| Finnish Word | Looks Like… | But Means... |
|---|---|---|
Alas
|
Alas (Sadly)
|
Down
|
Ale
|
Ale (Beer)
|
Sale/discount
|
Asia
|
Asia
|
Thing/matter
|
Bändit
|
Bandit (criminal)
|
(Music) Bands
|
Fagotti
|
Fagot
|
Bassoon
|
Greippi
|
Grape
|
Grapefruit
|
Happi
|
Happy
|
Oxygen
|
Harmonikka
|
Harmonica (Mouth Organ)
|
Accordion
|
Helppo
|
Help
|
Easy
|
Hinta
|
Hint
|
Price
|
Housut
|
House
|
Trousers (UK) / Pants (US)
|
Impi
|
Imp
|
Maid / Nymph
|
Joki
|
Joke
|
River
|
Kaniini
|
Canine
|
Rabbit
|
Katu
|
Cat
|
Street
|
Kissa
|
Kiss
|
Cat
|
Kone
|
Cone
|
Machine
|
Kulta
|
Cult
|
Gold
|
Lama
|
Llama
|
Depression / Recession
|
Lampi
|
Lamp
|
Pond
|
Lapsi
|
Lapse
|
Child
|
Lento
|
Lent
|
Flight
|
Liima
|
Lima (in Peru)
|
Glue
|
Lintu
|
Lint
|
Bird
|
Mappi
|
Map
|
Binder
|
Me
|
Me
|
We
|
Nappi
|
Nappy (UK English for diaper)
|
Button
|
Nauti
|
Naughty
|
Enjoy
|
Pantti
|
Panty
|
Deposit
|
Piste
|
Piste (Ski Slope)
|
Dot
|
Porkkana
|
Pork
|
Carrot
|
Porta
|
Port / Portal
|
Steps /Stairs
|
Pussi
|
Pussy
|
Carrier bag
|
Pusu
|
Pus
|
Kiss
|
Riski
|
Risky
|
Strong
|
Ruska
|
Rusk
|
Autumn colours
|
Takki
|
Tacky
|
Jacket
|
Tunnelma
|
Tunnel
|
Ambience
|
Undulaatti
|
Undulate
|
Budgie
|
Unikko
|
Unique
|
Poppy
|
Uuni
|
Uni(versity)
|
Oven
|
Veto
|
Veto
|
Bet
|
Finnophile writing about Finland, Finnish and the Finns, despite being fairly unqualified to do so
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False Friends
Some Finnish words that look like they ought to be familiar to an English-speaker, but actually aren’t. Here are some of those Finnish “false friends”: