LocationUusimaa region, south coast of Finland.
Dialling code358.
Population559,050 (city); 1,240,482 (metropolitan area).
Time zoneGMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Saturday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity220 volts AC, 50Hz; two-pin plugs are standard.
Average January temperatures- 5°C (23°F).
Average July temperatures18°C (64°F).
Annual rainfall600mm (23.6 inches).
LanguageIntroductionFinland has two
official languages: Finnish and Swedish. Finnish, a Finno-Ugric language, is spoken by 93% of the population, while Swedish, mostly found in pockets of Finland’s southwest coast, is the mother tongue of 6% of Finns. In remote parts of the north, about 1700 people still speak Sami (more commonly known as Lappish).
The roots of the Finnish language are in the Finno-Ugric linguistic family that includes, in one branch, Finnish, Estonian and a number of permutations and, in the other, Hungarian. Since just five million people speak Finnish, foreign languages are a must for Finns; English, an integral part of the school curriculum, is widely understood. As a hangover from its past, some inhabitants also speak Russian. Most restaurants have menus in Finnish and English.
Helsinkilaiset consider their Finnish the yardstick of cosmopolitan Finland – regional accents are viewed as provincial. There are a number of slang words idiosyncratic to the capital, such as
dosa (bus),
spora or
ratikka (tram),
bisse (beer) and
rooki or
spaddu (cigarette), among others.
Helsinkilaiset are proud of their Finnish language, and rather than adopting English-isms like the French (eg
le ski,
le surf), they coin their own Finnish words in order to preserve their mother tongue.
Phrases
Yes -
KylläNo -
EiHello -
HeiGoodbye -
NäkemiinPlease -
Ole hyväThank you -
KiitosMy name is … -
Minun nimeni on …How are you? -
Mitä kuuluu?I’m very well -
Kiitos hyvääI feel ill -
Olen sairasHow much does it cost? -
Mitä tämä maksaa?Do you speak English? -
Puhutko englantia?I don’t understand -
En ymmärräWhere is...? -
Missä...?Entrance -
SisäänExit -
UlosDanger -
VaaraOpen -
AvoinnaClosed -
SuljettuToilets -
Vessa / WCDoctor -
LääkäriHotel -
HotelliRestaurant -
RavintolaBeer -
OlutWine -
ViiniMenu -
RuokalistaToday -
TänäänTomorrow -
HuomennaMonday -
MaanantaiTuesday -
TiistaiWednesday -
KeskiviikkoThursday -
TorstaiFriday -
PerjantaiSaturday -
LauantaiSunday -
SunnuntaiOne -
YksiTwo -
KaksiThree -
KolmeFour -
NeljäFive -
ViisiSix -
KuusSeven -
SeitsemänEight -
KahdeksanNine -
YhdeksänTen -
KymmenenTwenty -
KaksikymmentäThirty -
KolmekymmentäForty
NelvakymmentäFifty -
ViisikymmentäSixty -
KuusikymmentäSeventy -
SeitsemankymmentäEighty -
KahdeksankymmentäNinety -
VhdeksankymmentäOne Hundred -
SataOne Thousand -
TuhatCost of Living:1 Euro (€1) = £0.94; US$1.37; C$1.66; A$1.93 Currency conversion rates as of January 2009Special Events:Runeberg Day
February
Poet J L Runeberg is commemorated with a day of cake eating.
Throughout the city.
Helsinki International Boat ShowFebruary
Helsinki Fair Center
Website:
www.finnexpo.fi/veneHelsinki Antique and Art FairMarch/April
Wanha Satama, City Center
May DayMay
Throughout the city
World Village FestivalMay
International music, arts and food.
Various venues, city center
Website:
www.maailmakylassa.fiKruununhaka,
Halkolaituri Helsinki Day
June
Festival celebrating founding day of Helsinki.
Throughout city
Website:
www.hel2.fi/helsinkipaiva/englishJuhannusvalkeatJune
Midsummer’s eve celebration with bonfires, folk music and dancing.
Seurasaari Open Air Museum
Website:
www.nba.fi/en/seurasaari_openairmuseumHelsinki Jazz
June
Jazz events.
Various venues
Website:
www.helsinkijazz.fiHelsinki Pride Festival
June/July
Lesbian and gay event festival.
Various venues
Website:
www.helsinkipride.fiHelsinki City Marathon
August
Around city and coast
Website:
www.helsinkicitymarathon.comHelsinki FestivalAugust-September
Finland’s largest annual festival of dance, music and theater.
Various venues
Website:
www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fiHelsinki Design Week
September
Various venues
Website:
www.helsinkidesignweek.comBaltic Herring Market
October
Market Square
Helsinki International Horse Show
October
Hartwall Areena
Website:
www.fimhorseshow.fiIndependence DayDecember
Honor guard and procession.
Senate Square
St Thomas Christmas Market
December
Esplanade Park
New Year’s Eve
December
Senate Square
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