What Language Is Spoken in Finland?

Official Languages of Finland

✅ Finnish (Suomi) is the main language, spoken by about 87% of the population.
✅ Swedish (Svenska) is also an official language, spoken by about 5% of Finns, mainly along the western and southern coasts.
✅ Both languages are used in government, education, and public services.

📌 Fun Fact: Finland is the only Nordic country where Swedish is an official language but not the majority language!

How Many People Speak Finnish and Other Languages in Finland?

Finland has a population of about 5.6 million people, and while Finnish is dominant, other languages are spoken as well.

✅ Finnish is spoken nationwide and is the most common language.
✅ Swedish is official in certain regions, especially in coastal areas.
✅ English is widely understood, especially among younger generations.

📌 Fun Fact: Finnish is part of the Uralic language family, which means it is not related to Swedish, English, or other European languages!

Finnish: The Dominant Language of Finland

Finnish is a unique language with no close relatives in Europe except for Estonian and some smaller languages spoken in Russia.

✅ Used in government, media, education, and daily life.
✅ Written using the Latin alphabet but with extra letters like ä and ö.
✅ Has long words because it adds endings instead of prepositions.

Common Finnish Words and Phrases

✅ Finnish grammar is very different from English or Swedish.
✅ Words change depending on their role in the sentence (this is called case marking).

📌 Did you know? In Finnish, instead of saying “in the house”, you add an ending: talossa (house + "in")!

Swedish in Finland: A Co-Official Language

Swedish has been spoken in Finland for centuries, as Finland was part of Sweden until 1809.

✅ About 5% of Finns speak Swedish as their first language, mostly on the coast and in the Åland Islands.
✅ All government services are available in both Finnish and Swedish.
✅ Many Finnish towns have both Finnish and Swedish names (e.g., Helsinki / Helsingfors).

📌 Fun Fact: The Åland Islands are an autonomous region of Finland where Swedish is the only official language!

Common Swedish Words and Phrases in Finland

✅ Swedish in Finland is slightly different from Swedish spoken in Sweden but fully understandable.

📌 Did you know? Many Finnish people learn Swedish in school, but not all feel comfortable speaking it!

Sami Languages: The Indigenous Languages of Finland

The Sámi people are the indigenous people of northern Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Russia.

✅ About 2,000 people in Finland speak Sami languages.
✅ The three main Sami languages in Finland are Northern Sami, Inari Sami, and Skolt Sami.
✅ Sami languages have official status in Lapland (northern Finland).

📌 Fun Fact: Sami languages have over 300 words for snow and reindeer!

English in Finland: A Widely Spoken Second Language

While not an official language, English is commonly used in Finland, especially in business, tourism, and education.

✅ Most Finns under 50 speak English fluently.
✅ Used in international business and universities.
✅ Finland has a high English proficiency, ranking among the top non-native English-speaking countries.

📌 Did you know? Many TV shows and movies in Finland are not dubbed, so Finns get a lot of exposure to English!

Other Immigrant Languages in Finland

Due to immigration, Finland has many foreign language communities.

✅ Russian is the most spoken immigrant language in Finland.
✅ Estonian is common because of Finland’s close ties with Estonia.

📌 Fun Fact: About 8% of Finland’s population speaks a language other than Finnish or Swedish at home!

Why Does Finland Have Multiple Languages?

1️⃣ Historical Reasons – Finland was ruled by Sweden for centuries, making Swedish an important language.
2️⃣ Indigenous Peoples – The Sámi people have lived in Finland for thousands of years.
3️⃣ Immigration & Globalization – Many new languages are spoken due to immigration and international business.

📌 Fun Fact: Many Finns are trilingual, speaking Finnish, Swedish, and English!

Common Misconceptions About Languages in Finland

❌ “Everyone in Finland speaks only Finnish.”
✅ False! Swedish is also an official language, and many Finns speak English.

❌ “Swedish is a foreign language in Finland.”
✅ No! Swedish is an official language and has been spoken in Finland for over 800 years.

❌ “Finnish is similar to Swedish.”
✅ No! Finnish is a Uralic language, while Swedish is a Germanic language—they are completely different!

❌ “Everyone in Finland speaks English fluently.”
✅ Many do, but older generations may not be as fluent.

FAQs About Languages in Finland

What are the official languages of Finland?

➡️ Finnish and Swedish are both official languages.

What language do most people speak in Finland?

➡️ Finnish, spoken by about 87% of the population.

Do people in Finland speak English?

➡️ Yes, most Finns speak English well, especially younger generations.

Where is Swedish spoken in Finland?

➡️ Mostly on the coasts and in the Åland Islands.

Are Finnish and Swedish similar?

➡️ No! Finnish is related to Estonian and Hungarian, while Swedish is related to Danish and Norwegian.