Olla valmis
Be ready
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'olla valmis' to say you are prepared for an action or that a task is finished.
- Means: To be ready or to be finished with something.
- Used in: Leaving the house, finishing homework, or serving food.
- Don't confuse: 'Valmis' means both 'ready' and 'finished' depending on context.
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
Prepared for something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Sauna on valmis' announcement is a sacred moment in Finnish households. It means the wood-burning or electric stove has reached the optimal 70-90°C. In Finnish work culture, saying a project is 'valmis' implies it is 100% done. Finns tend to be literal; 'almost ready' means it is NOT ready. Finns have a strong connection to the forest. 'Valmis' is used to describe when blueberries (mustikat) or cloudberries (lakat) are ripe for picking. When a student graduates, they are 'valmistunut'. This comes from the same root as 'valmis', meaning they are now 'finished' with their studies and 'ready' for work.
The 'Done' vs 'Ready' Rule
If you can replace 'ready' with 'finished' in English, 'valmis' is almost always the right word in Finnish.
Plural Agreement
Don't forget: 'Me olemme valmiit'. Forgetting the 't' at the end is a classic beginner mistake.
Bedeutung
Prepared for something.
The 'Done' vs 'Ready' Rule
If you can replace 'ready' with 'finished' in English, 'valmis' is almost always the right word in Finnish.
Plural Agreement
Don't forget: 'Me olemme valmiit'. Forgetting the 't' at the end is a classic beginner mistake.
Spoken Finnish
In Helsinki slang, people often just say 'Valmis!' as an exclamation when something is done, skipping the 'olla' verb entirely.
Punctuality
If you say 'olen valmis' to a Finn, they expect you to be ready to move immediately. Don't say it if you still need to find your keys!
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of 'valmis'. Remember to match the plural!
Me olemme ______ lähtemään.
Since the subject 'me' (we) is plural, the adjective 'valmis' must be in the plural form 'valmiit'.
Which sentence means 'The food is ready'?
Choose the correct translation:
'Ruoka on valmis' is the standard way to say dinner is served. 'Loppu' would mean it's all gone!
Complete the dialogue.
A: Oletko valmis? B: En vielä, ______.
If someone asks if you are ready and you say 'En vielä' (Not yet), a logical follow-up is 'odotatko hetken' (will you wait a moment).
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You just finished writing a long essay.
'Sain sen valmiiksi' means 'I got it finished', which is perfect for completing a task like an essay.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Common Valmis Phrases
Home
- • Sauna on valmis
- • Ruoka on valmis
Work
- • Raportti on valmis
- • Projekti on valmis
Self
- • Olen valmis
- • Olemme valmiit
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 FragenNo, 'valmis' only means ready or finished. For 'smart', use 'viisas' or 'fiksu'.
In this case, 'valmis' doesn't work well. Use 'Nyt riittää!' (Now it's enough!) or 'Mä en jaksa enää!' (I can't take it anymore!).
'Valmiina' is the essive case, meaning 'as ready'. It's used for a state of being prepared (e.g., 'seisoa valmiina' - to stand ready).
The opposite is 'kesken' (unfinished/in progress). For example: 'Työ on vielä kesken'.
No, 'valmis' implies completion of a process. A 'perfect' person would be 'täydellinen'.
Use the imperative 'Valmistaudu!' or 'Ole valmis!'.
Yes, 'valmisruoka' is the term for convenience or pre-packaged meals.
The adjective 'valmis' stays the same, but the verb 'olla' changes: 'En ole valmis'.
This sounds like a literal translation of 'I'm done with you'. It's better to say 'Olen saanut tarpeeksi sinusta'.
It means 'Emergency Powers Act' (literally 'Readiness Law'), used during national crises.
It is neutral. It's used in both slang and formal government reports.
Say 'Olen melkein valmis'.
Yes, 'valmisvaatteet' means 'ready-to-wear' or 'off-the-rack' clothes.
'Valmiit' is the nominative plural (the state of being ready), while 'valmiita' is partitive plural. Use 'valmiit' for 'we are ready'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Saada valmiiksi
builds onTo finish something
Valmistautua
similarTo prepare oneself
Valmiina
specialized formIn a state of readiness
Valmisruoka
specialized formReady-made meal
Kaikki valmiina
synonymEverything ready
Wo du es verwendest
Leaving for a party
A: Oletko jo valmis? Taksi on täällä!
