Finnish What to Know

Finnish is a Uralic language spoken mainly in Finland, where it is the official language, by the Finnish majority and the country's Swedish-speaking minority. Finnish is also spoken by minorities in neighbouring countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Russia.

Here are some things to know about the Finnish language:

1. Grammar: Finnish has a complex grammar, including numerous grammatical cases and a rich system of verb conjugations.

2. Vowel Harmony: Finnish has vowel harmony, which means that the vowels in a word must be in harmony with each other in terms of their frontness or backness.

3. Inflectional Language: Finnish is a highly inflectional language, which means that words can change their form depending on their grammatical function in a sentence.

4. Word Order: The word order in Finnish is relatively flexible, but the subject, verb, and object usually appear in that order.

5. Loanwords: Finnish has borrowed words from other languages, including Swedish, Russian, and German.

6. Dialects: There are several dialects of Finnish, but Standard Finnish is the most commonly used.

7. Spoken Finnish vs. Written Finnish: Spoken Finnish can be quite different from written Finnish, as some features of spoken language are not represented in the written form.

8. Language Resources: There are a number of resources available for learning Finnish, including textbooks, online courses, and language exchange groups.

9. Challenges of Learning Finnish: Finnish can be challenging for learners, especially its grammar and pronunciation, but with practice and dedication, it is possible to achieve fluency.

10. Finnish Culture and Identity: The Finnish language plays a significant role in Finnish culture and identity, as it is a symbol of national pride.