8 things a Finn should, and should never say abroad
We have all had those moments. You wonder if you said something wrong. It could be an innocent phrase that sounds disgusting to someone else. It could also be something you did not say. Here are a few pointers for your travels.
Things you should say
1. Please
Finns are like Klingons. Klingons have no word for mercy. Finns have no word for please in the same context as English speakers. When a Finn demands beer from a bartender, they are usually not being rude. They are doing it the only way they know how. We are learning. Please be patient.
2. Local greetings
Say good morning and thank you in the local language. You can use English, but googling a few key phrases makes a difference. This applies to everyone, not just Finns. Try it.
Things you should never say
3. Katso merta
Saying “look at the sea” in Finnish might get you a weird look in Italy. To a local, these two innocent words sound like “cazzo merda” or “dick shit”.
4. Hui!
This is an involuntary word used when a bird flies too close to your head. It is usable in many countries but avoid it in Russia. There, the word refers to male genitalia. If someone laughs when you spill coffee in Russia, this explains why.
5. Catchphrases
Apuva, suut makiaksi, and elämä on are catchphrases from Finnish comedy and commercials. When repeated at holiday resorts, locals start using them on other tourists. This is slightly charming but mostly disturbing. Do not start chanting catchphrases anywhere.
6. Charlton Heston
If you are a fan of Charlton Heston visiting Greece, restrain your enthusiasm in public. Heston sounds like a Greek phrase meaning “shit on him”.
7. Nigeria
Be careful when talking about the country Nigeria in Finnish. The Finnish pronunciation can sound like a derogatory word for people of African descent to foreign ears.
For a French, “kippis” sounds like “qui pisse” = who is peeing
For an English, “kippis” sounds like “keep piss”
I think that the whole “kippis” thing came originally from words “keep peace” and why not to drink for that.
few Finnish words that may sound strange in Italian (better not use…)
hamminkia / oh what the fuck ( minchia means dick)
sukkia / suck if together wits katso wil sound like suck my dick
Trie. A friend told me they’d been hiking with Italian friends, when it started to rain and their feet got all muddy. Her boyfriend had said in Finnish: Katso sukkia! (Look at the socks!) Well, their Italian buddies had been somewhat amused…
Don’t leave us hanging! What does Katso sukkia sound like in Italian? :)
It sounds like “cazzo succhia”… suck dick.
Täällä Thaimaassa nolottaa kun joku suomalainen huutaa MOI MOI! ? se ‘moi’ on naisen häpykarvoitus.
“Älä huuda” sounds like “Ala chuda” in Polish = Ala ( girl’s name) skinny.
Lato = summer (in PL)
matka = mother (in PL)
molo = a pier ( in PL)
When traveling to the Czech Republic even if it is quite a long journey it is better not to discuss it in Finnish. Two simple reasons pitkä is basically one of possible words for cunt in czech while matka means mother. Nearby sitting family can get easily offended ?
Latvians are walking around the Helsinki market place and pointing fingers at some vegetables and shouting “paskat paskat” in their language it means “look” but in Finnish “shit”. So salesman starts to defend his products and shout “maukas maukas”, which means in Finnish “tasty” but in Latvian “whore”… ?
Well, in Spanish there are several names and worss that may be misunderstood.
– Marika (written as “marica”) it means “pussy” (hintti).
-Asko (“asco”): disgusting thing (ällötys).
-Timo: hoax (huijaus).
-Paha (“paja”) : wank or jerk-off (runkku).
And there are more. So pay attention.
In Brazil we also have asco…
Also finnish “perna”, in English “spleen” (baço), means leg :D
Porras means “cums” (porra in singular)
We also have “merda” word.
“Kuu” (moon) means cu, which is asshole (yes, every month is an “asshole” in finnish hahaha).
Also “puuta” (trees) can be understood as “puta” (whore).
“Karjala” (Carelia) reminds of “caralho” (dick).
Saako for “saco” (sack, man’s balls).
“Opinto” (study) for “the dick” :’D.
And many others…
Portuguese has so many fuck ups with finnish that it’s even difficult to list. Living here has been quite funny in general :D all the time something new appears.
Not to mention “pussi” (bag) for English :’D
I once heard a story of a Finnish family traveling on a bus in the US. Rest of the family was sitting in the back when the dad was still in the front. The boy of the family had something to say to his dad so he started shouting “FAIJA! FAIJA!” which made the rest of the passengers panic. They had some explaining to do that the slang word for dad in Finnish just happens to sound lime “fire” in English and they weren’t trying to prank anyone.
In Canada an old Finnish maid was being yelled at on a regular basis by the lady of the house, and finally the old Finnish maid said “Ai kun akka kiljuu” .
The lady of the house called the police and said “that old maid said she is going to kill me”. Lol!!
Maukas ruoka (tasty food) means ‘whore’s hand’ in Latvian and maukas lohi (tasty salmon) means ‘dumb whores’. Also, kuusi sounds like k?sis ‘pubic hair’, but piste reminds of ‘pisties’, which is a very colloquial term for fucking. It’s real fun to study Finnish in Latvia :D
A Romanian would be very amused/nervous when invited to taste “pulla” (pula in Romanian = dick). :D
In spain you don’s want to say “saako olla teetä” as “saca la teta” means “pull out the tit.” Finnair flighs are funny for spannish!
Mita kuuluu (how are you) sounds funny for Spanish speakers.
Like ‘mita mi culo’
Katso sukkia. Look at the socks
If you’re a Finn and planning to visit Romania never say that you would like Pulla with your coffee . Pula meas d*ck and it’s pronounced the same as Pulla.
Also don’t give Romanians a weird look when they are telling you that pasca (paska in Finnish) is a traditional sweet bread made with sweet cheese and raisins for Easter.
There. I think we are even .
You Finns like to have Pulla with coffee, us Romanians prefer pasca for Easter.
If you visit Albania , be careful not to say out loud :
Kari : Even though its a common Finnish name , in albanian means dick
Satama : The finnish word for sea port can be confused with a popular albanian swearing expression regarding someones mother
Have you seen mämmi? We finns also like paska for easter…
Hui doesn’t work not only in Russia – means the same in Poland, so you way want to also remember that. And it gets worse – it doesn’t only mean a penis, but we also use it as a very offensive word to call someone – and I mean very, a lot more than “dick” or “dickhead” in English. So the most likely scenario is that the Polish person who hears you will think you’re offending them. So really, beware :P
Perse means in hungary of course. It is opposite but thought imma share it.