Tools – Työkalut – Finnish Vocabulary
What kind of tools – työkalut – are used in your profession? Here is a small list of possible tools! You can find some other ones on the pages that deal with a specific profession, like for example hairdresser tools. In addition, it’s also interesting to take a look at the page of words ending in -in, which are often either tools or machines.
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| alasin | anvil |
| hakku | mattock |
| harava | rake |
| harja | brush |
| harppi | compass |
| hiekkapaperi | sandpaper |
| hohtimet | pincers |
| hylsyavain | socket wrench |
| höylä | plane |
| ilmastointiteippi | duct tape |
| jakoavain | wrench |
| keritsimet | shears |
| kirves | axe |
| kolvi | soldering iron |
| kottikärryt | wheelbarrow |
| kynä | pen |
| käsisaha | hand saw |
| leikkuri | cutter |
| moppi | mop |
| lapio | trowel |
| lenkkiavain | ring spanner |
| letku | hose |
| maalaustela | paint roller |
| magneetti | magnet |
| metallisaha | hacksaw |
| moottorisaha | chain saw |
| mutteri | nut |
| naula | nail |
| naulanvedin | nail puller |
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| mutterinväännin | nutrunner |
| neula | needle |
| nuija | mallet |
| pensseli | paint brush |
| pihdit | pliers |
| pistosaha | jigsaw |
| porakone | drill |
| puukko | sharp Finnish knife |
| rullamitta | measuring tape |
| ruuvi | screw |
| ruuvimeisseli | screwdriver |
| sahapukki | sawhorse |
| sirkkeli | circular saw |
| sirppi | sickle |
| sivellin | wide brush |
| sivuleikkuri | side cutter |
| sorvi | lathe |
| sumutin | spray gun |
| tahko | grindstone |
| taltta | chisel |
| taskulamppu | flashlight |
| tikapuut, tikkaat | stepladder |
| tunkki | jack |
| työkalupakki | toolbox |
| yleismittari | multimeter |
| vasara | hammer |
| vatupassi | spirit level |
| vesivaaka | spirit level |
| viila | file |
| viivoitin | ruler |
Making sentences using the verb “käyttää”
If you want to say you’re using tools – työkalut, you can use the verb “käyttää” and inflect the tool into the partitive. Some examples:
- Kun rakennan leikkimökin, käytän vasaraa, ruuvimeisseliä ja rullamittaa.
- Kun hoidan puutarhaa, käytän lapiota ja kottikärryjä.
Making sentences using the adessive – “millä”
Another option is to use the adessive aka the -lla form.
- Maalaan seinää siveltimellä, maalilla ja maalaustelalla.
- Ompelen neulalla nappeja paitaani.
- Yleismittarilla ja mittanauhalla voi mitata asioita.
More specific names
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| naula | nail |
| lankanaula | common nail |
| uppokantanaula | wire nail with countersunk head |
| kampanaula | annular ring shanked nail |
| kierrenaula | spiral shank nail |
| huopanaula | flat headed nail |
| ruuvi | screw |
| uppokanta | countersunk head |
| kupukanta | round head |
| suoraurainen | straight groove screw |
| ristiuraruuvi | cross groove screw |
| kuusiokoloruuvi | hexagonal socket head screw |
| ruuvimeisseli | screwdriver |
| tasapäinen, talttapäinen | slotted, flat-blade |
| ristipäinen | cross-headed |
| saha | saw |
| käsisaha | hand saw |
| selkäsaha | backsaw |
| kompassisaha | compass saw |
| timanttisaha | diamond saw |
| pyörösaha, sirkkeli | circular saw |
| siirrettävä pyörösaha | movable circular saw |
| moottorisaha, ketjusaha | chain saw |
| pora | drill |
| sähköpora | electric drilling machine |
| timanttipora | diamond drill |
| akkuporakone | battery drill |
| iskuporakone | percussion drill |




