Editing Colloquial Finnish

{{Short description|Spoken form of the Finnish language}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=March 2012}}
'''Colloquial''' or '''spoken Finnish''' ({{lang|fi|suomen puhekieli}}) is the unstandardized spoken variety of the [[Finnish language]], in contrast with the standardized form of the language ({{lang|fi|yleiskieli}}). It is used primarily in personal communication and varies somewhat between the different [[Finnish language#Dialects|dialects]].

This article focuses on the variety of spoken Finnish that is predominant in the [[Helsinki metropolitan area]] and urbanized areas in the Tavastian and Central Finland dialectal areas, such as the cities of [[Tampere]], [[Jyväskylä]], [[Lahti]], [[Hyvinkää]], and [[Hämeenlinna]] – as well as in coastal cities such as [[Vaasa]] and [[Porvoo]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10224/3643/mielikainen86-109.pdf|title=Suomalaisten murreasenteista|last=Mielikäinen|first=Aila|author2=Palander, Marjatta|format=PDF}}</ref> which have been traditionally Swedish-speaking and have experienced an influx of Finnish speakers from a variety of dialectal areas.

The standard language takes most of its features from these dialects, i.e. most "dialectal" features are reductions with respect to this form of language. The combination of the common spoken Finnish and a dialect gives a regional variant ({{lang|fi|aluepuhekieli}}), which has some local idiosyncrasies but is essentially similar to the common spoken Finnish.

The basics of Finnish needed to fully understand this article can be found in pages about [[Finnish phonology]] and [[Finnish grammar]].

== Introduction ==
As in any language, the spoken version(s) of Finnish often vary from the written form. Some of the latter's constructs are either too arbitrary (e.g. "soft d", cf. [[Finnish phonology]]), or too dialectal, e.g. {{lang|fi|hän}} (see below), for use in the spoken language. Furthermore, some very common and "accentless" sound changes are not reflected in the standard language, particularly [[Fusional language|fusion]], [[Liaison (French)|liaison]] and some diphthong reductions.

There is also the problem that purists want to avoid irregularity regardless of actual usage. This has left some sound changes common in spoken language out from the standard language. There is a tendency to favor "more logical" constructs over easily pronounceable ones. This ideal does reflect spoken Finnish usage to a degree, as Finnish is demonstrably a conservative language with few reduction processes, but it is not entirely accurate. The problem of avoiding "irregularity" is most evident in spelling, where internal [[sandhi]] is not transcribed, because there is the idea that morphemes should be immutable. For example, the "correct" spelling is {{lang|fi|syönpä}} ("I eat" with emphasis), even though the pronunciation is usually {{lang|fi|syömpä}}. The explanation is that {{lang|fi|-n-}} and {{lang|fi|-pä}} are in different morphemes just like the explanation that English ''boys'' is not spelled with a ''z'' is that they are in different morphemes.

There are also a number of grammatical forms which are used in written Finnish, but only very rarely in spoken. For example, there are a number of constructions using participles which are usually rendered analytically in speech. Some cases and moods are rarely constructive in spoken Finnish, e.g. the [[instructive case|instructive]] and [[comitative case]]s and the [[potential mood]]. Some survive only in expressions.

On the other hand, spoken language has its own features rarely or never found in formal language. Most importantly, there is very common external [[sandhi]], and some assimilatory sound changes. (On the contrary, there is no [[vowel reduction]].) In some variants (e.g. Vaasa, Kymenlaakso) of spoken Finnish {{lang|fi|-n kanssa}} ("with [something]") is abbreviated into a [[clitic]] that is effectively a [[comitative case]], e.g. {{lang|fi|-nkans}} or {{lang|fi|-nkaa}}.
<!-- For example: ! MORE HERE -->

== Pronunciation ==

===Reflexes of dental fricatives===
The most common reflexes for old Finnish dental fricatives are {{IPA|/d/}} for {{IPA|/ð/}}, and {{IPA|/ts/}} or {{IPA|/t(ː)/}} for {{IPA|/θ(ː)/}}. For example, {{lang|fi|metsä, metsän}} or {{lang|fi|mettä, metän}} ← {{lang|fi|meθθä, meθän}} "forest, of the forest" and {{lang|fi|meidän}} < {{lang|fi|meiðän}} "ours". Loss of {{IPA|/d/}} also occurs, e.g. {{lang|fi|meiän}}. These are seen as "accent-free" pronunciations. Dialects generally have different reflexes &mdash; in fact, the different reflexes are used as a distinguishing feature between different dialects. For more details, see [[Finnish phonology]].

===Word-final ''n''===
One important sound change, which has gone to completion in [[Estonian language|Estonian]] but occurs idiosyncratically in Finnish, is mutation of word-final {{IPA|/n/}} into a [[glottal stop]] {{IPA|/ʔ/}}, orthographically represented by an [[apostrophe]]. In some dialects, such as Savo, word-final {{IPA|/n/}} is systematically replaced by {{IPA|/ʔ/}}, e.g. {{lang|fi|isä'iän}} ← {{lang|fi|isän ääni}} "father's voice". Both pronunciations can be heard in the Helsinki area. This means that the genitive/accusative form {{lang|fi|-n}}, which is very common in any form of Finnish, is simply noted by a glottal stop. However, this glottal stop undergoes sandhi whenever followed by consonant, or more often than not (see below).

