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Basic Finnish Greetings and Everyday Phrases

Learn how to greet, introduce yourself, thank, apologize, and say goodbye in Finnish, with simple pronunciation guides.

Hei (hay) — Hello

Works at any time of day, formal or casual — the most common greeting on this list.

Moi (moy) — Hi (casual)

A more casual-sounding greeting than Hei, often used among friends and peers.

Hyvää huomenta (HEW-vah HWOH-men-tah) — Good morning

Used during the morning hours.

Hyvää iltaa (HEW-vah IL-tah) — Good evening

Used when meeting or parting in the evening.

Hyvää yötä (HEW-vah UR-tah) — Good night

Used right before going to bed.

Nimeni on ~ (NEE-meh-nee on) — My name is ~

Used to introduce yourself; fill in the blank with your own name.

Hauska tavata (HOWS-kah TAH-vah-tah) — Nice to meet you

Said right after greeting someone for the first time.

Mitä kuuluu? (MEE-tah KOO-loo) — How are you?

The most common way to ask how someone is doing.

Kiitos hyvää, entä sinulle? (KEE-tos HEW-vah, EN-tah SEE-nool-leh) — Fine, thanks. And you?

The standard reply to the question above.

Kiitos (KEE-tos) — Thank you

The most basic way to say thanks; emphasize it with "Kiitos paljon" (KEE-tos PAHL-yon, "thank you very much").

Anteeksi (AHN-tehk-see) — Sorry / Excuse me

Used both to apologize and to ask someone to let you pass.

Kyllä / Ei (KEWL-lah / ay) — Yes / No

The most basic response words.

Näkemiin (NAH-keh-meen) — Goodbye

Used when parting ways; a more casual option is "Moi moi" (moy moy).

Finnish Is Not Related to Its Scandinavian Neighbors

Finnish belongs to the Finno-Ugric language family, distantly related to Estonian and Hungarian, rather than the North Germanic languages spoken next door — so its vocabulary and grammar look unfamiliar even to Swedish or Norwegian speakers. Its spelling is highly consistent, though, so words are pronounced almost exactly as written.

Vowel Length Changes Meaning

Doubling a vowel or consonant, as in "Hyvää" versus a shorter form, lengthens the sound and can completely change a word's meaning, so the pronunciation guides here are only approximations. Listening to native audio helps a lot with getting the rhythm right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is "Hei" or "Moi" more common?

Both are extremely common. Hei feels slightly more neutral while Moi feels a touch more casual, but either works fine for everyday use with people your own age.

Is Finnish hard to learn for English speakers?

Its grammar, with extensive case endings, takes some adjustment, but its very consistent spelling-to-sound rules make pronunciation more predictable than in many other European languages.