I want to learn Finnish

aguycalledchris · Post by **aguycalledchris** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:24 pm

Hi all,

Im thinking of moving to Finland with my Finnish girlfriend, i know some basic Finnish, such as terve, mina olen chris, puhun englanti ya vahan suomea (sorry my keyboard doesn't have the proper vowels

).

I was just wondering how other non-finns went about learning? I have this lingvosoft program and of course my girlfriend (Not the best teacher!). Did you use books, c.d's, software or lessons? Ideally I would like to learn before I go. I live in Kent, UK.

Kittos paljon (Hope thats correct)

**Sponsor:**

Andrew_S · Post by **Andrew_S** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:18 pm

For the time being study from books but especially try to get your girlfriend to help with the pronunciation. The spelling of Finnish is very easy. It would be good if she could teach you everyday simple questions and answers.

Learning all the different word forms will take some time so get started and be persistent.

I used to live in Kent, near Maidstone.

Sn0bunni24 · Post by **Sn0bunni24** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:50 pm

I really like "Teach Yourself Finnish" by Terttu Leney (I think that's how you spell his name...) the book is pretty informational, and comes with recordings for about 5$ more. The only problem I'm having with it is that it comes with a standard british speaker on the recording, and so it's a little bit difficult for me to understand at times, only because I'm american.

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:01 am

Sn0bunni24 wrote:I really like "Teach Yourself Finnish" by Terttu Leney (I think that's how you spell his name...) the book is pretty informational, and comes with recordings for about 5$ more. The only problem I'm having with it is that it comes with a standard british speaker on the recording, and so it's a little bit difficult for me to understand at times, only because I'm american.

I alternated between that course tape for about a month and a copy of a 1970's Berlitz travel Finnish tape for about 2 months, all played on the car stereo on my 20 minute drive too and from work before I came here.

So before I arrived I knew numbers, how to tell the time, how to order in a restaurant, then names of some foods etc.

It's probably about the only Finnish course you'll find in England (I got mine from Blackwell's bookshop) and better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Oh and Terttu is a girl's name.

Sn0bunni24 · Post by **Sn0bunni24** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:42 pm

sinikala wrote: Oh and Terttu is a girl's name.

You see, this is how clueless I am.... I guess Finnish names are so unique, you really don't see them anywhere else but Finland, not to mention hard to predict gender......

EP · Post by EP » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:49 am

I guess Finnish names are so unique, you really don't see them anywhere else but Finland

There are names and names. Some are loans that have their original somewhere else, and those are pretty universal in western countries: Markku (biblical Mark), Pekka (biblical Peter), Elina (origins in Greek Helena), Liisa (obvious)...

And some are Finnish, picked from Kalevala and other such sources, or names that have a meaning: Tapio (pagan forest god), Sampo (from Kalevala), Sini (blue), Marja (berry), Suvi (summer), Tuuli (wind), Veli (brother) and many others. Terttu is a string of berries, the kind where many berries grow in one string.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:35 pm

Then theres ambiguous names that can be both and. Kaino (Chaste) and Vieno (Tender) -though the latter one is more female...

But the biblical logic doesn't always work, say girls in English Faith, Hope and Charity. In Finnish Faith (Usko) and Hope (Toivo) are definitely guys.

Those Finnish-Finnish names are always a bit ambiguous... Vesa (Sapling) is a guy, Pihla (Rowan) a girl, while Pilvi (cloud) or Pyry (Snowstorm) really can be either...

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:37 pm

Hank W. wrote:But the biblical logic doesn't always work, say girls in English Faith, Hope and Charity. In Finnish Faith (Usko) and Hope (Toivo) are definitely guys.

But Lempi is a gal

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:41 pm

Yeah, Usko, Toivo, Rakkaus, but that gets us all Greek as its agape translated as "Love" into Finnish and "Charity" into English, and Aulis is a bloke.

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:45 pm

Hank W. wrote:Yeah, Usko, Toivo, Rakkaus, but that gets us all Greek as its agape translated as "Love" into Finnish and "Charity" into English, and Aulis is a bloke.

Speaking of which - one Finnish name I was never really sure of - Pieta. Is that a guy or a girl, or both (I don't mean in the same package... necessarily...). I'd say it's a he, but I'm not sure...

Tappaja · Post by **Tappaja** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:49 pm

sammy wrote:
Speaking of which - one Finnish name I was never really sure of - Pieta. Is that a guy or a girl, or both (I don't mean in the same package... necessarily...). I'd say it's a he, but I'm not sure...

Nope, it's she

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:08 pm

'Pietu' then again is a bloke, short of Pietari.

sudentassu · Post by **sudentassu** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:17 pm

Are you a fan of Whitstable rock oysters Chris?

Sn0bunni24 · Post by **Sn0bunni24** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:00 am

Knew a woman from Iceland, her kid's name was Sampo.

aguycalledchris · Post by **aguycalledchris** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:36 pm

Hi Sudentassu,

I am a fan of Whitstable Rock oysters, however when I had them last I think they weren't of the freshest quality, and i've been scared to have them since!!!!!!

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