Tuli Tulli Tuuli Tyyli – Finnish Pronunciation

In this article you can find lots of words that demonstrate how short and long sounds are pronounced in Finnish (e.g. tuli tulli tuuli tyyli). We’ll be looking in particular at words that you might mix up when speaking or writing Finnish. This article idea was suggested by RaveMoose on our discord server.

Unfortunately, translating these words in the limited space that the table layout allows for severely limits the possibilities of describing words as well as I would like to. As such, I would suggest you look up the definition of these words in a dictionary of you own language or – if you’ve advanced far enough in your Finnish studies – in Kielitoimiston sanakirja.

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Short vs. long sounds
Words with a different first letter
Groups of confusing words
Pronunciation of Finnish vowels

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1. Short vs. Long Sounds

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Short vs. Long Vowel

Finnish	English
asia	thing, matter
Aasia	Asia
evät	fins (fish)
eväät	packed lunch
halia	to hug v.
haalia	to collect v.
katua	to regret v.
kaatua	to fall v.
kina	quarrel, row
Kiina	China
kivi	stone, rock
kiivi	kiwi
kulo	wildfire
kuulo	hearing (sense)
kura	mud
kuura	rime (ice)
kuri	discipline
kuuri	regime
kusi	pee, piss
kuusi	six; spruce
kylä	village
kyylä	snoop (person)
laki	law
laaki	slap, blow
lama	recession
laama	llama
lasti	cargo
laasti	mortar, plaster
latu	ski trail
laatu	quality
lava	stage, platform
laava	lava (volcano)
lima	slime, mucus
liima	glue
maksa	liver
maksaa	to pay v.
pala	piece
palaa	to burn v.
parit	couples
paarit	stretcher
pika	express, instant
piika	servant girl
polo	wretch
poolo	polo (game)
puro	stream
puuro	porridge
raja	border, limit
raaja	limb, extremity
rita	trap (hunting)
riita	quarrel, dispute
ruma	ugly adj.
ruuma	hold (ship)
ryppy	wrinkle
ryyppy	drink (alcohol)
sari	sari (clothing)
saari	island
sata	hundred
sataa	to rain v.
satu	fairytail
saatu	received (TU-participle)
savi	clay
saavi	tub
sika	pig
siika	whitefish
sima	mead (drink)
siima	line (fishing)
sinä	you pron.
siinä	there adv.
sivu	page
siivu	slice
silli	herring
siili	hedgehog
susi	wolf
suusi	“your mouth”
takka	fireplace
taakka	burden
te	you (plural) pron.
tee	tea
tili	account (bank)
tiili	brick (build)
tuli	fire
tuuli	wind
tulla	to come v.
tuulla	to wind v. (weather)
uni	dream, sleep
uuni	oven
vara	spare
vaara	danger
vapa	pole (fishing)
vapaa	free adj.
viri	small wave
viiri	pennant (flag)

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Short vs. Long Consonant

Finnish	English
aita	fence
aitta	storehouse
ala	area, sector
alla	below, under postpos.
alas	(coming) down
allas	basin, sink
ale	sale (store)
alle	(go) under postpos.
arki	everyday life
arkki	sheet (of paper)
haku	search
hakku	pickaxe
hela	ferrule (metal tool)
hella	stove
hera	whey
herra	mister, sir
hirsi	log, timber
hirssi	millet
kasa	pile, heap
kassa	checkout, cash deck
kakara	brat (kid)
kakkara	camomiles (flower)
kato	disappearance
katto	roof; ceiling
kelo	snag (tree)
kello	clock; time
kisa	competition
kissa	cat
koko	whole
kokko	bonfire
korpi	wilderness
korppi	raven
koti	home
kotti	wheelbarrow
kuka	who
kukka	flower
kumi	eraser
kummi	godparent
kuola	spittle, dribble
kuolla	to die v.
kuri	discipline
kurri	curry (spice)
kylä	village
kyllä	yes
käry	smoky smell
kärry	cart
laki	law
lakki	cap, hat
lasi	glass
lassi	lassi (drink)
lauta	board
lautta	ferry, raft
lika	dirt
likka	gal, girl
lume	placebo
lumme	waterlily
luoto	islet (in water)
luotto	credit
mato	worm
matto	carpet, rug
muoti	fashion
muotti	mould, cast
muta	mud
mutta	but conj.
pako	escape, getaway
pakko	necessity, compulsion
palo	fire
pallo	ball
paras	the best (superl.)
parras	gunwale, edge
pula	shortage
pulla	sweet bun
pusi	kiss
pussi	bag, sack
rako	gap, opening
rakko	bladder; blister
rapu	crab, crayfish
rappu	stair
rysä	fishing net
ryssä	Russian (spoken)
taika	magic
taikka	or (spoken)
taka	back, rear
takka	fireplace
tali	tallow
talli	barn, shed
taitaa	to might (prob.) v.
taittaa	to fold v.
tikari	dagger
tikkari	lollipop
tipu	baby chick
tippu	drop, dropping
toka	second (spoken)
tokka	dry dock
tuki	support
tukki	log; stock
täytyy	have to (necessity) v.
täyttyy	fills v.
vana	trail
vanna	bath
varas	thief
varras	rotisserie
veli	brother
velli	pap, wet porridge
vesa	sprout (plant)
vessa	toilet, WC

