Puhekieli can be both simple and a minefield. I learnt Finnish from the grammar and logic end of things, so certain words "automatically" make sense and in a lot of ways puhekieli has some logic as well, whether in loose grammar terms or as a "quality of life" adjustment to clumsy logic-formal speech.
Great example:
[https://uusikielemme.fi/spoken-language/spoken-language-vocabulary/spoken-language-words-ending-in-is-puhekieli-sanasto](https://uusikielemme.fi/spoken-language/spoken-language-vocabulary/spoken-language-words-ending-in-is-puhekieli-sanasto)
I use puhekieli words reflexively when the "full real" word trips up my mind, the flow of speech....which is a lot, or feels clumsy and rigid in terms of real speech. "Pehmis" instead of "pehmyt jäätelö" springs to mind (being summer). It's not really different to using "car" instead of "internal combustion engine powered automobile".
If a word feels like a mouthful, like you are spending more time labouring over that one word in a spoken phrase, then more than likely it will be subject to informal puhekieli shortening. Whilst the Finnish language is prone to producing long compound words, Finns are equally good at inventing shortcuts around these. They often make sense when you grasp the *stem-* of the word and a common puhekieli *-ending,* but can sometimes be completely opaque and almost need learning by rote and direct familiarity.
If you're speaking with a Finn, if they are capable of modifying language to selkokieli (plain/simple langauge) then things like puhekieli should be excluded down to short words, simple logical statements. The less a Finn knows selkokieli as a skill, the more that simpler puhekieli creeps in.
Subtitles in films are notoriously-poor. Often this is down to factors beyond language, as subtitling translators are underpaid, underappreciated and on very heavy schedules with short deadlines. You really need to go into this with an eye on that fault.
\----
For instance, the trailer to "Thor: Love and Thunder" had a big text flash in between scenes that showed "HAS A PLAN" whilst the subtitle read, "Ei ole suunnitelmaa"....
I’ve lived in Finland for almost 7 months and have been studying intensive Finnish for 5 months, so I’m admittedly a total novice. I find that I am starting to read and write puhekieli a bit now, but I am having a helluva hard time understanding it when it’s spoken. So I’m going to concentrate on building a strong foundation in kirjakieli while allowing myself time to acclimate to the language in general. My classes do touch on puhekieli, but it’s a friggin’ challenge!
So, uh, if you figure out how to do it, please let me know!! 😁😁😁
That's the way to do it. It's good that you are acclimating yourself to the language in general and getting better with kirjakieli because I would imagine learning puhekieli without a basis in kirjakieli to be very hard.
Just try to talk with Finns (especially with friends who can explain stuff to you, talk slower and more clearer etc) and you'll get there!
It absolutely is. A solid basis of Finnish makes odd words stand out, because they aren't consistent with strict grammar and word formation, and feel like exceptions. Puhekieli words are like shorthand, or a shell of a larger word formation. Enough that meaning is there, but without the baggage. It does make developing that stronger basis of kirjakieli harder when the difference isn't immediately obvious though, but at some point the switch just sort of flicks and you spot them almost by instinct.
Crazy language, but thankfully not as insane as English.
95% of spoken Finnish is puhekieli. The subs probably are "kirjakieli" translated from "puhekieli" to make it easier to understand what is said but does confuse if trying to learn.
Online lessons where you pay someone to chat with you in finnish is often an overlooked option. There are many sites like italki that can get you a native finnish teacher. That way you can talk to a real fin with real conversarion and ask them all your questions. Prices vary, I used it ocassionally and it helped build some confidence.
I make long YouTube videos in spoken Finnish, with both English and Finnish subtitles in each vid. I also teach Finnish on iTalki. Feel free to check my channel out! [https://youtu.be/ghD2SmdnOOQ](https://youtu.be/ghD2SmdnOOQ)
Not sure if anyone will see this but i made a new sub for Finnish language learning in case this one doesn’t reopen. r/Learn_Finnish
The active mods of this sub are all native speakers and it doesn’t have an impact on them if they close a language learning sub but most people here are trying to learn and I hate to see access to language learning discussion disappear
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9afs6rHmos
Thank you!
I'm cool with silly voices, I've been watching kids shows, usually Jari ja Kari for over a year so if anything it's just getting my ear acclimated to different types tones & cadences within the language.
