Very common mistakes in Finnish

Have you ever tried to say Minä työn? You are not alone!

Here's a small post about very common mistakes that almost everybody has made or will make at some point. Feel free to leave a comment, if you have something to add to this list.

Ya

Ya is not a Finnish word. And is spelled ja. (Ya is Spanish and means jo - already.)

*Työdä*

 Työdä is not a word. (At least not yet!) I have a post about talking about work in Finnish.

Kotoisin

Kotoisin is not a verb. The expression to be (originally) from somewhere always requires the verb olla in front of it. Like in Minä olen kotoisin Seinäjoelta. - I'm originally from Seinäjoki, I grew up in Seinäjoki.

Takaisin

Takaisin is also not a verb. It just means back, and it's used in expressions like Milloin sä tuut takaisin? - When will you come back? and Katso, kuka on tullut takaisin. - Look who's back. 

Kirjoittaa

 Say kirjoittaa, not kirjoa, unless you are embroidering.

Matka

Matka is a trip and matkustaa is to travel, so don't say minä matkan. (A post about traveling coming soon!)

*Normaalisesti*

It's normaalisti, not normaalisesti.

Yksi

Don't say yksi when reading out for example the year 1978, tuhat yhdeksänsataa seitsemänkymmentä kahdeksan. Same goes with hundred, so 150 is sataviisikymmentä. 

About the author of Random Finnish Lesson: 

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti. I am a professional Finnish teacher who gives private online lessons and simplifies books into easy Finnish. Please read more in www.linktr.ee/hannamannikkolahti and follow this blog, if you want to be the first one to know when I post something new.