The difference between mennä and käydä

I have written about the verb käydä before, but here's a post about the difference between mennä and käydä.

Mennä only indicates that someone is going somewhere. That's it.

• Mä menen kuntosalille. - I'm going to the gym. 
• Mä menen kauppaan. - I'm going to the store. 
• Mä menen lenkille. - I'm going for a run / walk.
• Mä menen sunnuntaina Helsinkiin. - I'm going to Helsinki on Sunday. 

Käydä has the idea that you either do something kind of regularly or go somewhere and only stay there for a short time.

• Mä käyn kuntosalilla.  - I go to the gym. (It's my hobby.)
• Mä käyn kaupassa mieluiten illalla. - I prefer going to the shop in the evening. (That's what I usually do.)
• Mä käyn lenkillä.  - I'll go jogging. (I'll be back soonish.)
• Mä käyn sunnuntaina Helsingissä. - I'll visit Helsinki on Sunday. (I'll be back before the day is over.)

Lue lisää: 

• Käydä - käyttää + visiting a friend
• All my posts about verbs

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. Follow this blog, if you want to be the first one to know when I post something new.  If you want to subscribe to my newsletter, you can do it here.