Kokeilla means 'to try' or 'to test' and is useful for talking about attempts or experiments.
kokeilla in 30 Sekunden
- Try it out!
- Give it a go.
- Test it.
§ Don't confuse 'kokeilla' with 'yrittää'
Many English speakers learning Finnish get tangled up between 'kokeilla' (to try, to test, to sample) and 'yrittää' (to attempt, to make an effort). While both can be translated as 'to try' in English, their nuances are different in Finnish.
- DEFINITION
- Kokeilla: This implies trying something out to see what happens, to sample, to test, or to experiment. You might be trying a new food, a new hobby, or a new method. There isn't necessarily an expectation of success or completion, but rather an exploration.
Haluan kokeilla uutta ruokaa. (I want to try a new food.)
Voinko kokeilla tätä paitaa? (Can I try on this shirt?) – Here, 'try on' is a form of 'testing' the fit.
- DEFINITION
- Yrittää: This implies making an effort to do something, often with a goal in mind. There's an intention to succeed or to complete a task, even if it's difficult.
Minun täytyy yrittää parhaani. (I must try my best.)
Hän yritti avata oven. (He tried to open the door.)
§ Using the wrong case with 'kokeilla'
When you 'kokeilla' something, the object of your trying often takes the partitive case. This is a common point of confusion for beginners.
- CORRECT
- The object of 'kokeilla' is often in the partitive case (-a/-ä, -ta/-tä, -tta/-ttä, or vowel + -a/-ä if ending in consonant).
Hän kokeilee uusia kenkiä. (He is trying new shoes.) - 'kenkiä' is partitive plural.
Voitko kokeilla tätä juomaa? (Can you try this drink?) - 'juomaa' is partitive singular.
- INCORRECT EXAMPLE
- Do not use the nominative or accusative case when the meaning is 'to try out' or 'to sample' something indeterminate or in an ongoing fashion.
If you were to say "Hän kokeilee uudet kengät," it would imply trying *the entire pair* of new shoes with a sense of completion (like taking them home after a successful try-on), which isn't the primary meaning of 'kokeilla' in this context of sampling.
§ Forgetting the infinitive + 'kokeilla' construction
While 'kokeilla' usually takes a noun in the partitive, you can also use it with verbs in certain contexts to mean 'to try doing something' (as in, to experiment with the action). In such cases, the other verb is in its first infinitive form (the base form of the verb).
Minä haluan kokeilla laulaa. (I want to try singing.) - Here 'laulaa' (to sing) is the infinitive.
This usage is less common for simple 'to try to do something' which typically uses 'yrittää', but it appears when the 'trying' has the sense of experimentation with the action itself.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Minä kokeilen uutta ruokaa.
I try new food.
Here, 'uutta ruokaa' is in the partitive case because it's an object of an action that is not yet completed or that is indefinite.
Voinko kokeilla tätä paitaa?
Can I try this shirt?
The word 'tätä' is the partitive singular of 'tämä' (this), used here with 'kokeilla'.
Kokeillaan huomenna uudelleen.
Let's try again tomorrow.
'Kokeillaan' is the passive present form, often used in Finnish to mean 'let's do X'.
Hän kokeilee uutta harrastusta.
He/she tries a new hobby.
Similar to the first example, 'uutta harrastusta' is in the partitive case.
Emme kokeile sitä tänään.
We don't try that today.
'Emme kokeile' is the negative form of 'we try'. 'Sitä' is the partitive of 'se' (it/that).
Kokeile tätä kenkää.
Try this shoe (imperative).
'Kokeile' is the imperative form for 'you (singular) try'.
Lapset kokeilevat kaikkea uutta.
Children try everything new.
'Kaikkea uutta' is in the partitive case, referring to an indefinite or unspecified 'everything new'.
Mitä kokeilet?
What are you trying?
'Mitä' is the partitive form of 'mikä' (what), used when asking about an indefinite object.
Voit kokeilla uusia reseptejä.
You can try new recipes.
Haluaisin kokeilla tätä paitaa.
I would like to try on this shirt.
Kokeillaan yhdessä!
Let's try together!
En uskalla kokeilla laskuvarjohyppyä.
I don't dare to try skydiving.
Lapset haluavat kokeilla kaikkia leluja.
Children want to try all the toys.
Voinko kokeilla tätä kenkää?
Can I try on this shoe?
Kokeile, toimiiko se.
Try if it works.
Hän päätti kokeilla uutta harrastusta.
He decided to try a new hobby.
Haluaisin kokeilla uutta kahvilaa kaupungissa. Kuulitko siitä?