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2. Words with a Different First Letter

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Finnish	English
suttu	mess
juttu	thing, thingy
huttu	gruel, porridge
kuttu	female goat
ruttu	wrinkle (fabric)
tuttu	known, familiar
nuttu	baby sweater

Finnish	English
takki	coat, jacket
lakki	cap, hat
sakki	gang, mob
rakki	mutt (dog)
fakki	specialty, voice
shakki	chess (game)
nakki	sausage, wiener
makki	outdoor toilet

Finnish	English
olla	to be v.
polla	head (spoken)
jolla	skiff (boat)
nolla	zero, null

Finnish	English
tukea	to support v.
lukea	to read v.
pukea	to dress v.

Finnish	English
mieli	mind, psyche
pieli	edge, corner
kieli	language

Finnish	English
tavu	syllable
savu	smoke
havu	coniferous

Finnish	English
kela	coil, reel, spool
mela	peddle
hela	ferrule
tela	roller, drum
rela	relaxed (sp)

Finnish	English
puu	tree
suu	mouth
luu	bone
kuu	moon

Finnish	English
suuri	large, big
kuuri	regime
tuuri	luck
juuri	root; just
muuri	wall, barrier
huuri	maiden, virgin

Finnish	English
sana	word
lana	clog crusher
hana	(water) tap
kana	chicken
jana	segment

Finnish	English
rauta	iron
lauta	board
hauta	grave
nauta	beef, bovine

Finnish	English
luku	number, count
suku	family
puku	suit, costume

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Finnish	English
pukki	billy goat
tukki	log; stock
trukki	forklift
lukki	daddy-longlegs
nukki	certain flower
rukki	spinning wheel
ukki	grandpa

Finnish	English
kappi	room on ship
nappi	button
happi	oxygen
Lappi	Lapland
klappi	space, margin
appi	father-in-law
sappi	bile, gall
tappi	pivot, spigot
pappi	priest

Finnish	English
naula	nail (tool)
taula	tinder (fire)
aula	lobby, lounge

Finnish	English
matto	rug, carpet
katto	roof; ceiling
ratto	pleasure

Finnish	English
loukku	trap
koukku	hook
moukku	hit; shot

Finnish	English
neula	needle
seula	screening
keula	prow (boat)

Finnish	English
raha	money
maha	stomach
vaha	wax, polish
paha	evil, bad adj.
saha	saw (tool)

Finnish	English
tuolla	over there
kuolla	to die v.
vuolla	to whittle v.
nuolla	to lick v.

Finnish	English
missi	miss (universe)
hissi	elevator
vissi	certain adj.
tissi	boob
pissi	pee
sissi	guerrilla soldier

Finnish	English
laita	side, fringe
saita	stringy
paita	shirt
kaita	narrow adj.
aita	fence
raita	stripe

Finnish	English
työ	work, job
vyö	belt
lyö	hit v.
syö	eat v.

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Finnish	English
tukka	hair
sukka	sock
kukka	flower
rukka	poor wretch
nukka	lint, fluff
hukka	loss, drain
jukka	yucca

Finnish	English
häkki	cage
näkki	small sausage
räkki	rack
jäkki	type of grass
pläkki	plaque (teeth)
kräkki	crack (drug)
läkki	metal plate
säkki	sack

Finnish	English
tiili	brick (building)
siili	hedgehog
viili	soured milk
hiili	charcoal

Finnish	English
käki	cuckoo (bird)
mäki	hill
väki	folks, people

Finnish	English
luku	number, amount
puku	suit, costume
suku	family

Finnish	English
nuora	line, cord
huora	whore
suora	straight adj.

Finnish	English
tapa	habit; way
lapa	shoulder(blade)
napa	belly button
rapa	mud
vapa	pole (fishing)

Finnish	English
loki	(written) log
joki	river
noki	soot, grime
toki	sure

Finnish	English
sakka	sediment
takka	fireplace
vakka	bushel
lakka	varnish; lacquer
kakka	poop
pakka	pack, roll

Finnish	English
ora	strong thorn
sora	gravel
pora	drill

Finnish	English
laukku	bag
paukku	boom; alcohol
naukku	alcoholic shot
haukku	reproach; dog

Finnish	English
vaari	grandpa
vaani	prowls v.
vaali	electoral
vaasi	vase
vaati	demands v.

