Lesson 1:basics

[HorsegirlDylan]

Okay, class, today we start learning Finnish. We'll start with text and translating, then go on to twisting Finnish words into all the possible forms.
Remember that Finnish is a purely phonetical language.
Finnish has no gender.
Finnish has no article.
The stress is always on the first syllable.
Our textbook will be 'NetFinnish 1'. No physical copies of pdf versions available. Sorry.

Kappale yksi text one
Minä me
"Moi! Minä olen Minna Lahti. Hi! My name is Minna Lahti.
Asun Kajaanissa ja olen viisitoista vuotta vanha.” I live in Kajaani and I'm fifteen years old.

Now, try to read it out loud. Here's a handy pronunciation guide:
Vowels:
a e i o u y ä ö

a as in hut, but broader
o as in rot, but more open
u as in book, but more open
ä as in cat
ö as in better
y as in French bureau, but more open
i as in sit
e as in net

Consonants:
Consonants in Finnish are similar to consonants in English. Here I have listed the ones that differ from English ones.
r try saying 'dn' really fast several times. You will eventually get the Finnish 'r'.

[HorsegirlDylan]

Exercises:
1. Read the text out loud.
2. Practice saying 'r' and the vowels.
3. Write something to the likeness of Minna's text. I expect you to fake it. Please post it here.

[AM got logged out]

It seems like the "r" could be a little like the Spanish "r" or the Scottish "r" but not so pronounced?

Moi! Asun Amerissa ja olen viisitoista sesotta vanha.

I wonder what that says.

[HorsegirlDylan]

I think you meant:
"Moi! Asun Ameriikassa ja olen viisitoista vuotta vanha.”

Moving onward to lesson 2: numbers.

[AngelMare]

Well I was trying to say 17. So I guess that would be maybe:
Moi! Asun Ameriikassa ja olen seitsemän vuotta vanha.

[HorsegirlDylan]

seitsemän=seven
seitsemäntoista=seventeen

[AngelMare]

Oh right!