Finnish Language - Lesson 17: Vocal Harmony

Vokaaliharmonia (Vocal Harmony)

In Finnish there are two types of vowels:

Group 1:
A, o, u

Group 2:
Ä, ö, y

Besides these you also have e and i.

These two groups do not mix, so there are no words with a mix of these two groups. Unless they are compound words.

For example:

Yhdyssanat (Compound Words)
kesä (summer) + loma (holiday) = kesäloma (summer holiday)

Lainasanat (Loaned Words)

The endings will be from the same vowel group:
Aamu (morning): aamulla (in the morning)
Yö (night): yöllä (at night)

Notice how the words will always have vowels from the same group:

Tuletko tänään? Are you coming today?
Menetkö ulos? Are you going out?
Suomalaiset juovat paljon kahvia. Finnish people drink a lot of coffee.
Suomalaisen syövät paljon leipää. Finns eat a lot of bread.

Minä olen kesälomalla (compound word). I am on summer holiday.

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