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3. Groups of Confusing Words

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Finnish	English
tili	account (bank)
tilli	dill (plant)
tiili	brick (build)

Finnish	English
tuli	fire
tulli	customs (travel)
tuuli	wind (weather)
tulinen	fiery, spicy adj.
tuulinen	windy adj.

Finnish	English
kuri	discipline
kuuri	regime
kurri	skimmed milk

Finnish	English
pelata	to play v.
pelätä	to fear v.
palata	to return v.

Finnish	English
taka	rear, back
takaa	from behind
takka	fireplace
taakka	burden

Finnish	English
haarukka	fork
haarikka	tankard
harakka	magpie
herukka	currant (berry)

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Finnish	English
valita	to choose v.
vallita	to rule, reign v.
valittaa	to complain v.
välittää	to care v.
valitus	complaint
välitys	transmission

Finnish	English
kato	disappearance
kaato	fall, overturning
katto	roof; ceiling

Finnish	English
muta	mud
mutta	but conj.
muuta	more; other
muuttaa	to move v.
tuma	nucleus (biology)
tumma	dark adj.
tuuma	inch

Finnish	English
takana	behind (postpos.)
taakkana	a burden
täkänä	double cloth

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Finnish	English
kari	rock (in water)
kaari	arc, arch
karri	curry (spice)

Finnish	English
sata	hundred
sataa	to rain v.
saattaa	to may v.
säättää	to adjust v.

Finnish	English
laki	law
lakki	cap (hat)
laaki	slap, blow

Finnish	English
lika	dirt, grime
likka	gal, girl
liikka	PE (school)
liika	too much
liike	business, shop

Finnish	English
vara	spare adj.
vaara	danger
varaa	means, funds

Finnish	English
haku	search
hakku	pickaxe
hakkuu	felling trees

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4. Pronunciation of Finnish Vowels

Below, you can find some word pairs with constrasting vowel sounds that are common to cause problems for language learners. This list could be expanded on by allowing words that differ a little more than just with a vowel. For example, word pairs like pöytä-pyörä are useful as well, but differ in a consonant as well as in their vowels.

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Vowels: A vs. Ä

Finnish	English
sala	secret
sälä	stuff, things
tahti	pace, tempo
tähti	star
savu	smoke
sävy	tint; tone
ranta	beach
räntä	sleet, wet snow
passi	passport
pässi	ram (sheep)
hella	stove
hellä	gentle, tender
etana	snail, slug
etänä	remotely
saari	island
sääri	shin
saa	gets v. (saada)
sää	weather
kasi	eight (spoken)
käsi	hand, arm

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Vowels: U vs. Y

Finnish	English
suu	mouth
syy	reason, cause
hullu	crazy adj.
hylly	shelf
kuu	moon
kyy	viper (snake)
puu	tree
pyy	hazel hen (bird)
tuo	that pron.
työ	work
suo	swamp
syö	eat (imp.)
muu	other pron.
myy	sell (imp.)
luo	create (imp.)
lyö	hit (imp.)
tuuli	wind
tyyli	style
tukki	log; stock
tykki	cannon
pouta	dry weather
pöytä	table
ylös	(go) up
ulos	(go) out
ukkonen	thunder
ykkönen	number one

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Vowels: I vs. Y

Finnish	English
pii	silicon
pyy	hazel hen (bird)
pisin	the longest adj.
pysyn	I remain v.
tili	account (bank)
tyly	curt, rude adj.
tilli	dill (herb)
tylli	tulle (material)
siis	therefore
syys	autumn
isi	dad
ysi	nine (spoken)
tiili	brick
tyyli	style
milli	milli
mylly	mill

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Vowels: E vs. Ä

Finnish	English
veri	blood
väri	color
veli	brother
väli	gap
hyve	virtue
hyvä	good
ele	gesture
älä	don’t
jäte	waste
jätä	leave (imp.)
yhteen	together
yhtään	at all

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Diphthongs: EI vs. IE

Finnish	English
leikki	game
liekki	flame
peili	mirror
pieli	corner, edge
mieli	mind
meili	email
veitsi	knife
viesti	message
teillä	you have pron.
tiellä	on the road
vie	drop off v.
vei	took v.

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Diphthongs: EI vs. ÄI

Finnish	English
teitä	roads (part. pl.)
täitä	lice (part. pl.)
veistää	to sculpt v.
väistää	to dodge, evade v.
heidän	their, theirs pron.
häiden	wedding’s

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Tuli Tulli Tuuli Tyyli – Finnish Pronunciation

1. Short vs. Long Sounds

Short vs. Long Vowel

Short vs. Long Consonant

2. Words with a Different First Letter

3. Groups of Confusing Words

4. Pronunciation of Finnish Vowels

Vowels: A vs. Ä

Vowels: U vs. Y

Vowels: I vs. Y

Vowels: E vs. Ä

Diphthongs: EI vs. IE

Diphthongs: EI vs. ÄI

Read more elsewhere

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