Woohoo! You have a Finnish sweetheart and you are ready to let the cat out of the bag by saying your true feelings. So, what’s the best way to say “I love you” in Finnish? How do Finns go about this topic in general?
Whether you are searching for a cute way to signal your interest or wanting to declare that you are soulmates, I can help you navigate the romantic waters of the Finnish language.
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Here is what you will find in this article:
Table of Contents
- 1 “I Love You” in Finnish is “Minä Rakastan Sinua”
- 2 “I Love You Too” in Finnish is “Niin Minäkin Sinua”
- 3 Ultimate Declarations of Love in Finnish
- 4 How to Ask “Do You Love Me?” in Finnish
- 5 How to Say “I’m in Love With You” in Finnish
- 6 How to Say “I Miss You” in Finnish
- 7 How to Say “I Like You” in Finnish
- 8 How to Show You Care for a Friend or Family in Finnish
- 9 How to Pronounce “I Love You” in Finnish
- 10 Are You Interested in Learning More Finnish?
“I Love You” in Finnish is “Minä Rakastan Sinua”
This is the big thing! “Minä rakastan sinua” is used in a long-term relationship or when you are about to enter one.
This sentence is never used casually in Finnish culture. In spoken language, it is often shortened as “Mä rakastan sua”.
As the verb conjugates to show both time and person, you can drop the “I” of the Finnish sentence. The message is the same. So, how to say “I love you” in Finnish:
- I love you = Minä rakastan sinua (standard Finnish)
- I love you = Rakastan sinua (standard Finnish)
- I love you= Mä rakastan sua (spoken Finnish)
- I love you= Rakastan sua (spoken Finnish)
“I Love You Too” in Finnish is “Niin Minäkin Sinua”
The everyday reply “I love you too” doesn’t repeat the verb “to love”.
If it’s your first time saying “I love you” to each other or you want to highlight the meaning of this phrase, it’s a great idea to use the verb “to love” again!
- I love you too = Niin minäkin sinua (standard Finnish)
- I love you too = Minäkin rakastan sinua (standard Finnish)
- I love you too = Niin mäkin sua (spoken Finnish)
- I love you too = Mäkin rakastan sua (spoken Finnish)
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Ultimate Declarations of Love in Finnish
If you want to add more power, consider some of these phrases:
- I love you always = Rakastan sinua aina
- I love you forever = Rakastan sinua ikuisesti
- I love you always and forever = Rakastan sinua aina ja ikuisesti
- I love everything about you = Rakastan kaikkea sinussa
The sentences above are awesome as the starter phrases in positive or neutral situations.
In Finnish, the next sentence is fantastic if you have had a fight or somehow you have made your sweetheart upset.
- I love you with all my heart = Rakastan sinua koko sydämestäni
How to Ask “Do You Love Me?” in Finnish
This is another phrase I wouldn’t recommend as a starter. In Finland, you usually don’t hear this question at the beginning of a relationship.
This phrase is used, when you are really unsure of your relationship.
- Do you love me? = Rakastatko sinä minua?
How to Say “I’m in Love With You” in Finnish
These phrases are very strong in the Finnish language. When you say them, it means you are basically ready for a serious relationship.
In Finnish, “to be in love with someone” refers to the intoxicating feeling of love. Picture Beyonce in the video of “Crazy in Love” and you get the idea of how strong that phrase is in Finnish. Yup!
- I’m in love with you = Olen rakastunut sinuun
- I’m in love with you too = Niin minäkin sinuun (standard Finnish)
- I’m in love with you too = Niin mäkin suhun (spoken Finnish)
- I fell in love with you at first sight = Rakastuin sinuun ensi silmäyksellä
- You make me happy = Teet minut onnelliseksi (standard Finnish)
- You make me happy = Sä teet mut tosi onnelliseksi (spoken Finnish)
How to Say “I Miss You” in Finnish
Saying or writing “I miss you” to a Finn is a powerful statement and mostly used only romantically in Finland unless the context is clearly not amorous, for example, if you are texting your mom.
Two people are very close if they are saying “I miss you” to each other in Finland.
