When you're just starting out with Finnish, understanding basic adjectives like "heikko" (weak) is very useful. You'll encounter it when talking about people, things, or even abstract concepts.
For example, if you want to say someone is weak, you can say "Hän on heikko" (He/She is weak). Or if a coffee is not strong enough, you can say "Kahvi on heikkoa" (The coffee is weak).
Pay attention to the ending: Finnish adjectives change their form depending on the noun they describe. However, at A1, focusing on the basic form is a good start.
When you're learning Finnish, knowing adjectives like heikko (weak) is super useful. These words help you describe things and people more clearly. At the A2 level, you're building your vocabulary to handle everyday situations.
Understanding heikko means you can talk about anything from a weak signal to feeling weak yourself. It's a foundational word for expressing states and qualities in Finnish.
heikko in 30 Sekunden
- Use 'heikko' to describe physical or mental weakness.
- It can also refer to something being fragile or not intense.
- Commonly used for people, objects, or even signals/feelings.
§ Understanding 'heikko'
You're learning the word 'heikko', which means 'weak' in English. This is a common adjective in Finnish. Let's look at how it's used in different contexts you'll actually encounter.
- Definition
- weak
§ At work or school
In a work or school environment, 'heikko' often refers to performance, arguments, or structures. It's not always about physical weakness.
- Performance: If someone isn't doing well, their performance might be described as 'heikko'.
- Arguments or points: A 'heikko' argument means it's not very strong or convincing.
- Structures: A 'heikko' foundation or connection implies it's unstable or easily broken.
Hänen suorituksensa oli heikko tänään.
Translation hint: His/her performance was weak today.
Argumentti oli liian heikko.
Translation hint: The argument was too weak.
§ In the news
News reports frequently use 'heikko' to describe economic situations, health conditions, or political standing. It's a versatile word for expressing a lack of strength or stability.
- Economy: A 'heikko' talous (economy) means it's not performing well.
- Health: Someone in 'heikko' kunto (condition) is not healthy.
- Support: 'Heikko' kannatus (support) means there isn't much backing for a person or idea.
Talous on heikko tällä hetkellä.
Translation hint: The economy is weak at the moment.
Potilaan kunto on edelleen heikko.
Translation hint: The patient's condition is still weak.
§ Common phrases with 'heikko'
Here are some common phrases where you'll hear 'heikko'. Knowing these will help you recognize the word in spoken Finnish.
- Heikko signaali: A weak signal (e.g., for a phone or internet).
- Heikko kohta: A weak point (e.g., in an argument or a system).
- Heikko jäsen: A weak member (e.g., of a team).
Puhelimessa on heikko signaali täällä.
Translation hint: The phone has a weak signal here.
Tämä on meidän heikko kohtamme.
Translation hint: This is our weak point.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Minulla on heikko ääni.
I have a weak voice.
Hän on heikko sairauden jälkeen.
He/She is weak after the illness.
Tämä pöytä on heikko.
This table is weak.
Hänen muistinsa on heikko.
His/Her memory is weak.
Signaali on heikko täällä.
The signal is weak here.
Olen heikko nälän takia.
I am weak because of hunger.
Tämä kahvi on heikko.
This coffee is weak.
Hänellä on heikko ote.
He/She has a weak grip.
Minulla on heikko vastustuskyky flunssaa vastaan.
I have weak resistance against flu.
Hänellä oli heikko signaali puhelimessa, joten puhelu katkesi.
She had a weak signal on her phone, so the call dropped.
Tämä on heikko lenkki ketjussa, se voi katketa milloin tahansa.
This is a weak link in the chain, it can break anytime.
Yrityksen talous on ollut heikko jo useamman vuoden.
The company's finances have been weak for several years.
Hänen argumenttinsa oli niin heikko, että se oli helppo kumota.
His argument was so weak that it was easy to refute.
Heikko valaistus tekee lukemisesta vaikeaa.
Weak lighting makes reading difficult.
Olen hieman heikko ruoan jälkeen, tarvitsen lepoa.
I am a bit weak after the meal, I need rest.
Tämä kahvi on liian heikko minun makuuni.
This coffee is too weak for my taste.
Hän tunsi itsensä heikoksi pitkän sairauden jälkeen.
He felt himself weak after a long illness.
Possessive suffix '-nsä' (itself) with 'heikoksi' (weak, in translative case).
Talous on ollut heikko viime aikoina, mikä huolestuttaa monia.
The economy has been weak recently, which worries many.
'Heikko' (weak) in nominative case modifying 'talous' (economy).
Heikko signaali teki puhelusta vaikean ymmärtää.
A weak signal made the call difficult to understand.
'Heikko' (weak) in nominative case modifying 'signaali' (signal).
Vaikka hän on vanha, hänen muistinsa ei ole heikko.
Although he is old, his memory is not weak.
'Heikko' (weak) in nominative case, predicate adjective.
Joukkueen heikko esitys johti tappioon mestaruusottelussa.
