A1 Finnish GrammarTime Expressions
Tell time and use basic time words in Finnish: tänään (today), huomenna (tomorrow), eilen (yesterday), aamu (morning), ilta (evening). Learn days of the week, months, and how to express clock time.
1Days and Basic Time Words
Finnish has specific words for relative time: tänään (today), huomenna (tomorrow), eilen (yesterday), ylihuomenna (day after tomorrow), toissa päivänä (day before yesterday). These are essential for everyday conversation and scheduling.
Basic Time Words
| Finnish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| tänään | today | Tänään on maanantai. |
| huomenna | tomorrow | Nähdään huomenna! |
| eilen | yesterday | Eilen satoi. |
| nyt | now | Nyt on aika mennä. |
Examples
Tänään on kaunis päivä.
Today is a beautiful day.
tänään = today
Tulen huomenna.
I will come tomorrow.
huomenna = tomorrow
Eilen olin kotona.
Yesterday I was at home.
eilen = yesterday
Mitä teet nyt?
What are you doing now?
nyt = now
2Days of the Week
Finnish days of the week are not capitalized. They end in -tai or -taina when used in adessive case meaning 'on (day)'. Maanantai (Monday) through sunnuntai (Sunday). Days are used without prepositions in Finnish.
Days of the Week
| Finnish | English | On that day |
|---|---|---|
| maanantai | Monday | maanantaina |
| tiistai | Tuesday | tiistaina |
| keskiviikko | Wednesday | keskiviikkona |
| torstai | Thursday | torstaina |
| perjantai | Friday | perjantaina |
| lauantai | Saturday | lauantaina |
| sunnuntai | Sunday | sunnuntaina |
Examples
Maanantaina menen töihin.
On Monday I go to work.
-na ending = 'on'
Perjantai on lempi päiväni.
Friday is my favorite day.
nominative form without -na
Mitä teet lauantaina?
What are you doing on Saturday?
lauantaina = on Saturday
Sunnuntaina lepään.
On Sunday I rest.
sunnuntaina = on Sunday
3Parts of the Day
Finnish divides the day into: aamu (morning), päivä (day/afternoon), ilta (evening), yö (night). These words change form when indicating 'in the morning', 'in the evening' etc., using the essive case (-na/-nä).
Parts of the Day
| Finnish | English | In that time |
|---|---|---|
| aamu | morning | aamulla |
| päivä | day/afternoon | päivällä |
| ilta | evening | illalla |
| yö | night | yöllä |
Examples
Aamulla juon kahvia.
In the morning I drink coffee.
aamulla = in the morning
Päivällä olen töissä.
During the day I am at work.
päivällä = during the day
Illalla katselen televisiota.
In the evening I watch TV.
illalla = in the evening
Yöllä nukun.
At night I sleep.
yöllä = at night
4Telling Clock Time
Finnish tells time using 'kello' (clock/o'clock). Full hours: 'kello yksi' (one o'clock). Half hours reference the next hour: 'puoli kaksi' (half past one, literally 'half two'). Quarter hours use 'vartti' (quarter).
Clock Time
| Time | Finnish | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | kello yksi | clock one |
| 1:30 | puoli kaksi | half two |
| 1:15 | varttia yli yksi | quarter past one |
| 1:45 | varttia vaille kaksi | quarter to two |
Examples
Kello on kolme.
It is three o'clock.
kello on = the time is
Tapaaminen on puoli viisi.
The meeting is at half past four.
puoli viisi = half past four
Herään kello seitsemän.
I wake up at seven o'clock.
kello + number = at (time)
Paljonko kello on?
What time is it?
Common question for time