===Final vowels===
Certain wordforms that end in {{IPA|/si/}} in Standard Finnish occur without the word-final {{IPA|/i/}} in the spoken language. This includes the base form of certain word stems as well as inflectional endings. In nouns this affects the [[translative case]] ending {{lang|fi|-ksi}} and the 2nd person singular [[possessive suffix]] {{lang|fi|-si}}. In verbs, loss of ''i'' affects the [[conditional mood]] ending {{lang|fi|-isi}} and, in certain verb inflection classes where it is preceded by an ''s'', the [[preterite]] ending {{lang|fi|-i}}. These endings occur word-finally in 3rd person forms.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Final {{IPA|/i/}} deletion
!Written
!Standard
!Colloquial
!Meaning
!Inflected form of
|-
|{{lang|fi|anteek'''si'''}} 
|{{IPA|/ˈɑnteːksi/}}
|{{IPA|[ˈɑnteːks]}}
|'sorry, excuse me'
| –
|-
|{{lang|fi|yk'''si'''}}
|{{IPA|/ˈyksi/}}
|{{IPA|[yks]}}
|'one'
| –
|-
|{{lang|fi|kak'''si'''}}
|{{IPA|/ˈkɑksi/}}
|{{IPA|[ˈkɑks]}}
|'two'
| –
|-
|{{lang|fi|uu'''si'''}}
|{{IPA|/ˈuːsi/}}
|{{IPA|[ˈuːs]}}
|'new'
| –
|-
|{{lang|fi|oli'''si'''}}
|{{IPA|/ˈolisi/}}
|{{IPA|[ˈolis]}}
|'(s/he) would be'
| {{lang|fi|olla}} 'to be'
|-
|{{lang|fi|pala'''si'''}}
|{{IPA|/ˈpɑlɑsi/}}
|{{IPA|[ˈpɑlɑs]}}
|'your piece”<br/>'(s/he) returned'
|{{lang|fi|pala}} 'piece'<br/>{{lang|fi|palata}} 'to return'
|-
|{{lang|fi|pää'''si'''}}
|{{IPA|/ˈpæːsi/}}
|{{IPA|[ˈpæːs]}}
|'your head'<br/>'(s/he) reached, was released'
|{{lang|fi|pää}} 'head'<br/>{{lang|fi|päästä}} 'to reach, be released'
|}

In many dialects loss of final ''i'' is commonplace not only in these cases but also elsewhere.

Particularly in Helsinki, deletion of {{IPA|/æ/}} or {{IPA|/ɑ/}}, spelt «ä» and «a», respectively, in highly frequent words is common. This is a feature of Western Finnish dialects, found also in Savonian dialects and [[Estonian language|Estonian]]. 
: {{lang|fi|mutta}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|mut}} 'but'
: {{lang|fi|kyllä}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|kyl}} 'yes'
: {{lang|fi|-sta}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|-st}} [[elative case]], 'out of / away from the inside of'

===Vowel clusters and diphthongs===
Word-final vowel clusters ending in {{IPA|/ɑ/}} or {{IPA|/æ/}} have much variation in dialects of Finnish. Especially in Helsinki they assimilate, where only the resulting [[chroneme]] marks the partitive in many words.
: {{lang|fi|puhun suomea}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|puhun suomee}} "I speak Finnish"
: {{lang|fi|pitkiä}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|pitkii}} "(some) long (things)"; partitive plural of {{lang|fi|pitkä}}, long
An {{IPA|/eɑ/}} or {{IPA|/eæ/}} cluster also appears in many adjectives:
: {{lang|fi|pimeä}} — {{lang|fi|pimee}} "dark"
In other areas of Finland, these clusters may have a different fate. Another common dialectal variant is the raising of {{IPA|/e/}} to {{IPA|/i/}} in the adjectives: {{lang|fi|pimiä}}. (Partitives are unaffected by this.) Some rarer versions of this suffix include {{lang|fi|-jä / -ja}}, {{lang|fi|-ie}}, and even {{lang|fi|-ii}}.

Similar to the diphthongization of older {{IPA|*/eː oː øː/}} to {{IPA|/{{Not a typo|ie̯}} uo̯ yø̯/}} (unchanged in standard [[Estonian language|Estonian]]), many eastern dialects of Finnish diphthongize also the long vowels {{IPA|/ɑː æː/}} to {{IPA|/oɑ̯ eæ̯/}}. In [[Savonian dialects]], these have shifted further on to {{IPA|/uɑ̯ iæ̯/}}.

{{IPA|/{{Not a typo|ie̯}} uo̯ yø̯/}} can become {{IPA|/iː uː yː/}} when in contact with another vowel. In many cases this results from colloquial deletion of {{IPA|/d/}}. For example:
* {{lang|fi|tiiän}} for standard {{lang|fi|tiedän}} "I know"
* {{lang|fi|viiä}} for standard {{lang|fi|viedä}} "to take away"
* {{lang|fi|lyyä}} for standard {{lang|fi|lyödä}} "to hit"
* {{lang|fi|tuua}} for standard {{lang|fi|tuoda}} "to bring"

===Sandhi===
A related phenomenon is the final consonant [[sandhi]]. When two words co-occur in the same prosodic unit, the consonant beginning the second word assimilates to the word-final consonant in the first word, creating a long consonant. This is not commonly written down, except in dialectal transcriptions. For example, 
:{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Writing
!Pronunciation
!Meaning
|-
|Standard
|{{lang|fi|Nyt se tulee!}} 
|{{IPA|/ˈnyt ˈse ˈtuleː/}}
| rowspan="2" |“It's coming now”
|-
|Casual 
|{{lang|fi|Ny se tulee!}} 
|{{IPA|[ˈnysːe ˈtuleː]}}
|}

== Personal pronouns ==
Some dialects have the full-length personal pronouns {{lang|fi|minä}} and {{lang|fi|sinä}}, but most people use shorter forms, like these found in the Helsinki metropolitan area region:
:{{lang|fi|minä}} → {{lang|fi|mä}}
:{{lang|fi|sinä}} → {{lang|fi|sä}}

Note: these do differ depending on [[Colloquial Finnish#Regional variation|where the speaker is from]]. For example {{lang|fi|minä}} can also be {{lang|fi|mie}}, {{lang|fi|miä}}, {{lang|fi|mää}} etc.

The root words are also shorter:

:{{lang|fi|minu-}} → {{lang|fi|mu-}}, e.g. {{lang|fi|minun}} → {{lang|fi|mun}} "my"
:{{lang|fi|sinu-}} → {{lang|fi|su-}}, e.g. {{lang|fi|sinun}} → {{lang|fi|sun}} "yours"

The third-person pronouns {{lang|fi|hän}} ('he', 'she', singular 'they') and {{lang|fi|he}} (plural 'they'), are rarely used in the spoken language outside of Southwestern Finland and are getting rare there, as well. Elsewhere, they are usually replaced by {{lang|fi|se}} and {{lang|fi|ne}}, which in the standard language do not refer to people.