I would like to try the new cafe in town. Have you heard about it?
Here 'kokeilla' is used to express trying out a new place or experience.
Voinko kokeilla tätä paitaa? Missä sovituskopit ovat?
Can I try on this shirt? Where are the fitting rooms?
'Kokeilla' is commonly used when trying on clothes.
Kannattaa kokeilla tätä reseptiä, se on todella helppo ja herkullinen.
You should try this recipe, it's really easy and delicious.
This sentence suggests trying a recipe, indicating an attempt to make something.
Yritin kokeilla uutta ohjelmistoa, mutta se ei toiminut odotetusti.
I tried to try the new software, but it didn't work as expected.
Here, 'kokeilla' refers to testing or experimenting with something new.
Oletko koskaan kokeillut laskettelua? Se on hauskaa!
Have you ever tried downhill skiing? It's fun!
This example uses 'kokeilla' to ask about trying a new activity or sport.
Pieni lapsi halusi kokeilla juoksemista nopeammin kuin isänsä.
The small child wanted to try running faster than his father.
'Kokeilla' expresses an attempt or an effort to do something.
En tiedä, onko se mahdollista, mutta voimme ainakin kokeilla.
I don't know if it's possible, but we can at least try.
This is a common phrase to suggest making an attempt.
Meidän täytyy kokeilla eri lähestymistapoja, jotta löydämme ratkaisun.
We need to try different approaches to find a solution.
'Kokeilla' in this context means to experiment with various methods.
Teste dich selbst 18 Fragen
Write a short sentence about something new you would like to try. Use the verb 'kokeilla'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Haluaisin kokeilla uutta ruokaa.
Imagine you are suggesting an activity to a friend. Write a sentence using 'kokeilla' to propose trying something together.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Voimmeko kokeilla tätä peliä yhdessä?
You bought a new gadget. Write a sentence explaining that you want to try it out.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Haluan kokeilla uutta puhelintani.
Mitä Maija ei ole koskaan kokeillut?
Read this passage:
Maija ei ole koskaan kokeillut laskettelua. Hän ajattelee, että se voisi olla hauskaa. Ystävänsä kanssa hän menee rinteeseen. Maija on innoissaan uudesta kokemuksesta.
Mitä Maija ei ole koskaan kokeillut?
Passage says 'Maija ei ole koskaan kokeillut laskettelua.' (Maija has never tried skiing.)
Passage says 'Maija ei ole koskaan kokeillut laskettelua.' (Maija has never tried skiing.)
Mitä Pekka haluaa kokeilla?
Read this passage:
Pekka haluaa kokeilla uutta kahvilaa kaupungissa. Hän on kuullut hyviä arvosteluja. Hän toivoo, että kahvi on hyvää.
Mitä Pekka haluaa kokeilla?
Passage says 'Pekka haluaa kokeilla uutta kahvilaa kaupungissa.' (Pekka wants to try a new cafe in the city.)
Passage says 'Pekka haluaa kokeilla uutta kahvilaa kaupungissa.' (Pekka wants to try a new cafe in the city.)
Mitä lapset haluavat kokeilla?
Read this passage:
Lapset haluavat kokeilla uutta lelua. He ovat saaneet sen lahjaksi. He avaavat paketin innolla.
Mitä lapset haluavat kokeilla?
Passage says 'Lapset haluavat kokeilla uutta lelua.' (The children want to try a new toy.)
Passage says 'Lapset haluavat kokeilla uutta lelua.' (The children want to try a new toy.)
Can you try this new recipe?
He/she wants to try different hobbies.
Should I try this program?
Read this aloud:
Kokeilisitko tätä takkia?
Focus: ko-kei-li-sit-ko
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Aion kokeilla uutta kahvilaa huomenna.
Focus: ai-on ko-kei-l(l)a uut-ta kah-vi-laa huo-men-na
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Emme kokeilleet tarpeeksi uusia asioita.
Focus: em-me ko-keil-leet tar-pees-ti uu-si-a a-si-oi-ta
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'We can try a new recipe together.' The word order in Finnish often places the verb before the object.
This sentence means 'I would like to try skydiving sometime.' 'Haluaisin' (I would like to) is followed by the infinitive 'kokeilla' (to try).
This sentence means 'Don't be afraid to try new things.' The negative imperative 'Älä pelkää' (Don't be afraid) is followed by the infinitive 'kokeilla' (to try).
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Summary
Kokeilla means 'to try' or 'to test' and is useful for talking about attempts or experiments.
- Try it out!
- Give it a go.
- Test it.
