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| City Guide > Europe > Finland > Helsinki |
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Language Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish. Finnish, a Finno-Ugric language, is spoken by 93% of the population, while Swedish, mostly found in pockets of Finland’s southwest coast, is the mother tongue of 6% of Finns. In remote parts of the north, about 1700 people still speak Sami (more commonly known as Lappish). The roots of the Finnish language are in the Finno-Ugric linguistic family that includes, in one branch, Finnish, Estonian and a number of permutations and, in the other, Hungarian. Since just five million people speak Finnish, foreign languages are a must for Finns; English, an integral part of the school curriculum, is widely understood. As a hangover from its past, some inhabitants also speak Russian. Most restaurants have menus in Finnish and English. Helsinkilaiset consider their Finnish the yardstick of cosmopolitan Finland – regional accents are viewed as provincial. There are a number of slang words idiosyncratic to the capital, such as dosa (bus), spora or ratikka (tram), bisse (beer) and rooki or spaddu (cigarette), among others. Helsinkilaiset are proud of their Finnish language, and rather than adopting English-isms like the French (eg le ski, le surf), they coin their own Finnish words in order to preserve their mother tongue. Phrases Yes - Kyll No - Ei Hello - Hei Goodbye - Nkemiin Please - Ole hyv Thank you - Kiitos My name is & - Minun nimeni on & How are you? - Mit kuuluu? I’m very well - Kiitos hyv I feel ill - Olen sairas How much does it cost? - Mit tm maksaa? Do you speak English? - Puhutko englantia? I don’t understand - En ymmrr Where is...? - Miss...? Entrance - Sisn Exit - Ulos Danger - Vaara Open - Avoinna Closed - Suljettu Toilets - Vessa / WC Doctor - Lkri Hotel - Hotelli Restaurant - Ravintola Beer - Olut Wine - Viini Menu - Ruokalista Today - Tnn Tomorrow - Huomenna Monday - Maanantai Tuesday - Tiistai Wednesday - Keskiviikko Thursday - Torstai Friday - Perjantai Saturday - Lauantai Sunday - Sunnuntai One - Yksi Two - Kaksi Three - Kolme Four - Nelj Five - Viisi Six - Kuus Seven - Seitsemn Eight - Kahdeksan Nine - Yhdeksn Ten - Kymmenen Twenty - Kaksikymment Thirty - Kolmekymment Forty Nelvakymment Fifty - Viisikymment Sixty - Kuusikymment Seventy - Seitsemankymment Eighty - Kahdeksankymment Ninety - Vhdeksankymment One Hundred - Sata One Thousand - Tuhat |