:{{lang|fi|hän}} → {{lang|fi|se}}
:{{lang|fi|he}} → {{lang|fi|ne}}

For example, the sentence "Did he mistake me for you?" has these forms:
:{{lang|fi|Luuliko hän minua sinuksi?}}
:{{lang|fi|Luuliks se mua suks?}} or {{lang|fi|Luulikse mua suks?}}

Similarly, non-personal [[demonstrative]] pronouns are often used in place of {{lang|fi|hän}} or {{lang|fi|he}}, meaning people may be referred to as 'that' and 'those'. This also does not carry any pejorative meaning. The words are also changed from their written form.

:{{lang|fi|hän}} → {{lang|fi|tuo}} → {{lang|fi|toi}}
:{{lang|fi|he}} → {{lang|fi|nuo}} → {{lang|fi|noi}}

For example, when pointing out a culprit, the sentence "He broke it." has these forms:
:{{lang|fi|Hän rikkoi sen.}}
:{{lang|fi|Tuo rikko sen.}} or {{lang|fi|Toi rikko sen.}}

== Numerals ==
Numerals 1–10 in colloquial spoken Finnish:
#{{lang|fi|yks}} ({{lang|fi|yksi}})
#{{lang|fi|kaks}} ({{lang|fi|kaksi}})
#{{lang|fi|kolme}} ({{lang|fi|kolme}})
#{{lang|fi|neljä}} ({{lang|fi|neljä}})
#{{lang|fi|viis}} ({{lang|fi|viisi}})
#{{lang|fi|kuus}} ({{lang|fi|kuusi}})
#{{lang|fi|seittemä(n)}} ({{lang|fi|seitsemän}})
#{{lang|fi|kaheksa(n)}} ({{lang|fi|kahdeksan}})
#{{lang|fi|yheksä(n)}} ({{lang|fi|yhdeksän}})
#{{lang|fi|kymmene(n)}} ({{lang|fi|kymmenen}})
Numbers 11-19 are formed by appending {{lang|fi|-toista}}, which can be shortened to {{lang|fi|-toist}}. Numbers 20-90 are formed by appending {{lang|fi|-kymmentä}}, which can be shortened to {{lang|fi|-kymment}} or even {{lang|fi|-kyt(ä)}}. {{lang|fi|Kolme}}, {{lang|fi|neljä}} and {{lang|fi|seittemän}} can be abbreviated to {{lang|fi|kol-}}, {{lang|fi|nel-}} and {{lang|fi|seit-}} with {{lang|fi|-kytä}}, but not independently, as in {{lang|fi|kolkytäkolme}} "33" or {{lang|fi|seitkytäneljä}} "74".

When counting out loud, even shorter forms are used, mostly one-syllable words with long vowels:
#{{lang|fi|yy}}
#{{lang|fi|kaa}}
#{{lang|fi|koo}}
#{{lang|fi|nee}}
#{{lang|fi|vii}}
#{{lang|fi|kuu}}
#{{lang|fi|sei}} / {{lang|fi|see}}
#{{lang|fi|kas(i)}}
#{{lang|fi|ys(i)}}
#{{lang|fi|kymp(pi)}}
{{lang|fi|-toista}} becomes {{lang|fi|-toi}}, {{lang|fi|-too}} or even {{lang|fi|-to}}. {{lang|fi|-kymmentä}} becomes {{lang|fi|-kyt}}, with 20-60 typically retaining their longer numeral forms (e.g. {{lang|fi|kakskyt}} rather than {{lang|fi|**kaakyt}} for 20). 70 is typically {{lang|fi|seitkyt}} or {{lang|fi|seiskyt}}, while 80 and 90 do with {{lang|fi|kasi-}} and {{lang|fi|ysi-}}.

The [[Numeral system|numerals]] 1&ndash;9 have their own names, different from the [[cardinal number (linguistics)|cardinal numbers]] used in counting. Numbers that have longer names are often shortened in speech. This may be problematic for a foreigner to understand, if they have learnt words by book:

:{{lang|fi|ykkönen}} (number one)
:{{lang|fi|kakkonen}} (number two)
:{{lang|fi|kolmonen}} (number three)
:{{lang|fi|nelonen}} (number four)
:{{lang|fi|viitonen}} (number five) → {{lang|fi|vitonen}}, {{lang|fi|femma}} ([[Helsinki slang]])
:{{lang|fi|kuutonen}} (number six) → {{lang|fi|kutonen}}
:{{lang|fi|seitsemäinen}} (number seven) → {{lang|fi|seiska}}
:{{lang|fi|kahdeksainen}} / {{lang|fi|kahdeksikko}} (number eight) → {{lang|fi|kasi}} / {{lang|fi|kaheksikko}}
:{{lang|fi|yhdeksäinen}} / {{lang|fi|yhdeksikkö}} (number nine) → {{lang|fi|ysi}} / {{lang|fi|yheksikkö}}
:{{lang|fi|kymmenen}} → {{lang|fi|kymppi}}, {{lang|fi|kybä}} ([[Helsinki slang]])

The {{lang|fi|-kko}} suffix normally denotes a group of x people, but on 8 and 9, it doubles as a synonym for the numeral's name. {{lang|fi|Kahdeksikko}} is also used to describe a figure eight shape.

The regular {{lang|fi|-Onen}} / {{lang|fi|-inen}} forms can additionally be used of objects with an ID number. For example, bus 107 is called {{lang|fi|sataseiska}}, and a competition winner is an {{lang|fi|ykkönen}} (not {{lang|fi|*sataseittemän}} or {{lang|fi|*yks}}.)

== Verbs ==

=== Pronoun usage ===
Personal pronouns are used extensively in spoken Finnish whereas in formal forms the pronoun is often optional (indicated in brackets in this article). Furthermore, the pronouns themselves in spoken Finnish are different from those used in formal Finnish.

