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Finnish Fundamentals - Vowels

Be advised that Finnish vowels feature contrast by length.

A long vowel is indicated by a double letter.

English vowels technically feature contrast by length,

but since they also differ by the point of articulation,

English speakers do not usually think of contrast by length.

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Line 1 / 56

nimi

niin

name

so

Line 2 / 56

lasi

lasiin

glass

into a glass

Line 3 / 56

meri

Meeri

sea

Mary

Line 4 / 56

kolme

kolmeen

three

until three

Line 5 / 56

sää

you (fam)

weather

Line 6 / 56

älä

älkää

don't (singular)

don't (plural)

Line 7 / 56

kylä

kyy

village

viper

Line 8 / 56

syksy

syksyyn

fall

till fall, till autumn

Line 9 / 56

hölmöö

Töölö

Töölön

fool

(district in Helsinki)

to Töölö

Line 10 / 56

uni

uuni

sleep

oven

Line 11 / 56

suku

sukuun

family, relatives

into the family

Line 12 / 56

jo

joo

already

yes (colloquial)

Line 13 / 56

sano!

sanoo

say!

he says

Line 14 / 56

ja

Jaana

Vantaa

and

(girl's name)

(city near Helsinki)

Diphthongs! Vowel combinations.

Line 15 / 56

aika

punainen

kirjain

time

red

letter (in alphabet)

Line 16 / 56

seinä

melkein

wall

almost

Line 17 / 56

oikea

sanoi

right

said

Line 18 / 56

uinti

kaduilla

puhui

swimming

in the streets

he spoke

Line 19 / 56

hyi

kysyi

shame on you

he asked

Line 20 / 56

äiti

jäinen

eläin

mother

icy

animal

Line 21 / 56

söi

ympäröi

he ate

surrounds

Line 22 / 56

sauna

rauha

vapautua

sauna

peace

to be set free

Line 23 / 56

neula

seura

vaikeutua

needle

company

to become more difficult

Line 24 / 56

viulu

kiuas

kotiutua

violin

sauna oven

to (begin to) feel at home

Line 25 / 56

Oulu

nousta

rentoutua

(city in Finland)

to rise

to relax

Line 26 / 56

peseytyy

he washes (himself)

Line 27 / 56

täynnä

kieltäytyä

full

to refuse

Line 28 / 56

pöytä

löydän

table

I find

Line 29 / 56

mies

viedä

man

to remove, to take (away)

Line 30 / 56

Suomi

tuoli

Finland

chair

Line 31 / 56

syödä

night

to eat

Vowel combinations other than Diphthongs.

Line 32 / 56

sokea

blind

Line 33 / 56

pian

soon

Line 34 / 56

putoan

I fall

Line 35 / 56

apua!

help!

Line 36 / 56

haen

I fetch

Line 37 / 56

poikien

the boys'

Line 38 / 56

koetta

to try

Line 39 / 56

luemme

we read

Line 40 / 56

lähestyen

approaching

Line 41 / 56

näet

you see

Line 42 / 56

kaakao

cocoa

Line 43 / 56

museo

museum

Line 44 / 56

kolmio

triangle

Line 45 / 56

rakkaus

love

Line 46 / 56

korkeus

height

Line 47 / 56

valmius

readiness

Line 48 / 56

heikkous

weakness

Line 49 / 56

vihreys

greenness

Line 50 / 56

äitiys

motherhood

Line 51 / 56

hyökkäys

attack

Line 52 / 56

hölmöys

stupidity

Line 53 / 56

leveä

broad

Line 54 / 56

etsiä

to look for

Line 55 / 56

nakyä

to be seen

Line 56 / 56

ilmiö

phenomenon