The team's weak performance led to a loss in the championship game.
'Heikko' (weak) in nominative case modifying 'esitys' (performance).
Minulla on heikko kohta suklaalle, en voi vastustaa sitä.
I have a weak spot for chocolate, I can't resist it.
'Heikko kohta' (weak spot) as an idiom, 'suklaalle' (for chocolate, allative case).
Hänellä oli heikko ääni, kun hän kertoi uutiset.
He had a weak voice when he told the news.
'Heikko' (weak) in nominative case modifying 'ääni' (voice).
Heikko sade kasteli maan, mutta ei tarpeeksi sammuttamaan paloa.
Weak rain watered the ground, but not enough to put out the fire.
'Heikko' (weak) in nominative case modifying 'sade' (rain).
Hänen heikko kohta oli aina ollut matemaattinen ajattelu, vaikka hän muuten pärjäsikin opinnoissaan erinomaisesti.
His/her weak point had always been mathematical thinking, even though he/she otherwise did excellently in his/her studies.
Possessive suffix '-nsa' (referring to 'hän') combined with 'kohta'.
Organisaation heikko signaali muutokseen loi epävarmuutta työntekijöiden keskuudessa.
The organization's weak signal for change created uncertainty among the employees.
Genitive case for 'organisaation' showing possession, and illative case for 'muutokseen' indicating direction.
Talouden heikko kasvuennuste vaikutti negatiivisesti sijoittajien mielialaan globaalisti.
The economy's weak growth forecast negatively affected investors' mood globally.
Genitive case for 'talouden' and 'sijoittajien', partitive case for 'mielialaan'.
Vaikka hänen argumentaationsa oli aluksi heikko, hän onnistui vakuuttamaan yleisön lopulta.
Although his/her argumentation was initially weak, he/she eventually succeeded in convincing the audience.
Conditional particle '-kin' in 'aluksi' emphasizing 'initially'.
Tutkimuksen heikko edustavuus kyseenalaisti sen tulosten luotettavuuden ja yleistettävyyden.
The study's weak representativeness questioned the reliability and generalizability of its results.
Genitive case for 'tutkimuksen' and 'tulosten', partitive case for 'luotettavuuden' and 'yleistettävyyden'.
Hänellä oli heikko immuunipuolustus lapsena, mikä altisti hänet usein sairauksille.
He/she had a weak immune system as a child, which often exposed him/her to illnesses.
Adessive case for 'lapsena' (as a child), allative case for 'sairauksille' (to illnesses).
Järjestelmän heikko tietoturva mahdollisti ulkopuolisten pääsyn luottamuksellisiin tietoihin.
The system's weak data security enabled outsiders to access confidential information.
Genitive case for 'järjestelmän' and 'ulkopuolisten', illative case for 'tietoihin'.
Hallituksen heikko mandaatti vaikeutti suurten päätösten tekemistä ja niiden läpiviemistä.
The government's weak mandate made it difficult to make and implement major decisions.
Genitive case for 'hallituksen', partitive case for 'päätösten' and 'läpiviemistä'.
So verwendest du es
Heikko describes something that lacks physical strength, power, or intensity. It can be used for people, objects, or even abstract concepts.
Examples:
- Hän on heikko. (He/she is weak.)
- Valo on heikko. (The light is weak.)
- Hänen argumenttinsa oli heikko. (His/her argument was weak.)
A common mistake is confusing heikko with 'sick' or 'ill'. While a sick person might be weak, the words are not interchangeable. For 'sick', you would use words like sairas or kipeä.
Teste dich selbst 42 Fragen
Choose the correct translation for 'heikko'.
'Heikko' means weak.
Which sentence uses 'heikko' correctly?
'Heikko' describes something that lacks strength, like a voice.
What is the opposite of 'heikko'?
The opposite of 'weak' is 'strong'.
A 'heikko' kahvi is a strong coffee.
'Heikko' means weak, so 'heikko kahvi' is a weak coffee.
If you feel 'heikko', you feel strong.
If you feel 'heikko', you feel weak, not strong.
A 'heikko' signaali means a weak signal.
'Signaali' means signal, so 'heikko signaali' is a weak signal.
Write a sentence describing something that is not strong, using 'heikko'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Minun kahvi on heikko. (My coffee is weak.)
Translate: The signal is weak.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Signaali on heikko.
Complete the sentence with a word meaning 'weak': Tuuli on ___. (The wind is ___.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Tuuli on heikko.
What is weak?
Read this passage:
Kissa on pieni. Se on heikko. Se ei juokse nopeasti.
What is weak?
The passage says 'Se on heikko', and 'Se' refers to 'Kissa' (the cat).
The passage says 'Se on heikko', and 'Se' refers to 'Kissa' (the cat).
What can't the person do loudly?
Read this passage:
Minun ääni on heikko. En voi laulaa kovaa.
What can't the person do loudly?