Personal pronouns {{lang|fi|mä}} and {{lang|fi|sä}} are used extensively in colloquial Finnish in place of {{lang|fi|minä}} and {{lang|fi|sinä}} ('I' and singular 'you'). The pronouns {{lang|fi|se}} and {{lang|fi|ne}}, which in the formal language are used only as non-human personal pronouns meaning ('it' and plural 'they'), are used in the spoken language as personal pronouns (which in the formal language would be {{lang|fi|hän}} ('he', 'she' and singular 'they') and {{lang|fi|he}} (plural 'they').

See the tables below for examples.

=== Verb forms ===
One striking difference between colloquial Finnish and formal Finnish is use of the passive form in the first person plural. Thus for example:

:{{lang|fi|Olemme Helsingissä}}  (formal language)
::{{lang|fi|Me ollaan Helsingissä}} (colloquial Finnish)
:::We're in Helsinki

Another is that the third person plural suffix {{lang|fi|-vat}} or {{lang|fi|-vät}} is not used in the spoken language; instead, the third person ''singular'' form is used with plural meaning being conveyed by the pronoun {{lang|fi|ne}} ({{lang|fi|they}})

Therefore, the full present-tense paradigm of {{lang|fi|puhua}} "to speak" in everyday speech is:

:{{lang|fi|mä puhun}} (spoken) &mdash; {{lang|fi|(minä) puhun}} (standard)
:{{lang|fi|sä puhut}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|(sinä) puhut}}
:{{lang|fi|se puhuu}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|hän puhuu}}
:{{lang|fi|me puhutaa(n)}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|(me) puhumme}}
:{{lang|fi|te puhutte}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|(te) puhutte}}
:{{lang|fi|ne puhuu}} &mdash; {{lang|fi|he puhuvat}}

Some<!--In fact all applicable verbs, but I'm uncertain if this observation is previously publish'd.--> ''e''-stem verbs have abbreviated (irregular) oblique forms, where {{IPA|/n/}} or {{IPA|/l/}} is elided. This class includes only four frequently used verbs. In Finnish, verbs have an infinitive form, marked with {{lang|fi|-ta}} and used in the infinitive, and an oblique form, which is used in personal forms. [[Consonant gradation]] and assimilation of the 't' in {{lang|fi|-ta}} may be applied. In the standard language, the correspondence between the two is always regular. In spoken language, some verbs have assimilated oblique forms, while retaining the regular infinitive:

{| class="wikitable"
! engl. !! I inf. !! oblique stem !! irreg. stem
|-
| be || {{lang|fi|olla}} || {{lang|fi|ole-}} || {{lang|fi|oo-}}
|-
| come || {{lang|fi|tulla}} || {{lang|fi|tule-}} || {{lang|fi|tuu-}}
|-
| go || {{lang|fi|mennä}} || {{lang|fi|mene-}} || {{lang|fi|mee-}}
|-
| put || {{lang|fi|panna}} || {{lang|fi|pane-}} || {{lang|fi|paa-}}
|}

For example, these forms, as such, are represented by the imperatives:
:{{lang|fi|Mene tai tule, mutta pane se ovi kiinni ja ole hiljaa}} (standard)
:{{lang|fi|Mee tai tuu, mut paa se ovi kii ja oo hiljaa.}} (word-by-word) "Go or come, but put the door closed and be quiet."
To demonstrate the use of the personal form, the reply is:
:{{lang|fi|Meen tai tuun, paan oven kii ja oon hiljaa}} ("I go or come, (I) put the door closed and (I) am quiet").
The infinitives are unchanged, as in:
:{{lang|fi|Mennä tai tulla, panna ovi kii ja olla hiljaa}} ("To go or to come, to put the door closed and to be quiet").
As are participles, despite their using the oblique stem:
:{{lang|fi|menevä tai tuleva, oven kii paneva ja hiljaa oleva}} ("Going or coming, door closed-putting and quiet-being").

The 't' at the end of participles ending {{lang|fi|-nut, -rut, -lut, -sut}} (or {{lang|fi|-nyt}} etc.)  is often dropped when no consonant follows, or replaced by [[gemination]] of the following consonant:

:{{lang|fi|minä en puhunut}} (formal)
::{{lang|fi|mä en puhunu}} (colloquial)
:::I didn't speak
but:

::{{lang|fi|mä en puhunu kenellekään}} (colloquial)
:::I didn't speak to anyone
is actually pronounced as if it were:

::{{lang|fi|mä en puhunuk kenellekkään}} (with examples of gemination)

In the formal language some pronouns are considered optional, but in spoken language the pronoun is usually enunciated but may be optional when answering questions (which puts the person in the proper context).

:{{lang|fi|Menemme Ouluun}} or {{lang|fi|Me menemme Ouluun}}  ("We are going to Oulu") (formal language)
:{{lang|fi|Me mennään Ouluun}} ("We are off to Oulu") (informal language)

In the latter example, dropping {{lang|fi|me}} would change the meaning from a statement to a suggestion:

:{{lang|fi|Mennään Ouluun}} ("Let's go to Oulu") (informal or spoken language suggestion)

