Signification
Using a train for transport.
Contexte culturel
Train travel is seen as a highly reliable and 'green' choice. VR (the state railway) is a central part of Finnish infrastructure. The 'Quiet Car' (hiljainen osasto) is strictly respected. Finns value the silence during their train journeys. The night train to Lapland is a iconic Finnish experience, often called the 'Santa Claus Express'. Winter weather often causes delays, which is a common topic of 'small talk' (or complaining) among Finns.
The -lla Rule
Remember that for almost all vehicles in Finnish (bus, train, bike, car), you use the -lla/llä ending to say 'by'.
Spoken Finnish
In Helsinki, you'll often hear 'mennä junalla' instead of 'matkustaa junalla'. Use 'mennä' to sound more like a local.
Signification
Using a train for transport.
The -lla Rule
Remember that for almost all vehicles in Finnish (bus, train, bike, car), you use the -lla/llä ending to say 'by'.
Spoken Finnish
In Helsinki, you'll often hear 'mennä junalla' instead of 'matkustaa junalla'. Use 'mennä' to sound more like a local.
Don't say 'ajaa'
Unless you are wearing a conductor's hat and sitting in the cockpit, don't say you 'ajaa' the train.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word with the correct case.
Minä matkustan ______ (juna) Helsinkiin.
The adessive case (-lla) is used to show the means of transport.
Which sentence is the most natural for a daily commute?
Miten menet töihin?
'Matkustaa junalla' is the standard way to describe using the train for transport.
Match the Finnish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are all common train-related collocations.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Menetkö autolla Lappiin? B: En, ______.
B is explaining their alternative mode of transport.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesMinä matkustan ______ (juna) Helsinkiin.
The adessive case (-lla) is used to show the means of transport.
Miten menet töihin?
'Matkustaa junalla' is the standard way to describe using the train for transport.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are all common train-related collocations.
A: Menetkö autolla Lappiin? B: En, ______.
B is explaining their alternative mode of transport.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but it means you are focusing on being inside the train (e.g., 'I slept in the train'). For transport, use 'junalla'.
It's neutral. 'Mennä' is more casual, but 'matkustaa' is never wrong.
Matkustaa lähijunalla.
Matkustaa autolla (by car) or lentää (to fly).
No, Finnish has no articles. 'Junalla' covers 'by train' and 'by the train'.
Pidän junalla matkustamisesta.
It is 'junalla' because of vowel harmony (u and a are back vowels).
Usually people say 'mennä metrolla', but 'matkustaa metrolla' is understood.
Matkustaa junilla (plural adessive).
'Reissata' is more like 'backpacking' or 'tripping'; it's more informal.
Expressions liées
mennä junalla
similarto go by train
kulkea junalla
similarto travel/pass by train
nousta junaan
builds onto board the train
junamatka
relateda train trip
