Pronunciation

Practicing pronunciation in a language you are learning is key for being understood by others. Finnish is graceful in that letters are always pronounced as they are written, however sometimes getting the flow down can be a trial.

Similar sounding words

• Taka, takaa, takka, takkaan, taakka, taakkaan.
• Kapa, kapaa, kappa, kappaa, kaappaan.
• Tutti, tutin, tuttiin, tuutti, tuutin.
• Sana, Saana, sanaan, Saanaan, Sannan, Sannaan.
• Vesa, vesan, vessa, vessaan.
• Tili, tiliin, tiili, tilli, tillin, tilliin.
• Käry, kärry, käryyn, kärryyn, kääryle.
• Mutta, muuttaa, muuta.

Tongue twisters

Tongue twisters are also a good way to practice.

• Ärrän kierrän ympäri orren, ässän pistän taskuun,
  I twist an ‘R’ around a beam, I put the ‘S’ into my pocket.
• Mustan kissan paksut posket,
  Black cat’s thick cheeks.
• Vesihiisi sihisi hississä,
  The water pixie hissed in an elevator.
• Vasta vastaa vasta vastaavasta vastavastaavasta,
  The bath whisk answers only for the respective person responsible for the bath whisk.
• Appilan pappilan apupapin paksuposkipiski pisti poskeensa paksun papupurkin,
  The thick-cheeked dog of the deacon of the rectory of the father-in-law’s home ate a thick bean can.
• Pappilan apupapin papupata pankolla kiehuu,
  The rectory’s deacon’s bean casserole boils on the oven.
• Kokoo kokoon koko kokko! Koko kokkoko? Koko kokko,
  Gather up the whole bonfire! The whole bonfire? The whole bonfire.