B: Olen valmis! Mennään.
At a restaurant
Tarjoilija: Oletteko valmiit tilaamaan?
Asiakas: Kyllä, olemme valmiita.
Finishing a project
Pomo: Onko raportti jo valmis?
Työntekijä: Se on melkein valmis. Lähetän sen pian.
Sauna readiness
Isä: Sauna on valmis!
Lapset: Jee, me tullaan!
Exam preparation
Opiskelija 1: Oletko valmis huomiseen tenttiin?
Opiskelija 2: En todellakaan. Minun täytyy vielä lukea.
Food delivery app
Sovellus: Tilauksesi on valmis noudettavaksi.
Käyttäjä: Hyvä, lähden nyt.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Valmis' as 'Volume is Finished'—when the volume of work is done, you are valmis.
Visual Association
Imagine a Finnish runner at the starting line of a race. They are 'valmis' (ready) to run, and once they cross the finish line, their race is 'valmis' (finished).
Rhyme
Olen valmis, mulla on malmis (I am ready, I have ore/wealth - a bit forced but works for the sound).
Story
You are in a Finnish kitchen. You prepare ingredients (valmistella). You cook the food. Finally, you ring a bell and shout 'Valmis!' because the food is both ready to eat and finished cooking.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Set a timer for 5 minutes. Every time you finish a small task (sending an email, washing a dish), say out loud: 'Nyt se on valmis!'
In Other Languages
Estar listo
Finnish doesn't distinguish between 'ready' and 'smart' using the same word.
Être prêt
French separates 'ready' (prêt) and 'finished' (fini) more strictly.
Bereit sein / Fertig sein
German 'fertig' can also mean 'exhausted', just like Finnish 'loppu'.
準備ができている (Junbi ga dekite iru)
Japanese focuses on the state of 'preparation' (junbi) rather than the person being 'ready'.
مستعد (Musta'id)
Arabic uses 'khalas' as a very strong marker for 'finished' which is more common than 'valmis' in that sense.
准备好了 (Zhǔnbèi hǎole)
Chinese requires the 'le' particle to show the change of state.
준비 됐다 (Junbi dwaetda)
Korean uses different levels of politeness (honorifics) which Finnish 'valmis' doesn't have.
Estar pronto
Portuguese 'pronto' is more common as a filler word than Finnish 'valmis'.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'loppu' to mean 'finished with a task'.
Use 'loppu' for things that are empty or people who are exhausted. Use 'valmis' for tasks that are done.
Both relate to being 'ready'.
'Valmistunut' is specifically for graduating from school or a process of professional training.
FAQ (14)
No, 'valmis' only means ready or finished. For 'smart', use 'viisas' or 'fiksu'.
In this case, 'valmis' doesn't work well. Use 'Nyt riittää!' (Now it's enough!) or 'Mä en jaksa enää!' (I can't take it anymore!).
'Valmiina' is the essive case, meaning 'as ready'. It's used for a state of being prepared (e.g., 'seisoa valmiina' - to stand ready).
The opposite is 'kesken' (unfinished/in progress). For example: 'Työ on vielä kesken'.
No, 'valmis' implies completion of a process. A 'perfect' person would be 'täydellinen'.
Use the imperative 'Valmistaudu!' or 'Ole valmis!'.
Yes, 'valmisruoka' is the term for convenience or pre-packaged meals.
The adjective 'valmis' stays the same, but the verb 'olla' changes: 'En ole valmis'.
This sounds like a literal translation of 'I'm done with you'. It's better to say 'Olen saanut tarpeeksi sinusta'.
It means 'Emergency Powers Act' (literally 'Readiness Law'), used during national crises.
It is neutral. It's used in both slang and formal government reports.
Say 'Olen melkein valmis'.
Yes, 'valmisvaatteet' means 'ready-to-wear' or 'off-the-rack' clothes.
'Valmiit' is the nominative plural (the state of being ready), while 'valmiita' is partitive plural. Use 'valmiit' for 'we are ready'.
