Start here: Finnish basics for beginners
Master the building blocks first. Finnish pronunciation is consistent, so reading and speaking improve together. Learn letter names and practice minimal pairs (e.g., tuli vs. tuuli) to hear length. Keep a tiny phrase bank for greetings, introductions, numbers, and asking prices. Focus on meaning over rules at the start; let patterns reveal themselves through repetition and easy input.
- Learn the alphabet and basic sounds.
- Practice long vs. short vowels.
- Memorize 20 survival phrases.
- Shadow audio: repeat with rhythm.
Free tools to learn Finnish online
You can learn Finnish online for free with high‑quality resources. Combine a grammar site, a vocab tool, audio, and easy reading. Good starting points include Yle’s easy news (selkosuomeksi), Uusi kielemme for grammar explanations, and community courses. Use spaced repetition for retention, and record yourself to check pronunciation.
- Duolingo: daily beginner drills.
- Yle Uutiset selkosuomeksi: simple news.
- Uusi kielemme: clear grammar guides.
- Memrise or Anki: spaced repetition decks.
- Forvo: native pronunciation of words.
- Wiktionary FI–EN: meanings and examples.
A simple A1–A2 study plan
Here’s a weekly plan that covers all you need at A1–A2 without burnout. Keep sessions short (20–30 minutes), and stack listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Track words in a notebook or a deck, and celebrate small wins so motivation stays high.
- Mon: sounds, alphabet, and phrases.
- Tue: vocab deck + 10 sentences.
- Wed: easy news, read aloud.
- Thu: core grammar: in/at/from endings.
- Fri: speaking online or self‑talk.
- Weekend: review, tiny writing task.
Grammar made friendly and vocab that sticks
Make grammar friendly by learning endings in context. For place ideas, think in pairs: in -ssa/-ssä, from -sta/-stä, to -iin/-an (simplified). The adessive -lla/-llä often means on/at, and partitive handles some quantities. Notice consonant gradation (k/p/t changes) but don’t let it slow you—collect examples, then generalize.
- Learn chunks: kahvissa, kahvista, kahviin.
- Pair verbs with cases: pidän + partitive.
- Watch vowel harmony: a/ä, o/ö, u/y.
- Build families: syödä, syön, söin, syönyt.
Printable PDFs and offline practice
Offline practice helps memory. Save short lessons as PDF, print a cheat sheet, and highlight patterns. Many free beginner worksheets and phrase lists exist around the web. If a site lacks a download, print to PDF from your browser and build your own mini workbook for the language.
- One‑page case endings PDF.
- A1 phrasebook PDF with audio links.
- 100 verbs with examples, printable.
- Cloze worksheets from easy news.
FAQ
- How long does it take to reach A2 in Finnish for free?
- With consistent 30 minutes a day, most beginners reach A2 in 4–6 months. Mix listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Use online resources and review weekly to lock in vocabulary.
- Is Finnish hard for English speakers?
- It’s different, not impossible. Pronunciation is regular, and spelling matches sounds. Cases look scary, but you only need the common ones early. Learn through phrases and it feels logical.
- Can I learn Finnish for free without apps?
- Yes. Use Yle easy news, Uusi kielemme, open dictionaries, and YouTube lessons. Print key pages as PDF, make flashcards on paper, and practice speaking with self‑talk or language exchange.
- What’s the best way to practice speaking online?
- Shadow audio daily, then meet partners on free language‑exchange platforms. Prepare 5 questions, record short monologues, and ask for corrections. Consistency beats perfection; keep sentences short and clear.
- Which PDF resources are useful for beginners?
- Try a one‑page case chart, a verb list with basic forms, and a common phrases booklet. Save easy news articles as PDF and annotate; review them during commutes.