Daily life
Henkilötunnus
HEN-ki-luh-TOON-nus
Your personal identity code, issued by DVV. Necessary for everything — but on its own it is not enough, because it does not give you a municipality of residence.
Kotikunta
KO-ti-KOON-ta
Municipality of residence. A separate DVV decision from the identity code, requiring intent to stay over a year, and the thing that unlocks healthcare and municipal services.
Kela-kortti
KEH-la KOR-tti
The card showing you are covered by Finnish social insurance. It is what gets you reimbursement on prescriptions and private care.
Suomi.fi
SOO-o-mee-fee
The national digital services portal. Almost all government business runs through it, authenticated with bank credentials or a mobile certificate.
Taloyhtiö
TA-lo-yh-ti-uh
The housing company that owns your building. In Finland you buy shares in it rather than the flat itself, and it decides on renovations that you then pay for.
Work
Verokortti
VEH-ro-KOR-tti
Your tax card, showing the withholding rate. Give it to your employer immediately — without one, 60% is withheld from your pay.
Culture
Sisu
SEE-soo
Stubborn endurance in the face of something unreasonable. Finns use it about themselves half-ironically, and it explains a good deal about February here.
Sauna
SOW-na
Not a spa treatment. There are more saunas than cars in Finland, most flats have access to one, and a work sauna invitation is a normal professional occasion.
Kaamos
KAA-mos
The polar night. It does not happen in Helsinki — the sun rises here every day of the year — but December still gives under six hours of daylight.
Greetings
Kiitos
KEE-tos
Thank you. Almost the only Finnish word you strictly need — English is spoken everywhere in Helsinki — but it is noticed and appreciated.
Emergency
112 / 116 117
—
112 for genuine emergencies, answered by the Emergency Response Centre Agency. 116 117 is the national medical helpline for urgent but non-emergency problems.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.