The passage says 'En voi laulaa kovaa' (I cannot sing loudly).
The passage says 'En voi laulaa kovaa' (I cannot sing loudly).
What does the person need?
Read this passage:
Tämä valo on heikko. Tarvitsen paremman valon.
What does the person need?
The passage states 'Tarvitsen paremman valon' (I need a better light).
The passage states 'Tarvitsen paremman valon' (I need a better light).
Vanhus oli niin ___, ettei jaksanut nousta sängystä.
The context implies inability to get out of bed, thus 'weak' (heikko) is the correct fit. Vahva means 'strong', nopea 'fast', and hidas 'slow'.
Hänen argumenttinsa oli niin ___, ettei kukaan uskonut häntä.
If no one believed him, his argument must have been 'weak' (heikko). Vakuuttava means 'convincing', looginen 'logical', and epäselvä 'unclear'.
Talouden kasvu oli viime vuonna melko ___.
Economic growth being 'weak' (heikko) is a common phrase. Vahva means 'strong', tasainen 'steady', and nopeaa 'fast'.
Uusi rakennus oli niin ___, että se sortui tuulessa.
If a building collapsed in the wind, it was 'weak' (heikko). Tukeva means 'sturdy', vakaa 'stable', and kestävä 'durable'.
Hänen terveytensä on ollut viime aikoina melko ___.
When health is not good, it is often described as 'weak' (heikko). Hyvä means 'good', erinomainen 'excellent', and vakaa 'stable'.
Joukkueen puolustus oli ottelun aikana todella ___.
If a team's defense was not performing well, it was 'weak' (heikko). Vahva means 'strong', jämäkkä 'firm', and hyvä 'good'.
He had a weak voice after the illness.
The decision was weak from the company's perspective.
Don't be so weak, defend yourself!
Read this aloud:
Hänen argumenttinsa oli melko heikko.
Focus: heikko
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Tunsin itseni heikoksi koko päivän.
Focus: heikoksi
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Heikko signaali teki puhelun mahdottomaksi.
Focus: signaali
Du hast gesagt:
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The speaker noticed a weak tremor in someone's voice.
The economic recovery is still very weak.
Someone had a weak pulse and pale skin.
Read this aloud:
Heikon signaalin vuoksi puhelu katkesi yllättäen.
Focus: signaalin, yllättäen
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Vaikka perustelu oli heikko, päätös tehtiin silti.
Focus: perustelu, tehtiin
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Hän tunsi itsensä heikoksi pitkän sairauden jälkeen.
Focus: itsensä, sairauden
Du hast gesagt:
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Which of these words is the closest synonym to 'heikko' in the context of a person's physical state?
'Voimaton' means powerless or without strength, which is a direct synonym for 'heikko' when referring to physical weakness. 'Vahva' is strong, 'sairas' is sick, and 'väsynyt' is tired, which are related but not direct synonyms.
In a figurative sense, 'heikko' can describe a poorly constructed argument. Which Finnish word would best capture this nuance?
'Hatara' refers to something flimsy, shaky, or poorly constructed, which aptly describes a weak argument. 'Epälooginen' means illogical, 'virheellinen' means erroneous, and 'perusteeton' means groundless, all of which can be aspects of a weak argument but 'hatara' best captures the sense of being 'weakly' built.
If someone describes their memory as 'heikko', what do they mean?
When describing memory, 'heikko' means poor or weak, implying that the person has difficulty remembering things or frequently forgets.
If a company has a 'heikko' taloudellinen tilanne, it means their financial situation is strong.
'Heikko taloudellinen tilanne' translates to 'weak financial situation', indicating a precarious or unstable financial state, not a strong one.
A 'heikko' signaali (signal) implies a strong and clear connection.
A 'heikko signaali' means a weak signal, which would result in a poor or unclear connection, not a strong one.
When talking about coffee, 'heikko' kahvi means strong coffee.
'Heikko kahvi' means weak coffee, referring to coffee that is not very concentrated or flavorful.
His weak point had always been mathematical problems, even though he was otherwise academically gifted.
Even though the team seemed weak at first, they managed to surprise everyone by winning the championship.
The decision was based on weak evidence, which drew widespread criticism in legal circles.
Read this aloud:
Poliittinen oppositio syytti hallitusta heikosta johtajuudesta kriisin keskellä.
Focus: heikosta johtajuudesta
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Hänen heikko terveytensä rajoitti hänen kykyään osallistua moniin sosiaalisiin tapahtumiin.
Focus: heikko terveytensä rajoitti
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Heikko signaali teki videoneuvottelusta lähes mahdotonta, ja ääni pätki jatkuvasti.
Focus: heikko signaali teki videoneuvottelusta
Du hast gesagt:
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Summary
Heikko means 'weak' and is a versatile adjective for describing a lack of strength or intensity.
- Use 'heikko' to describe physical or mental weakness.
- It can also refer to something being fragile or not intense.
- Commonly used for people, objects, or even signals/feelings.
