LESSON NOTES

Learn Finnish in Three Minutes #5

Making Apologies

CONTENTS
2

Grammar

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GRAMMAR
T he f ocus of t his lesson is making apologies in Finnish

Topic 1: How t o say "Excuse me"

Sentence from the lesson:

'Anteeksi.'
"Excuse me."
1.

2.

3.

4.

We can be used anteeksi in formal situations, such as when we are

ordering something in bars or restaurants.
For example:
Anteeksi, saisinko kahvin, kiitos.
"Excuse me, could a get a coffee please."
We can also use it when asking a question:
Anteeksi, miss on tuomiokirkko?
"Excuse me, where is the Dome?"
Sometimes we also hear people say anteeksi, which means the same thing
when you want to draw somebody's attention.
Anteeksi can be used in formal and informal situations. We can use anteeksi
when asking a question, or when apologizing.

Topic 2: How t o say "I'm sorry."

Sentence from the lesson:

'Olen pahoillani'
"I am sorry."
1.

If you really want to apologize for something, it might be better to use a

different phrase. That phrase is Olen pahoillani. It means "I am sorry." and
can be used in both formal and informal situations.
olla - "to be." When this is conjugated for min, in Finnish, it is olen.
pahoillani, meaning "sorry."

Language T ip

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LEARN FI NNI S H I N T HREE MI NUT ES #5 - MAKI NG APOLOGI ES

Please remember that in Finland if you accidentally bump into someone, it's more
common to say anteeksi than "I am sorry," olen pahoillani.

FI NNI S HPOD101.COM

LEARN FI NNI S H I N T HREE MI NUT ES #5 - MAKI NG APOLOGI ES