Compare the conjugation of {{lang|fi|OLLA}} in the formal language (Table 1) and in the spoken or colloquial language (Table 2). Table 2 shows in highlights the areas where there are differences in the structures between formal and informal. Optional pronouns are in brackets. English equivalent is in Table 3.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="3"| || colspan="8" | TABLE 1  indicative mood of {{lang|fi|OLLA}} (to be) in the "formal" or "written" style
|-
! colspan="3" | active voice
! colspan="2" | present tense
! colspan="2" | imperfect
! colspan="2" | perfect
! colspan="2" | pluperfect
|-
! per. || no. || pron.
! affirmative || negative || affirmative || negative || affirmative || negative || affirmative || negative
|-
! 1st || rowspan="3" | sg.
| {{lang|fi|(minä)}} || {{lang|fi|olen}} || {{lang|fi|en ole}} || {{lang|fi|olin}} || {{lang|fi|en ollut}} || {{lang|fi|olen ollut}} || {{lang|fi|en ole ollut}} || {{lang|fi|olin ollut}} || {{lang|fi|en ollut ollut }}
|-
! 2nd
| {{lang|fi|(sinä)}} || {{lang|fi|olet}} || {{lang|fi|et ole}} || {{lang|fi|olit}} || {{lang|fi|et ollut}} || {{lang|fi|olet ollut}} || {{lang|fi|et ole ollut}} || {{lang|fi|olit ollut}} || {{lang|fi|et ollut ollut}}
|-
! 3rd
| {{lang|fi|hän}} || {{lang|fi|on}} || {{lang|fi|ei ole}} || {{lang|fi|oli}} || {{lang|fi|ei ollut}} || {{lang|fi|on ollut}} || {{lang|fi|ei ole ollut}} || {{lang|fi|oli ollut}} || {{lang|fi|ei ollut ollut}}
|-
! 1st || rowspan="3" | pl.
| {{lang|fi|(me)}} || {{lang|fi|olemme}} || {{lang|fi|emme ole}} || {{lang|fi|olimme}} || {{lang|fi|emme olleet}} || {{lang|fi|olemme olleet}} || {{lang|fi|emme ole olleet}} || {{lang|fi|olimme olleet}} || {{lang|fi|emme olleet olleet}}
|-
! 2nd
| {{lang|fi|(te)}} || {{lang|fi|olette}} || {{lang|fi|ette ole}} || {{lang|fi|olitte}} || {{lang|fi|ette olleet}} || {{lang|fi|olette olleet}} || {{lang|fi|ette ole olleet}} || {{lang|fi|olitte olleet}} || {{lang|fi|ette olleet olleet}}
|-
! 3rd
| {{lang|fi|he}} || {{lang|fi|ovat}} || {{lang|fi|eivät ole}} || {{lang|fi|olivat}} || {{lang|fi|eivät olleet}} || {{lang|fi|ovat olleet}} || {{lang|fi|eivät ole olleet}} || {{lang|fi|olivat olleet}} || {{lang|fi|eivät olleet olleet}}
|-
! colspan="3" | passive voice
| {{lang|fi|ollaan}} || {{lang|fi|ei olla}} || {{lang|fi|oltiin}} || {{lang|fi|ei oltu}} || {{lang|fi|on oltu}} || {{lang|fi|ei ole oltu}} || {{lang|fi|oli oltu}} || {{lang|fi|ei ollut oltu}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
!colspan="3"| || colspan="8" | TABLE 2   indicative mood of {{lang|fi|OLLA}} (to be) in the "informal" or "spoken" style
|-
! colspan="3" | active voice
! colspan="2" | present tense
! colspan="2" | imperfect
! colspan="2" | perfect
! colspan="2" | pluperfect
|-
! per. || no. || pron.
! affirmative || negative || affirmative || negative || affirmative || negative || affirmative || negative
|-
! 1st || rowspan="3" | sg.
| '''{{lang|fi|mä}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|oon}}''' || {{lang|fi|en '''oo'''}} || {{lang|fi|olin}} || {{lang|fi|en ollu}} || {{lang|fi|oon ollu}} || {{lang|fi|en oo ollu}} || {{lang|fi|olin ollu}} || {{lang|fi|en ollu ollu}}
|-
! 2nd
| '''{{lang|fi|sä}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|oot}}''' || {{lang|fi|et '''oo'''}} || {{lang|fi|olit}} || {{lang|fi|et '''ollu'''}} || {{lang|fi|oot ollu}} || {{lang|fi|et '''oo ollu'''}} || {{lang|fi|olit '''ollu'''}} || {{lang|fi|et '''ollu ollu'''}}
|-
! 3rd
| '''{{lang|fi|se}}''' || {{lang|fi|on}} || {{lang|fi|ei '''oo'''}} || {{lang|fi|oli}} || {{lang|fi|ei '''ollu'''}} || {{lang|fi|on '''ollu'''}} || {{lang|fi|ei '''oo ollu'''}} || {{lang|fi|oli '''ollu'''}} || {{lang|fi|ei '''ollu ollu'''}}
|-
! 1st || rowspan="3" | pl.
| {{lang|fi|me}} || '''{{lang|fi|ollaan}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|ei olla}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|oltiin}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|ei oltu}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|ollaan oltu}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|ei olla oltu}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|oltiin oltu}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|ei oltu oltu}}'''
|-
! 2nd
| {{lang|fi|te}} || '''{{lang|fi|ootte}}''' || {{lang|fi|ette '''oo'''}} || {{lang|fi|olitte}} || {{lang|fi|ette '''ollu'''}} || '''{{lang|fi|ootte ollu}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|ette oo ollu}}''' || {{lang|fi|olitte '''ollu'''}} || {{lang|fi|ette '''ollu ollu'''}}
|-
! 3rd
| '''{{lang|fi|ne}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|on}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|ei oo}}''' || {{lang|fi|oli}} || {{lang|fi|ei '''ollu'''}} || '''{{lang|fi|on ollu}}''' || '''{{lang|fi|ei oo ollu}}''' || {{lang|fi|oli '''ollu'''}} || '''{{lang|fi|ei ollu ollu}}'''
|-
! colspan="3" | passive voice
| {{lang|fi|ollaan}} || {{lang|fi|ei olla}} || {{lang|fi|oltiin}} || {{lang|fi|ei oltu}} || {{lang|fi|on oltu}} || {{lang|fi|ei ole oltu}} || {{lang|fi|oli oltu}} || {{lang|fi|ei oltu oltu}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
!colspan="3"| || colspan="8" | TABLE 3   indicative mood To BE in the informal English style
|-
! colspan="3" | active voice
! colspan="2" | present tense
! colspan="2" | imperfect
! colspan="2" | perfect
! colspan="2" | pluperfect
|-
! per. || no. || pron.
! affirmative || negative || affirmative || negative || affirmative || negative || affirmative || negative
|-
! 1st || rowspan="3" | sg.
| '''I''' || 'm || 'm not|| was || wasn't || 've been || haven't been || 'd been || hadn't been
|-
! 2nd
| '''You''' || 're ||aren't/ain't || were || weren't || 've been || 've not been || 'd been || hadn't been
|-
! 3rd
| s/he it|| 's || isn't || was || wasn't || 's been || hasn't been || 'd been || hadn't been
|-
! 1st || rowspan="3" | pl.
| We || 're || aren't || were || weren't || 've been || 've not been || 'd been || hadn't been
|-
! 2nd
| You|| 're || aren't/ain't || were || weren't || 've been || 've not been || 'd been || hadn't been
|-
! 3rd
| They || 're|| aren't || were || weren't || 've been || 've not been || 'd been|| hadn't been
|}

