Europe Finland Useful Finnish Words and Phrases for Travelers By Terri Mapes Terri Mapes Facebook Twitter Terri Mapes specializes in giving first-time Scandinavia visitors practical tips for their travels. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 08/09/19 Danny Lehman / Getty Images If you're planning a trip to Finland, you know that you are going to experience days that seem like they never end if you're going in the summer, giving it the name of the Land of the Midnight Sun, or the aurora borealis—the northern lights—during the long Finnish winter nights. You'll also be in for a bounty of other wonders of nature and fascinating Scandinavian culture in Helsinki, Finland's capital. To make the most of your time in Finland, it helps to know a bit of the language, especially those words and phrases most used by travelers. Finnish Pronunciation Finnish (Suomi) has regular pronunciation without many exceptions. Usually, Finnish words are pronounced just like they are spelled, and that makes communicating a bit easier than in other languages, like English, for instance. Keep these differences between Finnish and English vowels in mind when pronouncing Finnish phrases. A: pronounced like the "u" in "cup"Ä (with umlaut): sounds close to the "a" in "hat"E: pronounced like "e" in "hen"I: sounds like "i" in "tip"Y: close to the "u" in the British pronunciation of "you" with tight lipsÖ (with umlaut): pronounced like the "u" in "fur" with tight lips Greetings and Small Talk It's beneficial to know the most basic words that you use when in a city and are interacting with strangers. Using the language of the locals naturally makes them more likely to help you if needed and leaves a positive impression. Here are a few of the most commonly needed words for social interaction. Hello: HeiGoodbye: NäkemiinYes: KylläNo: EiThank you: KiitosYou are welcome: Ei kestäExcuse me: AnteeksiMy name is ...: Nimeni on ...Nice to meet you: Hauska tavata Travel Phrases When you are traveling, knowing certain words comes in handy at hotels, airports, and train stations. The agents you are dealing with might know English, but it makes communication easier if you know these basic words in Finnish. Hotel: HotelliRoom: HuoneReservation: VarausI'm sorry, I don't speak Finnish: Anteeksi, en puhu suomeaNo vacancies: Ei ole tilaaPassport: PassiAirport: LentokenttäTrain station: RautatieasemaBus station: BussiasemaWhere is ...?: Missä on ...?Ticket: LippuOne ticket to ... : Yksi lippu ...Train: JunaBus: BussiSubway: Metro Numbers and Days Numbers and the names of the days of the week take on great importance when you're trying to make hotel or transportation reservations. Knowing them eases this process. Numbers 1: yksi2: kaksi3: kolme4: neljä5: viisi6: kuusi7: seitsemän8: kahdeksan9: yhdeksän10: kymmenen Days of the Week Monday: maanantaiTuesday: tiistaiWednesday: keskiviikkoThursday: torstaiFriday: perjantaiSaturday: lauantaiSunday: sunnuntai Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email