Learning Finnish can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but as with any language, it requires a solid foundation of vocabulary to get started. For those at the A2 level, which is considered elementary proficiency, it is crucial to know a variety of words that cover different aspects of daily life, basic interactions, and common situations. This article will provide a comprehensive list of Finnish words that every A2 level learner should know, along with explanations and examples to help you understand and remember them better.

Everyday Vocabulary

When you’re navigating daily life in Finland or conversing with Finnish speakers, having a grasp of common words used in everyday contexts is essential.

Päivä (Day) – This word is used to refer to the daytime or the duration of a day. For example, “Hyvää päivää” means “Good day.”

Yö (Night) – The opposite of “päivä,” it refers to nighttime. “Hyvää yötä” means “Good night.”

Viikko (Week) – Knowing the days of the week is fundamental. For example, “Tämä viikko” means “This week.”

Kuukausi (Month) – Used to talk about months. “Tämä kuukausi” means “This month.”

Vuosi (Year) – This word is used to talk about years. “Tämä vuosi” means “This year.”

Huomenna (Tomorrow) – Important for planning. “Huomenna” means “Tomorrow.”

Eilen (Yesterday) – Useful for discussing past events. “Eilen” means “Yesterday.”

Numbers and Counting

Numbers are an essential part of any language. Here are some basic Finnish numbers:

Yksi (One), Kaksi (Two), Kolme (Three), Neljää (Four), Viisi (Five), Kuusi (Six), Seitsemän (Seven), Kahdeksan (Eight), Yhdeksän (Nine), Kymmenen (Ten).

Understanding these numbers is crucial for daily tasks like shopping, telling time, and understanding prices.

Common Phrases and Greetings

Greetings and basic phrases are the first step in any conversation. Here are some you should know:

Hei (Hi) – A common greeting used at any time of the day.

Moi (Hello) – Another informal greeting.

Näkemiin (Goodbye) – A formal way of saying goodbye.

Moi moi (Bye-bye) – An informal way of saying goodbye.

Kiitos (Thank you) – Essential for polite conversation.

Ole hyvä (You’re welcome) – Used in response to “Kiitos.”

Anteeksi (Sorry/Excuse me) – Useful for apologies and getting someone’s attention.

Kyllä (Yes) – Affirmative response.

Ei (No) – Negative response.

Family and Relationships

Talking about family is a common topic in any language. Here are some words related to family and relationships:

Isä (Father) – Refers to one’s father.

Äiti (Mother) – Refers to one’s mother.

Veli (Brother) – Refers to one’s brother.

Sisko (Sister) – Refers to one’s sister.

Mies (Husband) – Refers to one’s husband.

Vaimo (Wife) – Refers to one’s wife.

Poika (Son) – Refers to one’s son.

Tytär (Daughter) – Refers to one’s daughter.

Ystävä (Friend) – Refers to a friend.

Sukulainen (Relative) – Refers to any relative.

Food and Drink

If you’re living in or visiting Finland, knowing food and drink vocabulary is essential.

Vesi (Water) – Essential for life and commonly requested in restaurants.

Maito (Milk) – Commonly used in coffee and other beverages.

Kahvi (Coffee) – An essential part of Finnish culture.

Leipä (Bread) – A staple in Finnish meals.

Juusto (Cheese) – Often paired with bread.

Liha (Meat) – Common in many dishes.

Kala (Fish) – Given Finland’s extensive coastline, fish is a common part of the diet.

Hedelmä (Fruit) – Important for a balanced diet.

Vihannes (Vegetable) – Also important for a balanced diet.

Olut (Beer) – Commonly consumed alcoholic beverage.

Viini (Wine) – Another commonly consumed alcoholic beverage.

Shopping and Transactions

Whether you’re shopping for groceries or clothes, knowing these words can make your experience smoother.

Hinta (Price) – Essential for understanding costs.

Kortti (Card) – Refers to a credit or debit card.

Käteinen (Cash) – Refers to money in physical form.

Kauppa (Store) – Refers to any kind of store.

Ostaa (To buy) – The act of purchasing something.

Myydä (To sell) – The act of selling something.

Halpa (Cheap) – Refers to something inexpensive.

Kallis (Expensive) – Refers to something costly.

Time and Dates

Understanding time and dates is crucial for daily activities and planning.

Tunti (Hour) – Used to measure time.

Minuutti (Minute) – Smaller unit of time.

Vuorokausi (24 hours) – Refers to a full day and night cycle.

Kalenteri (Calendar) – Used for planning events.

Aika (Time) – General term for time.

Päivämäärä (Date) – Refers to the specific day in the calendar.

Travel and Transportation

If you’re getting around in Finland, these words will come in handy.

Auto (Car) – Common mode of transportation.

Bussi (Bus) – Public transportation option.

Juna (Train) – Another public transportation option.

Lentokone (Airplane) – For air travel.

Polkupyörä (Bicycle) – Common for short distances and exercise.

Asema (Station) – Refers to train or bus stations.

Lippu (Ticket) – Required for travel on public transportation.

Matkustaa (To travel) – The act of traveling.

Saapua (To arrive) – The act of arriving at a destination.

Lähtö (Departure) – The act of leaving a place.

Health and Emergencies

In case of health issues or emergencies, these words are crucial.

Apteekki (Pharmacy) – Place to get medication.

Lääkäri (Doctor) – Medical professional.

Sairaala (Hospital) – Place for medical treatment.

Hätänumero (Emergency number) – Number to call in emergencies (112 in Finland).

Sairas (Sick) – Feeling unwell.

Lääke (Medicine) – Used to treat illnesses.

Ambulanssi (Ambulance) – Vehicle for medical emergencies.

Weather and Nature

Understanding weather and nature vocabulary can help you in daily conversations and planning.

Sää (Weather) – General term for weather conditions.

Aurinko (Sun) – The sun.

Sade (Rain) – Rainy weather.

Lumi (Snow) – Snowy weather.

Tuuli (Wind) – Windy conditions.

Pilvi (Cloud) – Cloudy conditions.

Järvi (Lake) – Common natural feature in Finland.

Metsä (Forest) – Another common natural feature.

Adjectives and Descriptions

Being able to describe things is essential in any language. Here are some basic adjectives:

Kaunis (Beautiful) – Used to describe something aesthetically pleasing.

Ruma (Ugly) – The opposite of beautiful.

Iso (Big) – Refers to something large in size.

Pieni (Small) – Refers to something small in size.

Vanha (Old) – Refers to age.

Nuori (Young) – Refers to youth.

Kylmä (Cold) – Refers to low temperature.

Kuuma (Hot) – Refers to high temperature.

Hyvä (Good) – Positive quality.

Huono (Bad) – Negative quality.

Verbs and Actions

Verbs are the backbone of sentences, indicating actions and states. Here are some basic verbs:

Olla (To be) – Fundamental verb for existence and states.

Tehdä (To do/make) – Commonly used in various contexts.

Mennä (To go) – Indicates movement.

Tulla (To come) – Indicates arrival.

Syödä (To eat) – Related to food.

Juoda (To drink) – Related to beverages.

Nukkua (To sleep) – Essential daily activity.

Herätä (To wake up) – Opposite of sleeping.

Rakastaa (To love) – Strong emotional state.

Työskennellä (To work) – Related to employment.

Conclusion

Learning Finnish can be a delightful journey, and building a strong vocabulary is a crucial step in that process. The words and phrases outlined in this article provide a solid foundation for A2 level learners, covering essential areas of daily life, basic interactions, and common situations. Remember, practice makes perfect, so use these words in your daily conversations and activities to become more fluent and confident in Finnish. Happy learning!