== Questions ==
In everyday speech, the {{lang|fi|-ko/kö}} suffix has the {{lang|fi|-s}} clitic added, becoming {{lang|fi|-kos/kös}}, which in turn reduces to {{lang|fi|-ks}}:

:{{lang|fi|olenko minä hengissä?}} → {{lang|fi|oo(n)ks mä hengis?}} "am I alive?"
:{{lang|fi|puhutko sinä englantia?}} → {{lang|fi|puhut sä enkkuu?}} or {{lang|fi|puhuks(ä) enkkuu?}} "do you (sg.) speak English?"
:{{lang|fi|tuliko hän jo?}} → {{lang|fi|tulikse jo?}} (via {{lang|fi|tulikos se jo?}}) "did he/she come yet?"

The choice of morphemes {{lang|fi|-kos/kös}} or {{lang|fi|-ks}} is not always purely dialectal or accidental. Many Finns regularly use more than one variation in their speech. The choice might depend among others on the rhythm of the sentence or the (wished) tempo of the discussion. Sometimes it has other clearly communicational purposes e.g. the longer variation might be used to soften an intruding question.

The clitic {{lang|fi|-s}} is also found in imperatives, e.g. {{lang|fi|me(n)es}} "(I expect you to) go!" It can also be, that the {{lang|fi|-tkö}} elides not to {{lang|fi|-ks}}, but {{lang|fi|-t}} before a 's', e.g. {{lang|fi|menetkö sä}} ? {{lang|fi|me(n)et sä}}. Because this is identical to {{lang|fi|sä menet}} except for the word order, questions are indicated by word order.

== Possessive suffix ==
Spoken language has a different grammar for the [[possessive suffix]]. In contrast to the literary language, the suffix is optional and typically omitted. Compare English in which, e.g., "The house to which this door belongs" would be the correct written form even though "the house whose door this is" would be the more common spoken version.

{| class="wikitable"
! Formal !! Spoken !! English
|-
| {{lang|fi|(minun) talo'''ni'''}} || {{lang|fi|mun talo}} || my house
|-
| {{lang|fi|(sinun) talo'''si'''}} || {{lang|fi|sun talo(s)/talos}} || your (sg) house
|-
| {{lang|fi|(hänen) talo'''nsa'''}} || {{lang|fi|sen talo/talonsa}} || his/her house
|-
| {{lang|fi|(meidän) talo'''mme'''}} || {{lang|fi|meiän talo}} || our house
|-
| {{lang|fi|(teidän) talo'''nne'''}} || {{lang|fi|teiän talo}} || your (pl) house
|-
| {{lang|fi|(heidän) talo'''nsa'''}} || {{lang|fi|niitten/niien talo/talonsa}} || their house
|}

Here, the pronoun of the literary form is also shown.

Notice that Finnish has no [[possessive adjective]]s. The pronouns are regularly inflected, like if "I's house", "you's house", "we's house".

However, the suffixes {{lang|fi|-s}}, {{lang|fi|-nsa}} and {{lang|fi|-nne}} are used to avoid repeating a pronoun, e.g. "He took <u>his</u> hat and left" is {{lang|fi|Se otti lakki<u>nsa</u> ja lähti.}} (The translation from English *{{lang|fi|Se otti <u>sen</u> lakin ja lähti}} would mean "He took <u>his/her</u> hat and left" or "He took the (specific) hat and left").

== Omission of the negative verb ==
When a negative sentence is formed, the main verb goes into the connegative form, which is identical to the [[imperative mood]], and gives all of its inflections to the negative verb {{lang|fi|ei}}, e.g. {{lang|fi|tuemme}} → {{lang|fi|emme tue}}. Usually the word {{lang|fi|mitään}} ("anything") and an [[expletive (linguistics)|expletive]] is added to the sentence. This means that even if the negative verb {{lang|fi|ei}} is left out, the meaning is indicated by this context. For example:

:{{lang|fi|<u>Ei</u> se mitään osaa.}} "He <u>doesn't</u> know anything."
:{{lang|fi|Se mitään osaa.}} "He know anything." ("doesn't" omitted)

This omission of the negative verb {{lang|fi|ei}} is considered one of the most recent changes in Finnish. Usually this construction indicates mistrust or frustration. (A parody article by Jaakko Häkkinen calls this {{lang|fi|aggressiivi}}, see [[aggressive mood]].) However, it can be a neutral negative statement: {{lang|fi|Tästä artikkelista <u>mitään opi</u>}} (From this article, <s>you don't</s> <u>learn anything</u>).

== Regional variation ==
Linguists such as Mielikäinen argue that the dialects of Finnish have been considerably homogenized by 20th century developments of urbanization and other internal population movements to the point that "pure" dialects have disappeared. "Local spoken languages" have developed from standard Finnish to give variety with essentially standard Finnish structure but with some local features. Considerable stigma has been associated with dialects (accurately or not) perceived as rural in the 20th century. People who have moved to the city have adopted a variety resembling standard Finnish, which has been imposed upon dialect speakers by the school, the military and the employers.

