Learn Finnish by using free resources! You might have started your journey into the Finnish language through a course, self-study, or everyday life in Finland. While classroom learning is a strong foundation, online resources can make a big difference. Apps and different exercises to learn Finnish online give you flexibility, interactive practice, and extra support to stay motivated in your studies!
This is your guide to study Finnish online – a collection of apps, courses and other resources that can support your learning journey and help you build confidence to use Finnish! And the best part? You will learn for free!
Free Apps
1. Suomipassi (A1, A2)
Suomipassi’s aim is to encourage Finnish learners to use Finnish outside the classroom in daily situations and support learning at the beginning. You can listen to phrases, practice pronunciation, and then go out to speak Finnish in real-life situations, such as at a café. After speaking, you can give yourself a “stamp” and see all the places where you have been spoken Finnish on the app’s map. In addition to stamps, you can reflect on your learning by adding an emoji, which is saved in a learning diary. You can also mark certain phrases as favorites and search for suitable phrases using the app’s search function.
So, how many stamps can you collect? This gamified element makes learning fun while letting you track your progress. Download the app and start using Finnish in your daily life! The app is provided by the University of Turku. Content is available both in English and Finnish.
Free Finnish Courses
1. Helsinki Summer University free course for beginners (A1)
Beginner-level Finnish course. COMING SOON: Released between December and January.
2. Do you speak Finnish? Puhutsä suomee? (A2, B1)
Puhutsä suomee? web course is open for all university students to learn the basics of using everyday Finnish. The course is designed to help you speak Finnish with confidence and understand spoken language more easily. You’ll also get a clearer sense of the differences between spoken and written Finnish. The course is an outcome of DigiJOUJOU project, a collaboration between University of Helsinki, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and Centria University of Applied Sciences.
3. Työelämän Suomea (A2, B1, B2)
Master workplace Finnish through Työelämän Suomea! You will learn workplace communication situations, work-related vocabulary, Finnish work culture and practices, and how to talk about yourself. The course has 8 modules. The content is provided only in Finnish.
Free Language Learning Tools (Interactive Practice Platforms)
1. Revita (A1-C2)
Revita is an online platform where you can generate grammar and vocabulary exercises from any text and in different languages. You can upload your own chosen text and specify which grammar points you want to focus on. By clicking a word in the text, you can see its translation and listen to its pronunciation. The platform is an ongoing project, so it may have some errors as the content is constantly evolving. You can use Revita either by registering or without an account. The platform is provided by University of Helsinki.
2. Sanatesti (A1-C2)
Through Sanatesti you can test your knowledge of Finnish vocabulary! The task is to choose the words that are real Finnish words and leave out those that are not. Some words are so-called “non-words,” which look like Finnish words but aren’t. If you’re unsure about a word, it’s best not to select it. All words are given in their basic form. The test has five difficulty levels, with higher levels containing less common words, making it harder to distinguish real words from non-words. Provided by SIMHE services of the Tampere University Community.
Language Learning Communities
1. Suomi sujuu (A1, A2)
If you want to take your learning offline and meet people to practice your speaking skills, Suomi sujuu is a community that organizes meetings for learning Finnish. The website has also a blog and some material for learning Finnish. The content is available in Finnish and English.
”Learn Finnish in Finnish”-meeting is held every Wednesday in Lapinlahti, Helsinki at 17:00-18:30. The meetings are for free and open to everyone.
2. Kielisepät (B2-C2)
Have you worked through the Suomen mestari books but still don’t feel like a master? Or do you manage well in daily life but feel that part of your personality is hidden behind the language barrier? Kielisepät is a learning community for advanced Finnish learners that encourages and supports every member. The website offers exercises, learning tips, and, of course, a community to support you on your Finnish learning journey. If you are looking for your community, Kielisepät might be your place!
Other Practice Materials
1. Yle Oppiminen / Yle’s Finnish Learning Resources (0-C2)
Explore free online materials from Finland’s national broadcaster! Yle offers lessons, videos, exercises for beginners and preparation for YKI test. Are you interested in reading the news in Finnish and learning more about Finland? Simplified news stories make learning Finnish fun and easy.
- Beginner level exercises: Yle Suomen kielen alkeet
- Learn basic Finnish through simple videos: Yle Areena
- Yle Selkouutiset presents the news in easy-to-understand Finnish: Yle Uutiset selkosuomeksi
- Aiming to pass the YKI test? Yle Ykitreenit
2. Suomi taskussa (0-A1)
Suomi taskussa (Finland in a Pocket) is a website that helps newcomers learn about Finnish language, culture, and everyday life in Finland. You can explore various themes such as health, shopping, transportation, and more, with videos and exercises tailored to each language. The website is designed to help you learn Finnish online through practical, real-life situations.
Content is available in English, Arabic, and Dari.
4. Selkosanomat (A2, B1)
Want to read or listen news in Finnish? Selkosanomat is an online magazine that provides news in easy Finnish. You can read or listen to the news — and even adjust the playback speed while listening! The news are a great way to learn Finnish. The articles are organized into themes such as Finland, the world, sports, culture, and everyday life. Provided by the Finnish Centre for Easy Language (Selkokeskus).
Next Steps to Learn Finnish
To make sure you master Finnish, check out our intensive Finnish courses to continue the progress!