- I miss you = Kaipaan sinua (standard Finnish)
- I miss you = Mulla on ikävä sua (spoken Finnish)
How to Say “I Like You” in Finnish
Verbally, there really are no subtle ways to show your interest in Finnish. For a Finn, all of these phrases mean that you really care about them.
However, as the verb “to love” is very powerful in Finnish and it isn’t present in these sentences, you are saying you care but not in such a profound way as with love. Note that you use the last phrase “Olet kiva” only if you are in high school.
- I like you = Tykkään susta
- You are lovely = Olet ihana
- You are important (to me) = Olet tärkeä
- I’m always thinking about you = Ajattelen sinua koko ajan
- You are nice = Olet kiva
How to Show You Care for a Friend or Family in Finnish
From the above-mentioned phrases, here are my three favorite ways of expressing how much I care when it’s about family or friends!
“Olet rakas” is great with very close family members, like parents or siblings. It’s also often used in a relationship.
- You are dear (to me) = Olet rakas
“Olet ihana” is perfect if you are a woman. “Ihana” is a very girly and adorable word for lovely. A cute sweater can be “ihana”, cool interior can be “ihana” and your friend most certainly is “ihana”.
On the other hand, my hubby would use “ihana” when he is talking to me but I doubt he would use it to anybody else.
- You are lovely = Olet ihana
For men and women both, I recommend the phrase “Olet tärkeä”. It’s a very positive phrase to use, when you want to express that a person is an important part of your life.
- You are important (to me) = Olet tärkeä
In any situation, if you want to be sure that your friend doesn’t misunderstand you (read: no romantic vibes with this one), you can say:
- Thank you for being my friend = Kiitos että olet ystäväni
How to Pronounce “I Love You” in Finnish
Watch my helpful pronunciation video below!
Are You Interested in Learning More Finnish?
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Did you find the perfect phrase for your situation? Would you like to know some other sentence that describes your feelings? Let me know in the comments!
Looking for more information about the Finnish language and culture? Check out some of my other posts:
Warm wishes from Finland,
Varpu
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Hello there!
I’m Varpu. One blonde,
travel-loving,
Finnish engineer driving this site.
Great presentation
Varpu,
I’m a part Swedish, part Ruthenian, part German guy who lives in the U.S. American South, and as you say, Finland speaks to me. Just now I listened to your lovely pronunciation video. To me, Finnish has a “crisp” sort of sound to it, rolled Rs (or are those only at the start of words, like “rakastan”?), and hardly any silent letters. Is that right?
Hei Paul, thank you so much for your lovely comment. To me it also sounds super crips, the S and R are really sharp in Finnish! You are completely right, no silent letters in Finnish. 🙂
Where can I find that candle holder?
Hei! Unfortunately, I don’t know where you could find this candle holder. I’m so sorry I cannot help you.
Who said that French was the language of love ???
As a french native speaker (from Canada), I find Finnish to be a lot more melodic and sexy. I have goosebumps just listening to you!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hei Germain! I am so sorry I found your comment only now. It has totally slipped me. Thank you so much for your feedback. It’s so awesome to hear that you like how Finnish sounds! Kiitos!
Thanks… this really helped! 😀 😀
Hei Steve! You’re welcome! I’m so happy to hear that this post was helpful!
Hi Varpu,
Thank you for your sharing of so many ways of how to express love in Finnish! The expressions are so beautiful! Your article is so timely and really makes my journey of learning Finnish so much fun!
Kiitos paljon Varpu!
Eddie, you are golden! Thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear that you liked this post!!! <3
Moi! Our family loves our posts! My Mom would always say that we could say “rakas” for “please” also…to ask please in a loving (heartfelt) way.
Do you know that saying too, or is it just Finn/English?…(some of what our Finn has gone to over the years in the USA)
Moi Heidi! Awww, such a sweet question, thank you!
In Finland, we aren’t taught to add ‘please’ in any way when we are speaking Finnish – the conditional form is very polite in Finnish. However, I totally understand that as cultures mix together, it feels that you really want to add something at the end. Rakas is a lovely way to highlight asking in a heartfelt way.