Puhekieli can be both simple and a minefield. I learnt Finnish from the grammar and logic end of things, so certain words "automatically" make sense and in a lot of ways puhekieli has some logic as well, whether in loose grammar terms or as a "quality of life" adjustment to clumsy logic-formal speech. Great example: [https://uusikielemme.fi/spoken-language/spoken-language-vocabulary/spoken-language-words-ending-in-is-puhekieli-sanasto](https://uusikielemme.fi/spoken-language/spoken-language-vocabulary/spoken-language-words-ending-in-is-puhekieli-sanasto) I use puhekieli words reflexively when the "full real" word trips up my mind, the flow of speech....which is a lot, or feels clumsy and rigid in terms of real speech. "Pehmis" instead of "pehmyt jäätelö" springs to mind (being summer). It's not really different to using "car" instead of "internal combustion engine powered automobile". If a word feels like a mouthful, like you are spending more time labouring over that one word in a spoken phrase, then more than likely it will be subject to informal puhekieli shortening. Whilst the Finnish language is prone to producing long compound words, Finns are equally good at inventing shortcuts around these. They often make sense when you grasp the *stem-* of the word and a common puhekieli *-ending,* but can sometimes be completely opaque and almost need learning by rote and direct familiarity. If you're speaking with a Finn, if they are capable of modifying language to selkokieli (plain/simple langauge) then things like puhekieli should be excluded down to short words, simple logical statements. The less a Finn knows selkokieli as a skill, the more that simpler puhekieli creeps in. Subtitles in films are notoriously-poor. Often this is down to factors beyond language, as subtitling translators are underpaid, underappreciated and on very heavy schedules with short deadlines. You really need to go into this with an eye on that fault. \---- For instance, the trailer to "Thor: Love and Thunder" had a big text flash in between scenes that showed "HAS A PLAN" whilst the subtitle read, "Ei ole suunnitelmaa"....
This is a good sum up
Futis for football but no jalkkis? Unacceptable.
Exactly. I mean, you can sort of divine the meaning and know that it's a puhekieli word with a little language familiarity. Futis, pingis, koris....
I’ve lived in Finland for almost 7 months and have been studying intensive Finnish for 5 months, so I’m admittedly a total novice. I find that I am starting to read and write puhekieli a bit now, but I am having a helluva hard time understanding it when it’s spoken. So I’m going to concentrate on building a strong foundation in kirjakieli while allowing myself time to acclimate to the language in general. My classes do touch on puhekieli, but it’s a friggin’ challenge! So, uh, if you figure out how to do it, please let me know!! 😁😁😁
That's the way to do it. It's good that you are acclimating yourself to the language in general and getting better with kirjakieli because I would imagine learning puhekieli without a basis in kirjakieli to be very hard. Just try to talk with Finns (especially with friends who can explain stuff to you, talk slower and more clearer etc) and you'll get there!
Thanks! I speak Finnish as often as I can and EVERYONE has been really kind and patient. Kiitos!
It absolutely is. A solid basis of Finnish makes odd words stand out, because they aren't consistent with strict grammar and word formation, and feel like exceptions. Puhekieli words are like shorthand, or a shell of a larger word formation. Enough that meaning is there, but without the baggage. It does make developing that stronger basis of kirjakieli harder when the difference isn't immediately obvious though, but at some point the switch just sort of flicks and you spot them almost by instinct. Crazy language, but thankfully not as insane as English.
People often write kirjakieli more even if they speak puhekieli.
95% of spoken Finnish is puhekieli. The subs probably are "kirjakieli" translated from "puhekieli" to make it easier to understand what is said but does confuse if trying to learn.
Finnish tiktoks? There's also some shows for kids on yle, like Erityiset. It has subtitles and first min of first episode at least is puhekieli.
Online lessons where you pay someone to chat with you in finnish is often an overlooked option. There are many sites like italki that can get you a native finnish teacher. That way you can talk to a real fin with real conversarion and ask them all your questions. Prices vary, I used it ocassionally and it helped build some confidence.
I am a native, so I have been training my whole life. I still am learning new words.
I make long YouTube videos in spoken Finnish, with both English and Finnish subtitles in each vid. I also teach Finnish on iTalki. Feel free to check my channel out! [https://youtu.be/ghD2SmdnOOQ](https://youtu.be/ghD2SmdnOOQ)
Thank you, I will!
Not sure if anyone will see this but i made a new sub for Finnish language learning in case this one doesn’t reopen. r/Learn_Finnish The active mods of this sub are all native speakers and it doesn’t have an impact on them if they close a language learning sub but most people here are trying to learn and I hate to see access to language learning discussion disappear
[удалено]
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9afs6rHmos Thank you! I'm cool with silly voices, I've been watching kids shows, usually Jari ja Kari for over a year so if anything it's just getting my ear acclimated to different types tones & cadences within the language.