[Vowels] [Consonants] [Length] [Diphthongs] [Stress] [Intonation]
|
Sound |
Description of the Sound |
Finnish Examples |
|
a |
like a in father | banaani, radio |
|
e |
like e in set | tee, englanti |
|
i |
like i in sit | Helsinki, viisi |
|
o |
like o in toy | soolo |
|
u |
like u in book (but lips more pursed) | ruusu, puu |
|
y |
like German ü or French u; i.e. like i but with tightly rounded lips |
hyvä, yksi |
|
ä |
like a in hat | päivää |
|
ö |
like German ö or French eu; i.e. like e but with more strongly rounded lips |
öljy, söpö |
| Sound | Description of Sound | Finnish Examples |
|
b |
like b in ball | banaani, baari |
|
d |
like d in do | kahdeksan, yhdeksän |
|
f |
like f in fan | filmi, filosofia |
|
g |
like g in guide | geologia |
|
h |
like h in hen | Helsinki |
|
j |
like y in yes | joo, marja |
|
k |
like k in pumpkin (softer k than in kit, no aspiration) | kahvi, markka |
|
l |
like l in let | litra, nolla |
|
m |
like m in moon | markka |
|
n |
like n in no | neljä, numero |
|
ng |
like ng in singing but longer | Helsingissä |
|
p |
like p in spin (softer p than in pin, no aspiration) | päivää, piano |
|
r |
like Spanish r (slightly rolled), r should not affect the
quality of the adjacent vowels |
radio |
|
s |
like s in stop | soolo, viisi |
|
t |
like t in stop (softer t than in top, no aspiration) | tee |
|
v |
like v in van | viisi |
The distinction between long and short consonant and vowels is very important in Finnish. Long sounds are indicated by doubling a letter. For an idea of the difference between long and short sounds, compare the p sounds in top part with to part or the vowels in feed and fit. In Finnish, a difference in length can make a difference in meaning, as in
taka 'back' (prefix)
Finnish has a large number of diphthongs, i.e. combinations of two different vowels in one syllable. A few Finnish dipththongs are very much like dipththongs in English, others are less familiar.
| Sound | Description of the Sound | Finnish Examples |
| ai | like ai in aisle | laiva |
| ei | like ey in hey | hei |
| oi | like oi in voice | moi |
| ui | like uy in Spanish muy | uida |
| yi | resembles ui in French suis but Finnish y slightly less rounded than French u |
kysyi |
| äi | ä followed by a short i in the same syllable | päivää |
| öi | ö followed by a short i in the same syllable | töihin |
| au | resembles ow in cow | auto |
| eu | e followed by a short u in the same syllable | leuka |
| iu | i followed by a short u in the same syllable | viulu |
| ou | like o in so but more rounded | koulu |
| äy | ä followed by a short y in the same syllable | täynnä |
| öy | ö followed by a short y in the same syllable | pöytä |
| ie | like ie in Spanish bien | mies |
| uo | like uo in Italian buona | Suomi |
| yö | y followed by a short ö in the same syllable | Hyvää yötä |
In Finnish, the world stress is always on the first syllable. At the same time, the vowels and consonants of unstressed words pronounced just as distinctly and clearly as in stressed syllables. As Finnish words are often lengthy due to suffixation and compounding, the words can have secondary stresses on later syllables.
All Finnish sentences, statements as well as questions, have a falling intonation. Yes/No Questions are not formed by changing intonation but by adding a question particle -ko or -kö . E.g. Puhutko sinä suomea? ('Do you speak Finnish?)
[Vowels] [Consonants] [Length] [Diphthongs] [Stress] [Intonation]
Last reviewed: December 8, 1997.
Please send comments to: paivir@fiat.gslis.utexas.edu