Breaking up some consonant clusters on syllable boundaries with an [[epenthetic vowel]] is a feature of several dialects, such as [[South Ostrobothnian dialect]] and [[Savo dialects]]:  The neutral vowel is the same as the preceding vowel. For example, {{lang|fi|juhla}} → {{lang|fi|juhula}} "celebration", {{lang|fi|salmi}} → {{lang|fi|salami}} "strait", {{lang|fi|palvelu}} → {{lang|fi|palavelu}} "service", {{lang|fi|halpa}} → {{lang|fi|halapa}} "cheap", {{lang|fi|äffä}} → {{lang|fi|ähävä}} (via {{lang|fi|ähvä}}) "letter F". Pairs of dissimilar consonants with {{IPA|/l/}} or {{IPA|/h/}} (in Savo, also {{IPA|/n/}}) as the first consonant are subject to epenthesis; other clusters or geminates are not. However, a strong epenthetic vowel is seen as dialectal, and in Helsinki and urbanized areas, indicates origins "in the countryside" (since for Helsinki people, everything but Helsinki is rural).

=== Tavastian dialects ===
Tavastian dialects are diverse because other, surrounding dialects have influenced them. The following features are all found in Finnish spoken in Helsinki, and many of them occur also in some other Tavastian dialects.
* Word {{lang|fi|sillai}} "in that way", which is usually something else like {{lang|fi|silleen}} elsewhere.
* [[Partitive]] plurals ending {{lang|fi|-ja/-jä}} in generic Finnish become {{lang|fi|-i}}, and likewise the partitive plural {{lang|fi|-ia/-iä}} simplifies to {{lang|fi|-ii}}: {{lang|fi|märkiä takkeja}} → {{lang|fi|märkii takkei}} "wet jackets". (also in Nurmijärvi, Kotka)
* The first infinitive, e.g. {{lang|fi|juosta}} "to run", is replaced by the third-person form {{lang|fi|juoksee}} "runs" by some speakers. For example, standard {{lang|fi|Voisitko sinä <u>juosta</u> hakemaan sen}} becomes {{lang|fi|Voisitsä <u>juoksee</u> hakeen sen}} "Could you run to get it". This form is probably historically speaking not the third-person form, but the colloquial, shortened form {{lang|fi|juokseen}} of the third infinitive form {{lang|fi|juoksemaan}}, which exhibits a tendency to oust the first infinitive even in the formal language, cf. the old dispute, whether {{lang|fi|alkaa juoksemaan}} ("to start running") should be allowed in the formal language or not (the current norm is still {{lang|fi|alkaa juosta}} with the first infinitive). (also in Tuusula and Nurmijärvi)
* Abbreviations are common in Finnish spoken in the Southern coast of Finland. Final syllables in frequently used words may erode, like {{lang|fi|sitten}} → {{lang|fi|sit}}, {{lang|fi|mutta}} → {{lang|fi|mut}}. Case endings might be abbreviated, usually by the loss of the final vowel, e.g. {{lang|fi|siltä}} → {{lang|fi|silt}}. (If a [[geminate]] would be "left dangling" at the end of the word, it becomes a single consonant, e.g. {{lang|fi|talossa}} → *{{lang|fi|taloss}} → {{lang|fi|talos}}.)
* Helsinki also has a local [[Helsinki slang|slang]], containing foreign loanwords which may be unintelligible to people from other parts of Finland. Some slang words have spread to the spoken language of youngsters elsewhere in Finland.
* Tampere is also in the area of Tavastian dialects.
** Occasional flapping or deletion of intervocalic "L"; the resulting sound is orthographically nil: {{lang|fi|kyllä siellä olisi}} → {{lang|fi|kyä siä ois}}. This is seen even in the accentless form {{lang|fi|oisko}} ← standard {{lang|fi|olisiko}}.

=== [[North Karelia|North and]] [[South Karelia]] === 
* Personal pronouns: {{lang|fi|minä}} → {{lang|fi|mie}}, {{lang|fi|sinä}} → {{lang|fi|sie}}, {{lang|fi|hän}} → {{lang|fi|hää}}, {{lang|fi|me}} → {{lang|fi|myö}}, {{lang|fi|te}} → {{lang|fi|työ}}, {{lang|fi|he}} → {{lang|fi|hyö}}
** Notice: {{lang|fi|se}} and {{lang|fi|ne}} don't change to {{lang|fi|syö}} or {{lang|fi|nyö}} respectively and {{lang|fi|hää}} and {{lang|fi|hyö}} are more commonly used than {{lang|fi|se}} and {{lang|fi|ne}} unlike in the standard colloquial language where {{lang|fi|hän}} and {{lang|fi|he}} are replaced with the non-personal equivalents
** The declined forms also vary, for example {{lang|fi|minua}} can be {{lang|fi|minnuu}}, {{lang|fi|minuu}} or {{lang|fi|miuta}} depending on the regional dialect
* Vowel epenthesis in North Karelia: {{lang|fi|kolme}} → {{lang|fi|kolome}}, {{lang|fi|selvä}} → {{lang|fi|selevä}}
* In some Karelian dialects the end of participles ending -nut or -nyt and -lut drop the vowel instead of 't': {{lang|fi|puhunut}} → {{lang|fi|puhunt}}, {{lang|fi|käynyt}} → {{lang|fi|käynt}}, {{lang|fi|katsonut}} → {{lang|fi|katsont}}/{{lang|fi|kattont}}, {{lang|fi|mennyt}} → {{lang|fi|ment}}/{{lang|fi|mänt}}, {{lang|fi|ollut}} → {{lang|fi|olt}}, {{lang|fi|tullut}} → {{lang|fi|tult}}
* Some Karelian (and Savonian) dialects also use [[exessive case|the exessive case]]: {{lang|fi|kotoa}} → {{lang|fi|kotont(a)}}, {{lang|fi|ulkoa}} → {{lang|fi|ulkont(a)}}, {{lang|fi|siitä}} → {{lang|fi|siint(ä)}}
* The North Karelian dialect is a subset of the [[Savonian dialects]], while the [[South Karelian dialects|South Karelian dialect]] is a unique Finnish dialect.

=== Southwestern dialects ===
* Abbreviation occurs very often.
* In Turku: {{lang|fi|minä}} → {{lang|fi|mää}}, {{lang|fi|sinä}} → {{lang|fi|sää}}
* A unique characteristic of Turku dialect is the "S" imperfect tense, which has the ending {{lang|fi|-si}} instead of {{lang|fi|-i}}, e.g., {{lang|fi|sattusi}} for {{lang|fi|sattui}}.