In fact, we have that expression in Finland for sure; the idea behind is just a bit different. ‘Rakas’ is more like “dear/sweetheart” (a nickname for your spouse). I use ‘rakas’ when talking to my hubby because I want to highlight how precious he is to me. So rakas refers more to the person than ‘please’, if you know what I mean? I couldn’t use ‘rakas’ for my boss or at a grocery store or anything. 😀 I hope this made some sense. 😀
This was so informative. I would never had dared ask a Finnish teacher in class these expressions but they are so important to know and to understand the cultural differences of when they should be used. Thank you so much!!!
I’m delighted to hear that this post was helpful! Ole hyvä Natalie <3
You have such a great blog! I was an exchange student in Finland many years ago, so your articles and this video is so much fun for me. Thank you!
Oh Amy, that’s fantastic to hear! You are golden!!! Kiitos!
I knew ‘minä rakastan sinua’ for years but the others are great also. I follow you on instagram. kiitos for these helpful posts.
Hei John! I’m so happy to have you around here and on Instagram. Glad to hear that you like my posts, it means the world to me!
Dear Varpu,
Moi, my name is Dona, living in Indonesia.
These last two years has been a wonderful years to me, since i have started to learn more about Finland, culture, habits, language, etc. How Finns appreciated the personal spaces, silent, and Sauna.
In fact I have found a wonderful friend that helps me improve my knowledge about Finland.
Nevertheless, i still need many sources to improve my speaking.
Like when Finns say “Joopa jo”. In what condition they say it,etc.
Well, Hopefully, I have more friends from Finland in the future.
So far, I have tasted Salmiakki, and started to collect Moomin cup too.
Couldn’t wait to be able to see Northern lights there.
Though i know winter could be very dark, there.
Anyway, thanks for your help. This site is really helpful for me.
Regards from Indonesia. Kiitos
Dona
Hei Dona! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I really appreciate it. I’m so glad that my site is helpful to you. You have a great question. Joopa joo is a versatile phrase, you can use it when you just want to say something that doesn’t take any sides to that particular matter. It can also mean that you’re a bit frustrated internally. For example, you are in a rush and come to the cash desk in a store and there’s a line, you could say “joopa joo”. Hope this helps!
My parents were first generation Finn Americans and spoke Finnish first. Unfortunately they did not teach my sister and me how to speak the language. Looking forward to learning at least some Finn! It will be great hearing it as well! Thank you Varpu!
Hei Nancy! That’s so awesome to hear! I’m so excited about my upcoming Finnish language course that it’s almost difficult to sleep 😀 And that’s bad when you have a one-year-old running around!! Kiitos so much for your comment!
These phrases will be great practice for pronouncing the “r” right! 🙂 Rolling my “r” has been the hardest part of learning Finnish!
Oh yes, the Spanish and Finnish R is very strong! These sentences are excellent for that indeed! Thank you so much for letting me know that r is a tricky letter!! I’ll cover this on my course!
Kiitos Varpu! Lovely post even for a Finnish speaker 🙂
Kiitos Henna! Ihana kuulla, tätä postausta oli aivan mahtavan lämpöistä tehdä! <3
Moikka!
You Finns are like the coconut: hard in the outside, the sweetest in the inside. Nevertheless, I find it cute that you Finns are also the most honest people I’ve met. Thanks for sharing this phrases and meaning! It’s so sweet you dedicate time for us, the ones interested in the country and in a finn (in my case, as a matter of luck).
Terveisiä Meksikosta.
Thank you Cora! You are so sweet! That means the world to me!! Kiitos kiitos kiitos <3
This is a really nice post! I am interested in learning Finnish and have not been very sure where to begin and this post has me thinking I am going in the right direction. Merci beaucoup!
Oh, Nicholas, I’m so pleased to hear that! Thank you so much for letting me know and taking the time to comment! I appreciate you!
Moi
Already knew the “essencial” valentines day expression but, it was really nice to know other expressions and ways to say them, good timing of course 😛
Kittos!
Moi Paulo! Fantastic that you liked this post!! This is such a fun and heart-warming subject! Kiitos!
Thank you! I love your posts.
Lori, that’s the best feedback I can have! Kiitos kiitos kiitos <3
Olet paras opettaja ikinä, Varpu!
Ercan, you just made my day! KIITOS!!