Signification
To make jokes or behave in a funny way.
Contexte culturel
Finns use 'laskea leikkiä' to avoid appearing 'ylpeä' (proud). By joking about themselves, they show they are 'tavallisia ihmisiä' (ordinary people). In Savo, 'leikin lasku' is an art form where the speaker is intentionally ambiguous. This is called 'savolainen vastuu' (Savo responsibility - the listener is responsible for understanding). In Finnish offices, 'laskea leikkiä' is the primary way to break the hierarchy. A boss who jokes with employees is seen as trustworthy. Finns use the hashtag #huumori or #vitsi, but in comments, they might say 'laskin vain leikkiä' to avoid 'cancel culture' or misunderstandings.
Use it to soften the blow
If you said something too direct, follow up with 'Laskin vain leikkiä' to ease the tension.
Watch the case
Never say 'laskea leikki'. It must be 'leikkiä'.
Signification
To make jokes or behave in a funny way.
Use it to soften the blow
If you said something too direct, follow up with 'Laskin vain leikkiä' to ease the tension.
Watch the case
Never say 'laskea leikki'. It must be 'leikkiä'.
The 'Kova' construction
Use 'Hän on kova laskemaan leikkiä' to sound like a native speaker when describing a funny person.
Self-irony is key
In Finland, the best 'leikki' is often at your own expense.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing verb in the correct form.
Me tykkäämme ______ leikkiä yhdessä.
After 'tykkäämme' (we like), we use the infinitive form of the verb.
Which sentence means 'I was just joking'?
Miten sanot 'I was just joking'?
'Laskea leikkiä' is the correct idiom; 'tehdä vitsejä' is a translation error.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Oletko vihainen?' B: 'En tietenkään! Minä vain...'
The idiom requires the partitive 'leikkiä'.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Types of Joking in Finnish
Friendly
- • laskea leikkiä
- • vitsailla
Silly
- • pelleillä
- • hassutella
Edgy
- • heittää herjaa
- • ivailla
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesMe tykkäämme ______ leikkiä yhdessä.
After 'tykkäämme' (we like), we use the infinitive form of the verb.
Miten sanot 'I was just joking'?
'Laskea leikkiä' is the correct idiom; 'tehdä vitsejä' is a translation error.
A: 'Oletko vihainen?' B: 'En tietenkään! Minä vain...'
The idiom requires the partitive 'leikkiä'.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
'Vitsailla' is more about the act of telling a specific joke, while 'laskea leikkiä' is about a playful attitude.
Not really. For pranks, use 'tehdä jekku' or 'tehdä pilaa'.
You can say 'En laske leikkiä' or 'Olen tosissani'.
Because joking is an unbounded, continuous action, which requires the partitive case in Finnish.
Expressions liées
vitsailla
synonymto tell jokes
pelleillä
similarto fool around
heittää herjaa
specialized formto roast/banter
huulenheitto
similarcasual banter
