Why I Regretted Saying 'Thanks' in Finland: A Real Lesson in Language and Assumptions
A surprising encounter in a remote Finnish resort reminded me how powerful even one word in Finnish can be — and how assumptions about language can backfire.
In this blog, I share real stories from Finland and related audio files to boost your Finnish.
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My Journey to a Remote Finnish Resort
This week, my work took me to a remote resort in Finland: Nature Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän. This place is in Rantasalmi; it is 319 km from Helsinki and 313 km from Tampere. Actually, it’s far from all big cities.
You don’t end up there by accident: you have to go there on purpose. Järvisydän is a remote and somewhat isolated place, so it’s perfect for people who want to be surrounded by nature. In Finland, the best summer travel season is July–August, so my visit in mid-May was well outside of the season.
The Unexpected Two-Language Conversation
The remote location and the fact that it was off-season made me, without realizing it, assume I would only meet Finnish people. But I was wrong.
During dinner, I got up from the table and looked for a waiter to ask where the bathroom was. The waiter signaled me to follow her.
After a moment, she showed me the direction and said:
“Kulman takana…. oikealla.” (in English: “Around the corner… on the right.”
Without thinking, I replied:
“Thanks.”
Listen to how a Finnish speaker says:
"Anteeksi, missä täällä on vessa?" (Excuse me, where is the bathroom?)
Now try saying it out loud!
Do you recognize the word “vessa”? It’s a casual, commonly used word for toilet or bathroom in Finnish.
I had unexpectedly met a waiter with a foreign background who was clearly learning Finnish. She understood my Finnish question perfectly and answered in Finnish as much as she could. When her language skills ran out, she switched to English.
In the bathroom, I felt bad: I replied to her in English without thinking.
It would have been more polite to answer in Finnish: “kiitos” – especially because she was clearly learning the language.
Maybe answering in Finnish would have encouraged her more than switching to English. After all, she handled a Finnish-language customer question really well.
When we left the restaurant, the same waiter said in Finnish: “Hyvää illan jatkoa!” (Have a good evening!)
This time, I thanked her in Finnish.
Language Assumptions in International Finland
Looking back, it’s funny how easily I assumed I’d only meet Finnish-speaking people.
For example, in early April, my spouse and I visited Levi. Levi is an international holiday destination, and it was still winter travel season. I spoke English at the hotel reception, and most of the restaurant staff we met spoke something other than Finnish as their first language.
Then, just a few weeks later, I was in a remote part of Eastern Finland — and somehow assumed I would only meet Finnish-speaking people.
A silly assumption! Of course, holiday resorts can have – and probably do have – people from different countries.
Travel Tip: A Few Finnish Words Go a Long Way
In Finland, people working in customer service often speak English, even in remote areas. So you'll do just fine with English here.
Finnish people appreciate it if you try to speak Finnish.
Small words like “kiitos” (thank you) and “ei, kiitos” (no, thank you) go a long way.
If you’re learning Finnish and enjoy reflecting on your progress, I’ve created a printable journal you might like. It’s calm, structured, and focused on what really matters. You can check it out here if you’re curious.
Have You Made Language Assumptions Too?
I have also had the opposite kind of surprise with someone’s language skills. I’ll tell you about that next week!
Have you ever made funny assumptions about which language to use?
Leave a comment and share your story!