Finnish Greetings & Common Phrases: The Essential Guide
Finnish greetings are simpler than most learners expect. There's no complex formal system, no gender distinctions, and the most common words are short and easy to pronounce. This guide covers every greeting you actually need — from your first "hei" to navigating real conversations with native speakers.
The everyday greetings
Here are the greetings Finns use every single day:
| Finnish | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hei | hay | Hello / Hi | Any situation — the most universal Finnish greeting |
| Moi | moy | Hi | Casual — friends, colleagues, strangers in informal settings |
| Terve | tehr-veh | Hello / Hey | Casual — also means "healthy", slightly older generation |
| Moikka | moyk-ka | Hey! | Very casual — close friends, young people |
| Hei hei | hay hay | Bye / Goodbye | Informal goodbye — same word doubled |
| Moi moi | moy moy | Bye bye | Casual goodbye — extremely common in everyday Finnish |
| Nähdään | nah-daan | See you | Parting — "see you (later/again)" |
The key thing to understand: Finns use "hei" and "moi" with everyone — cashiers, doctors, coworkers, bosses. There's very little formality distinction in spoken Finnish greetings. If you walk into any shop in Finland and say "hei!", you've done it right.
Formal greetings
Formal Finnish exists, but it's used far less than in most European languages. You'll mainly encounter it in writing, official communications, and occasionally in customer service.
| Finnish | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Hyvää huomenta | Good morning | Before noon — polite but not overly formal |
| Hyvää päivää | Good day / Good afternoon | Formal daytime greeting |
| Hyvää iltaa | Good evening | Formal evening greeting |
| Hyvää yötä | Good night | Said when someone goes to sleep |
| Tervetuloa | Welcome | Welcoming someone to a place or event |
In everyday spoken Finnish, even these are often shortened. "Huomenta!" alone (without hyvää) is a common casual good morning. "Iltaa!" is a casual good evening nod.
Essential phrases for first conversations
Asking how someone is
| Finnish | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Mitä kuuluu? | How are you? (lit. "What is heard?") | Standard |
| Kuinka menee? | How's it going? | Casual |
| Miten menee? | How's it going? | Casual |
| Mitä meinaa? | What's up? | Very casual / slang |
Responding to "how are you"
| Finnish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hyvin, kiitos | Fine, thank you |
| Ihan hyvin | Pretty good / just fine |
| Ei se sen kummempaa | Not too bad (lit. "no worse than that") |
| Menee hyvin | Going well |
| Väsyttää | I'm tired |
Politeness essentials
| Finnish | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kiitos | Thank you | Most important word to learn first |
| Kiitos paljon | Thank you very much | More emphatic version |
| Paljon kiitoksia | Many thanks | Formal / enthusiastic |
| Ole hyvä | You're welcome | Lit. "be good" — standard response to kiitos |
| Anteeksi | Excuse me / Sorry | Used for both apologies and getting attention |
| Ei se mitään | No problem / It's nothing | Response to an apology |
| Kyllä | Yes | Formal / emphatic yes |
| Joo / Juu | Yeah / Yes | Casual yes — used constantly in spoken Finnish |
| Ei | No | Straightforward — Finns are direct |
Introductions
Finnish introductions are brief and low-ceremony. Finns tend to be reserved at first — a handshake and name exchange is normal, not extended small talk.
| Finnish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Minun nimeni on [name] | My name is [name] |
| Olen [name] | I am [name] — shorter and more natural |
| Mikä sinun nimesi on? | What is your name? (formal structure) |
| Mikä sun nimi on? | What's your name? (spoken/casual) |
| Hauska tutustua | Nice to meet you |
| Mistä olet kotoisin? | Where are you from? |
| Olen [country name]sta | I'm from [country] |
Useful survival phrases
| Finnish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| En ymmärrä | I don't understand |
| En puhu suomea hyvin | I don't speak Finnish well |
| Voitko puhua hitaammin? | Can you speak more slowly? |
| Voitko toistaa? | Can you repeat that? |
| Puhutko englantia? | Do you speak English? |
| Missä on…? | Where is…? |
| Paljonko tämä maksaa? | How much does this cost? |
| Saanko…? | May I have…? / Can I get…? |
| Apua! | Help! |
Finnish culture and greetings: what to expect
Understanding Finnish social norms is as important as knowing the words themselves.
Silence is comfortable
Finnish culture genuinely values silence. A pause in conversation isn't awkward — it's normal. Don't feel pressure to fill every gap with words. If you say "hei" and the other person nods without replying, that's fine. If there's a moment of quiet during a conversation, that's fine too.
First names with everyone
Finns use first names with almost everyone — including bosses, professors, and people significantly older. You don't need to wait to be invited to use someone's first name. Just introduce yourself by your first name and use theirs.
"Kiitos" for almost everything
"Kiitos" gets used very frequently in Finnish — when receiving change, when someone holds a door, when a waiter brings food, when finishing a meeting. It's safe to assume: if something good happens, "kiitos" is appropriate.
Direct but not rude
Finnish directness can surprise people from cultures where politeness means softening every statement. "Ei" (no) without further explanation is not considered rude in Finland — it's just efficient. Finns mean what they say and say what they mean. This actually makes conversations easier once you adjust to it.
Greetings in context: at the shop, at work, at a party
At a shop or service counter
- Walk in: "Hei!" or nothing — both fine
- The staff: "Hei, voinko auttaa?" (Hi, can I help you?)
- You: "Etsin…" (I'm looking for…) or "Saanko…?" (Can I get…?)
- Paying: "Kiitos" when you receive your change
- Leaving: "Hei hei" or "Moi moi"
Meeting a Finnish colleague
- First meeting: "Hei, olen [name]. Hauska tutustua."
- Daily: "Moi!" — a quick moi as you pass is perfectly normal
- Morning: "Huomenta!" or "Hyvää huomenta"
- Leaving for the day: "Hei hei" or "Nähdään"
At a Finnish gathering or party
- Arrive: "Hei kaikille!" (Hi everyone!)
- Toasting: "Kippis!" (Cheers!)
- Leaving: "Kiitos kutsusta" (Thanks for the invitation)
Practice Finnish greetings with speaking exercises
SuomiSpeak includes speaking drills for all the phrases in this guide — hear native pronunciation, then practice speaking with instant feedback. Free to start, no credit card needed.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say hello in Finnish?
The most common way is "hei" (works in any situation) or "moi" (casual). Both are used with everyone from friends to strangers to doctors. For formal contexts, "hyvää päivää" (good day) works.
What does "moi moi" mean?
Despite looking like a greeting, "moi moi" is a goodbye — the Finnish equivalent of "bye bye". You use it when leaving, not arriving.
How do you say thank you in Finnish?
"Kiitos" means thank you. For more emphasis: "kiitos paljon" (thank you very much) or "paljon kiitoksia" (many thanks). The response is "ole hyvä" (you're welcome).
Do Finns use formal or informal greetings?
Almost always informal. Finnish social culture skips formality — "hei" and first names work with almost everyone. The formal "te" (you plural used as formal singular) exists in writing but is rarely heard in everyday speech.