Hei there! 21 ways to say hello in Finnish

September 12, 2023

Stepping foot into Finland, and bam! You're hit with a flurry of fabulous Finnish hellos. Navigating through the symphony of “Heis,” “Heippas,” and now the delightful “Mois”? No worries! Let's unravel this linguistic puzzle together.

Peek Inside This Guide:

“Hei” and its Cool Cousins
The Formal Finnish Hello-How-Do
Finnish Farewells: Not Goodbye, Just “Hei” Again!
When a Finn Asks, “How are you?”

“Hei” – The Finnish “Hey!”

You want to say hello in Finnish? Boom! Just drop a “Hei”. Sounds like “hay” and works anywhere, anytime.

Finnish ‘Hellos’ - The Popular Bunch:

Hei
Heips
Heippa
Moi
Moikka
Moro (primarily a Tampere classic, but now a nationwide favorite!)
Terve
Päivää (A snappy "Good day" for those in a hurry)
Miten menee? (An informal "How's it going?")
Mitä kuuluu? (The Finnish "What’s up?")
Heissan (An energetic hey there)

These words? They're basically Finland's way of saying, "Hi!" Whether you're embracing the chill of a Finnish sauna or ice-fishing, these casual gems fit 99% of occasions. And yes, the younger crowd is all about the “Moi,” “Moikka,” and the breezy “Heips.”

The Morning Glory in Finnish

“Hyvää huomenta” – that's "Good morning" to us mere mortals. If you’re feeling snappy, just go with “Huomenta”.

Your Finnish Formalities Corner:

Tervehdys (Greetings, not the medical kind)
Hyvää huomenta (Still means Good morning)
Hyvää päivää (Good day, mate!)
Hyvää iltaa (For those moonlit nights)
Terveiset (A written "regards", but let's toss it in as a form of hello too!)

Imagine meeting the Finnish president – “Hyvää päivää” would be your go-to.

Exiting, the Finnish Way:

Heihei (Double the hei, double the fun!)
Moimoi (You guessed it, another bye-bye)
Moikka (Yet another one)
And, for a touch of class, “Hyvää päivänjatkoa” or “Hyvää illanjatkoa”

The Swiss Knife of Finnish Greetings:

Say “Hei” when you step in and “Heihei” when you're slipping out. All-purpose, all awesome. Easy-peasy Finnish squeezy.

“Hello, How are you?” – The Finnish Brain-Teaser

Use this in Finland and watch the confusion unfold. To a Finn, you’ve just signed up for a therapy session. "How are you" is a legit inquiry, so brace for genuine answers.

The Silent Greetings of the North:

A nod, a handshake or just a chilly breeze? If words fail you, Finns have actions covered. Always shake that hand when saying “Hei”, unless you’re into hugging or kissing – but let's keep those for your Finnish beau.

And if you’re panicking over post-handshake silence, remember: in Finland, silence is golden!

So, next time you’re up North, armed with this expanded guide, dive into that Finnish greeting sea and swim with the locals! And hey, drop a “moi” on my Instagram - spread that Finnish magic.