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How to say "you're welcome" and "please" in Finnish
ole hyvä
Say it: OH-leh HÜ-vä. In Finnish, stress is always on the first syllable.
Ole hyvä means "you're welcome". It also means "here you are" when handing something over, and "please go ahead".
One phrase, three jobs
| Situation | Finnish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Someone thanks you | Ole hyvä. | You're welcome. |
| You hand something over | Ole hyvä. | Here you are. |
| You invite someone to go ahead or help themselves | Ole hyvä. | Please, go ahead. |
Informal and formal
Ole hyvä is the singular, informal form (literally "be good"). To several people, or politely to one, use olkaa hyvä. You will see this at buffets and on signs, for example Olkaa hyvä ja istukaa ("Please sit down").
Other ways to reply to thanks
In casual speech you can answer kiitos with ei kestä or ei se mitään ("it's nothing"). Ole hyvä is the safe default.
Example sentences
- Ole hyvä.Here you are. / You're welcome.
- Olkaa hyvä ja istukaa.Please sit down.
- Ole hyvä, ota kahvia.Please, have some coffee.
- Kiitos! — Ole hyvä.Thanks! — You're welcome.
Common questions
How do you say "you're welcome" in Finnish?
Ole hyvä. Casually you can also say ei kestä or ei se mitään.
What is the plural or formal form of ole hyvä?
Olkaa hyvä.
Related words
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