How to make friends in Finnish

Finns don't really make friends. Instead, we use the verbs saada or sometimes hankkia in association with new friendships:

Saada (to get, to receive)

• Mä sain kielikurssilta paljon uusia kavereita. - I got many new friends from the language course. 
• The four important forms are saada, saan, sain and saanut 

Hankkia  (to get, to obtain, to acquire)

• Sun täytyy hankkia tyttöystävä! - You have to get a girlfriend!
• The four important forms are hankkia, hankin, hankin and hankkinut

Also tavata and tutustua are useful in this context:

• Tapasitko uusia ihmisiä? - Did you meet new people?
• Tapasin, mutta en vielä tunne niitä kovin hyvin. - Yes I did, but I don't know them that well yet. 
• Tutustuitko uusiin ihmisiin? - Did you get to know new people?
• Mä olen vieläkin tekemisissä samojen ihmisten kanssa, joihin tutustuin lukiossa. - I'm still in touch with the same people that I got to know in high school. 

I'd say that the best way is to find a hobby that enables you to get to know new people while doing something together, preferably without alcohol. Join a sports team, a choir, or a folk school course. 

What to say in Finnish once you know who you want to be friends with:

1. Suggest something extra that you could do together.

• Hei, huvittaisiko sua tulla joskus meille? - Hi, would you feel like coming to my place sometime?
• Mentäisiinkö joskus yhdessä ulos? - How about going out together sometime?

2. If you are afraid that your suggestion is too straightforward, say that there will also be other people.

• Kallekin tulee. - Kalle is coming, too.  
• Pyydetään muitakin mukaan. - Let's ask the others along, too. 

3. If you mention food, people will definitely want to hang out with you!

• Mennään jonnekin syömään. - Let's go to eat somewhere. 
• Laitetaan vaikka ruokaa yhdessä. - Let's cook together or something. (Vaikka means although, but it is also often used as for example.)
• Mä voin opettaa sua tekemään vietnamilaista ruokaa. - I can teach you how to cook Vietnamese food.

4. Set a date and time instead of just talking about random future.

• Sopisiko sulle ensi tiistaina kuudelta? - Would next Tuesday at 6 PM work for you?
• Tavataanko keskustassa viideltä? - Shall me meet downtown at five?

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.