Finnish (suomi) is spoken by around five million people, mainly in Finland where it shares official status with Swedish. It is a Uralic language with no connection to Romance or Germanic languages: with this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in Helsinki, Tampere or Rovaniemi.
Finnish (suomi) is the native tongue of about five million people, almost all of them based in Finland, where it shares official status with Swedish. Far from Romance or Germanic languages, it belongs to the Uralic family, alongside Estonian and, more distantly, Hungarian. This distant kinship gives Finnish a puzzling face for a French speaker: no grammatical gender, fifteen cases for nouns, words that grow longer through stacked suffixes, and a vowel harmony that governs the sound of syllables. Pronunciation, however, stays transparent: every letter is pronounced, vowels are pure, stress almost always falls on the first syllable. The vowels ä and ö differ strictly from a and o, and respecting them changes the meaning of words. On the cultural side, Finns cultivate an apparent reserve that sometimes surprises: comfortable silences, broad personal space, strict punctuality. The sauna acts as the national living room and keeping a promise has the weight of a contract. This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival at Helsinki-Vantaa, a taxi ride, a restaurant order, a medical emergency and a smooth departure. You will find indispensable greetings, survival phrases for orientation, key words for eating and sleeping, as well as cultural tips to avoid faux pas. Memorise these expressions before leaving: a simple kiitos pronounced correctly already opens many doors in Finland.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You land at Helsinki-Vantaa in the early evening. The hall is calm, signs are in Finnish and Swedish. An agent meets your gaze, you greet him and ask for directions.
The taxi driver loads your suitcase and asks for your destination. You give the hotel address, you want to check the price before leaving, then you will ask him to stop right in front of the entrance.
You enter a restaurant in the centre in the early evening. The waiter seats you and hands you the menu. You hesitate over the daily special and ask for advice before ordering water and the bill.
You feel sick after a meal and you need help quickly. You ask where the nearest hospital is and mention that you are allergic to certain foods.
On the morning of departure, you want to confirm check-out time at the reception, then catch a taxi to the airport. Before leaving, you warmly say goodbye to the hotel staff.
What you need to know before travelling to a finnish-speaking country.
Finns appreciate silence and pauses in conversation. Do not try to fill every gap: shared silence is considered comfortable, not awkward.
The sauna is a national, almost sacred institution. If invited, accept: refusing can surprise. No business, no important decisions to be made there, just relaxation.
Punctuality is essential. Arriving late to an appointment, even a friendly one, is frowned upon. Five minutes early remains the rule.
Personal space is larger than in France. Avoid touching a stranger's shoulder or arm, and keep a distance of about one metre in queues.
You always remove your shoes when entering someone's home. It is a non-negotiable rule, also applicable in some offices and at the doctor.
Finns are reserved at first but very reliable once trust is established. A promise is worth a contract, do not take it lightly.
Tipping is not mandatory: service is included in the bill. Rounding up in a restaurant is appreciated but not expected.
English is widely spoken, especially by those under fifty. But a few words in Finnish (kiitos, hei) are always well received.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Kyllä
KUL-lae
Yes
Ei
ei
No
Kiitos
KEE-tos
Thank you
Ole hyvä
O-le HU-vae
You're welcome
Anteeksi
AN-teek-si
Sorry / Excuse me
Vesi
VE-si
Water
Ruoka
RUO-ka
Food
Hotelli
HO-tel-li
Hotel
Lentokenttä
LEN-to-kent-tae
Airport
Sairaala
SAI-raa-la
Hospital
A hundred words, thirty key phrases, as a printable PDF. Instant download, also sent by e-mail.
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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