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.
1. Short vs. Long Sounds
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) |
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 |
2. Words with a Different First Letter
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
3. Groups of Confusing Words
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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 |
Read more elsewhere
I hope you found this article helpful and now know, at the very least, what the words tuli tulli tuuli tyyli mean!
This article is amazing! Thx a lot!
Thank you, Stef! 🙂