=== Savonia ===
* Some difference in pronouns, {{lang|fi|myö, työ}} for {{lang|fi|me, te}}. Notice that the [[Savo dialect]] has complicated differences in grammar, vowels and consonants compared to the standard language, e.g. {{lang|fi|öylen}} for {{lang|fi|eilen}}, {{lang|fi|mänj}} for {{lang|fi|meni}}, {{lang|fi|omaa rataansa}} → {{lang|fi|ommoo rattoosa}}. The Savo dialect is the largest single dialect, and as such, has variants that differ significantly.

=== Ostrobothnia === 
* Consonant clusters with {{lang|fi|-j-}} are not allowed, so that a {{lang|fi|-i-}} is pronounced instead, e.g. {{lang|fi|kirja}} → {{lang|fi|kiria}}. The sound {{IPA|/d/}} is completely replaced with a rhotic consonant {{lang|fi|r}}, either a [[Trill consonant|trill]] {{IPA|/r/}}, or a [[Flap consonant|flap]] {{IPA|/ɾ/}}, which produces problems such as that there is no or almost no contrast between {{lang|fi|veden}} (of water) and {{lang|fi|veren}} (of blood). For speakers with the flap, there remains a small difference, not generally audible for outsiders. Usually context can be relied on to distinguish the word.
* Minor vowel changes, for example, {{lang|fi|taloa}} → {{lang|fi|talua}}. In [[South Ostrobothnian dialect|Southern Ostrobotnia]], in unstressed syllables old diphthongs ending in ''i'' are reflected as long vowels, e.g. {{lang|fi|punainen}} → {{lang|fi|punaanen}}. In some words, where the diphthong has been lost from the standard language, this results in seemingly unmotivated long vowels, e.g. {{lang|fi|iso}} → {{lang|fi|isoo}}. 
*Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, to an extent generic Finnish, too: Many frequently used expressions become clitics - this is optional, though. E.g. pronouns become [[clitic]]s for the negative verb {{lang|fi|ei}} and for the verb "to be". In this table, the apostrophe (') is something between a full J and no sound at all.

{| class="wikitable"
! Written !! Spoken !! Written example !! Spoken example
|-
| {{lang|fi|minä}} || {{lang|fi|m'}} || {{lang|fi|minä olen}}, {{lang|fi|minä en}}, {{lang|fi|minä en ole}} || {{lang|fi|moon}}, {{lang|fi|mäen}}, {{lang|fi|mäen o}}
|-
| {{lang|fi|sinä}} || {{lang|fi|s'}} || {{lang|fi|sinä olet}}, {{lang|fi|sinä et}}, {{lang|fi|sinä et ole}} || {{lang|fi|soot}}, {{lang|fi|säet}}, {{lang|fi|säet o}}
|-
| {{lang|fi|hän}} || {{lang|fi|s'}} || {{lang|fi|hän on}}, {{lang|fi|hän ei}}, {{lang|fi|hän ei ole}} || {{lang|fi|son}}, {{lang|fi|sei}}, {{lang|fi|sei'oo}}
|-
| {{lang|fi|me}} || {{lang|fi|m'}} || {{lang|fi|me olemme}}, {{lang|fi|me emme}}, {{lang|fi|me emme ole}} || {{lang|fi|mollaan}}, {{lang|fi|mei}}, {{lang|fi|mei'olla}}
|-
| {{lang|fi|te}} || {{lang|fi|t'}} || {{lang|fi|te olette}}, {{lang|fi|te ette}}, {{lang|fi|te ette ole}} || {{lang|fi|tootte}}, {{lang|fi|tette}}, {{lang|fi|tette oo}}
|-
| {{lang|fi|he}} || {{lang|fi|n'}} || {{lang|fi|he ovat}}, {{lang|fi|he eivät}}, {{lang|fi|he eivät ole}} || {{lang|fi|noon}}, {{lang|fi|nei}}, {{lang|fi|nei'oo}}
|}

* Additionally, in the Southwest, the interrogative pronoun {{lang|fi|kuka}} ("who") is replaced by its partitive form, {{lang|fi|ketä}} ("whom"), e.g. {{lang|fi|Ketä siellä oli?}} ("Who was there?") Other differences in case for interrogative words are {{lang|fi|mihinä}} (std. {{lang|fi|missä}}, "where") and {{lang|fi|mihkä}} (std. {{lang|fi|mihin}}, "into where").
{{Expand section|date=May 2022}}

==See also==
*[[List of phonetics topics]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Generic===
#Aila Mielikäinen. {{cite web |url= http://www.helsinki.fi/hum/skl/ssu/aluejasos/Mielikaisenpuhekiel.pdf |title= Puhekielen varieteetteja. |access-date= 2005-09-12 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060226173505/http://www.helsinki.fi/hum/skl/ssu/aluejasos/Mielikaisenpuhekiel.pdf |archive-date= 2006-02-26 |url-status= dead }}&nbsp;{{small|(33.9&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}
#Heikki Paunonen. {{cite web |url= http://www.helsinki.fi/hum/skl/ssu/aluejasos/Suomi_Helsingissa.pdf |title= Suomi Helsingissä. |access-date= 2005-09-12 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060623041834/http://www.helsinki.fi/hum/skl/ssu/aluejasos/Suomi_Helsingissa.pdf |archive-date= 2006-06-23 |url-status= dead }}&nbsp;{{small|(547&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050829050545/http://www.internetix.fi/opinnot/opintojaksot/8kieletkirjallisuus/aidinkieli/murteet/ Finnish regional dialects]
*[https://archive.today/20130213102320/http://savo.kolhoos.ee/stories/storyReader$15 Savo kaekuu keskellä mualimoo ja näkkyy Internetissä] - A text about how Savonian people speak, in the respective dialect.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051125044824/http://www.cc.jyu.fi/~tojan/rlang/finn2.htm Some Features of the Vernacular Finnish of Jyväskylä]

{{Finnish dialects}}

[[Category:Finnish dialects]]
[[Category:Diglossia]]