palaa.

Is all you need to know :)

[hamishmackinnon]

While I believe that you should speak, to some degree, the language of the country that you' re visiting- I speak Dutch, at nearly A2 level,
and I hope to start learning German soon- I have to draw the line at learning Finnish.
So if the Finns are really offended by some one coming to their country, who doesn't speak Finnish, then I'll never visit Finland.
And there are three points about speaking a foreign language, that I'd like to draw your attention to-
1. There is a limit to the number of foreign languages you can learn, I'm pretty much at my limit with Dutch and German
2. Learning to speak just one foreign language is very demanding
3.When you go on holiday, you're supposed to be relaxing, not desperately trying to remember basic vocabulary in a completely unfamiliar language
In short, it doesn't mean that you're rude and ignorant, if you don't know a single word of the language, of the country you're visiting.

[Dragonsphinx]

Wow, you speak really well! 😊 It’s definitely sweet, in my opinion, when someone tries to use a few Finnish words since it is a very tough language. And yeah, especially in city areas a lot of people speak English well or perfectly.

Just want to make one little correction: “yö” actually means “night” (like the opposite of day—rhymes with the English “fewer”). To say “yeah” you’d say “juu” (pronounced much like the English “yew”).

[aidenpearce]

As one with Finnish roots, I always had the biggest motivation to learn the language my great grandparents spoke.

Olen kotoisin Seattlesta, Washingtonin osavaltiosta ja olen oppinut suomen kieltä Washingtonin yliopistossa 5 vuotta. Kieli on vaikea mutta ei mahdoton.

I hope I got it correctly. I'm from Seattle, Washington state and I've learned FInnish for 5 years in the university of Washington. The language is difficult but not impossible.

[claudiocosta]

Very cool vídeo. I always try to speak in the language of the country I visit. At least a few words.... And as Suomi is in my bucket list I thank you for this express course 😉

[ellissastewart]

Kiitos for this video! Really helpful 👌 I haven't heard moi before so it'll definitely help for my trip next month! Duolingo has taught me "terve" only, for hello. Kippis! 🍻 🇫🇮

[ProfessorOfCool]

For me as a Helsinki local, the whole thing with learning just a few words, even just "anteeksi", "kiitos" and "moi (moi)" is just about respect. That's the whole thing. We're from a small place with a weird language and I get it, and we do speak English well. But you're in our backyard, please show a little respect. Please show us that you did your homework before coming here.

Don't get me wrong, even if you come up to me speaking only English, I'll help you with whatever you need. But if you come up to me with "anteeksi" or even "anteeksi, puhut(te)ko englantia" then I will move mountains to help you.

[AnthonyJosh]

Can you make a basic video for Sweden 🇸🇪 I’m currently in Stockholm heading to Falun.

[eleanorsardenberg]

You may do the same in anothers countries. It’s amazing !❤️❤️❤️❤️ Thanks a lot!

[ComradeCommissar]

This is the second time that I am planning a trip and Wolter posts a video about that location. And as always helpful tips.

[RedRumble]

Wow I can’t believe you are in Helsinki! Gives me a huge flashback to summer of 2019 when I first discovered you and was watching your content about Finland! Your tips helped me a lot and I found prove to lots of your points during my trip!
Hopefully I will visit Helsinki sometime soon, dreaming of riding a bike and chilling in a pool near the sea!

[BillGreenAZ]

Learning a new language is part of the fun of traveling to a new place. The one phrase that one should learn when traveling to another country, in my opinion, is "thank you". When you travel to another country you are at the mercy of people serving you and that phrase should be used a lot.

[Fanw]

Thank you Mark. One useful point I found on my visit to Finland 20 years ago. The German and Finish languages are totally unrelated. But if you read Finish words (especially place names) according to German rules of pronunciation you usually get the right result. This was very useful to me, as I traveled extensively by train and bus.

[adventuresblissconnection]

What a fantastic, helpful and succinct video. Thanks!

[WaynoGur]

You forgot the most important phrase: Vielä yksi olut kiitos.

[martysender]

LOL MY WIFE IS FINNISH. I LIVE IN D.C. very amusing. from MARTY SENDER YOU music