Finnish for visitors: a short practical phrasebook

Short answer: kiitos means “thank you”, while anteeksi can mean “excuse me” or “sorry”. Ask “Paljonko tämä maksaa?” for a price and “Missä on vessa?” to find the toilet. Learn a request for repetition too: understanding the answer matters as much as asking the question.

Start with phrases you will actually use

Choose a few expressions for your day, say them aloud and save them on your phone. You do not need to memorise a whole conversation before trying one sentence.

Ask one thing at a time

In a café, order the coffee first and ask about payment next. In a shop, point to the item whose price you need. For written information, try “Voisitko kirjoittaa sen?” It means “Could you write it down?” This is useful for an address or a name.

Kiitos can also follow a short request: “Kuitti, kiitos” means “A receipt, please.” Finnish does not require one fixed equivalent of English “please” in every context. A friendly, complete question works well.

When the answer is too fast

“En ymmärtänyt” means “I didn’t understand”. “Voisitko puhua hitaammin?” asks the other person to speak more slowly. If you understood part of the answer, repeat it as a question: “Vasemmalle?” means “To the left?”

Avoid saying yes just to end an exchange when you have not understood a booking condition or safety instruction. Show a map and ask “Olemmeko tässä?” meaning “Are we here?” Save the destination’s correct name so the conversation does not depend on pronunciation alone.

Practise in small steps

Try one expression first, such as thanking someone. Later, attempt a complete order. This is a practice suggestion, not a promise about how quickly you will learn.

Conversation openings are covered in the separate greetings guide. Find a place to eat using the Helsinki restaurant directory.

Official learning resources

Checked on 11 November 2026. The example situations were written for this phrasebook.

• InfoFinland: important sentences in Finnish
• Kotus: Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish