Bedeutung
Describing something that moves very slowly.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Finns have a deep respect for nature, and many idioms involve forest animals. The snail is seen as a harmless but frustrating part of the environment. Efficiency is highly valued. Calling a process 'hidas kuin etana' is a common way to signal that a system needs improvement. The phrase is used most frequently in winter when snow and ice make everything—from driving to walking—much slower than usual. Finns often use self-deprecating humor. Saying 'Olen hidas kuin etana' is a way to apologize for being slow without making it too serious.
Add 'ihan'
To sound more native, add 'ihan' (quite/totally) before the phrase: 'ihan hidas kuin etana'.
Don't use for people's minds
Calling a person 'hidas' can mean they are not smart. Be careful!
Bedeutung
Describing something that moves very slowly.
Add 'ihan'
To sound more native, add 'ihan' (quite/totally) before the phrase: 'ihan hidas kuin etana'.
Don't use for people's minds
Calling a person 'hidas' can mean they are not smart. Be careful!
The 'vauhtia' variant
Use 'etanan vauhtia' when you want to describe a verb: 'Hän ajaa etanan vauhtia.'
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Tämä bussi on hidas kuin _______.
The idiom is 'hidas kuin etana' (slow as a snail).
Which sentence is a natural way to complain about slow internet?
Netti on...
'Hidas kuin etana' is the standard idiom for slowness.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You are waiting for a friend who is taking 2 hours to get ready.
Use this phrase when someone is taking too long.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Miksi olet myöhässä? B: Liikenne oli _______.
Traffic is often described as slow as a snail when there are delays.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenTämä bussi on hidas kuin _______.
The idiom is 'hidas kuin etana' (slow as a snail).
Netti on...
'Hidas kuin etana' is the standard idiom for slowness.
You are waiting for a friend who is taking 2 hours to get ready.
Use this phrase when someone is taking too long.
A: Miksi olet myöhässä? B: Liikenne oli _______.
Traffic is often described as slow as a snail when there are delays.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt can be slightly rude if said seriously. If said to a friend who is taking a long time, it's usually just a joke.
Yes, people will understand you, but 'etana' is more common in Finland.
The idiom usually stays singular even if the subject is plural: 'He ovat hidas kuin etana.' However, 'He ovat hitaita kuin etanat' is also grammatically possible.
Yes, you can just call someone an 'etana' (Sä oot ihan etana).
Absolutely, it's one of the most common ways to describe slow technology.
The opposite is 'nopea kuin salama' (fast as lightning).
Yes, in this specific simile structure, 'kuin' is required.
Sloths don't live in Finland, so they aren't part of the traditional idiom set.
Only if the atmosphere is casual. In a formal meeting, use 'viivästynyt' or 'hidas'.
Yes, it appears in many Finnish pop and children's songs.
Verwandte Redewendungen
etanan vauhtia
similarat a snail's pace
nopea kuin salama
contrastfast as lightning
madella
specialized formto crawl/slither
viivytellä
builds onto dawdle or delay
