In this lesson you will learn simple Finnish phrases for introducing yourself. You will say your name, ask another person's name, use a friendly phrase when meeting someone, and say where you are from. Listen to the recordings and repeat each phrase aloud.
Objectives
- Say your own name in Finnish using 'Minä olen' and 'Minun nimeni on'.
- Ask someone's name with the question 'Mikä sinun nimesi on?'.
- Say where you are from with 'Minä olen' plus a place name ending in -sta or -stä.
Phrases
I am Ana.
Use 'Minä olen' to say 'I am', followed by your name.My name is Ana.
'Minun nimeni on' means 'My name is'. The ending -ni on 'nimeni' means 'my'.What is your name?
'Mikä' means 'what', and 'sinun nimesi' means 'your name'. The ending -si on 'nimesi' means 'your'.Nice to meet you.
Use this friendly phrase when you meet someone.I am from Finland.
Use 'Minä olen' plus a place name with the ending -sta or -stä. 'Suomesta' means 'from Finland'.Explanations
Saying who you are
Use 'Minä olen' to say 'I am'. For example, 'Minä olen Ana' means 'I am Ana'. You can also say 'Minun nimeni on Ana', which means 'My name is Ana'. Both are common in introductions.
Asking someone's name
To ask someone's name, say 'Mikä sinun nimesi on?'. The word 'mikä' means 'what', and 'sinun nimesi' means 'your name'. The whole question means 'What is your name?'.
Possessive endings -ni and -si
The ending -ni on a noun means 'my', and -si means 'your'. For example, 'nimeni' is 'my name' and 'nimesi' is 'your name'. You can see these endings in 'Minun nimeni on Ana' and 'Mikä sinun nimesi on?'.
Dialogue
Hi! I am Ana. What is your name?
My name is Mikko. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you. I am from Finland.
I am from Finland.
Pronunciation
Listen carefully to the recordings and repeat each phrase aloud. Copy the rhythm and the long and short sounds exactly as you hear them.
Common mistake
Using 'Minä olen' when you mean 'My name is', as in 'Minä olen Ana' for 'My name is Ana'.
To say 'My name is Ana', use 'Minun nimeni on Ana'. Use 'Minä olen Ana' only when you mean 'I am Ana'.
Practice
Listen and repeat the phrase for saying 'I am Ana'.
The phrase starts with 'Minä olen'.
Show answer
Minä olen Ana.'Minä olen Ana' means 'I am Ana'. 'Minä olen' is the phrase for 'I am'.
Listen and repeat the question for asking someone's name.
The question starts with 'Mikä'.
Show answer
Mikä sinun nimesi on?'Mikä sinun nimesi on?' means 'What is your name?'. 'Mikä' means 'what' and 'sinun nimesi' means 'your name'.
Listen and repeat the phrase for saying 'My name is Ana'.
The phrase starts with 'Minun nimeni on'.
Show answer
Minun nimeni on Ana.'Minun nimeni on Ana' means 'My name is Ana'. The ending -ni on 'nimeni' means 'my'.
You can now introduce yourself in Finnish: say your name with 'Minä olen' or 'Minun nimeni on', ask 'Mikä sinun nimesi on?', say 'Hauska tutustua', and say where you are from with 'Minä olen' plus a place name ending in -sta or -stä.
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