Meaning
Something turned out badly.
Cultural Background
Finns often use self-deprecating humor when things go wrong. Saying 'kaikki meni myttyyn' with a smile is a common way to bond over shared misfortune. In Finnish offices, admitting a project 'meni myttyyn' is seen as honest and direct, which are highly valued traits. Tabloids like Ilta-Sanomat frequently use 'myttyyn' in headlines to describe celebrity breakups or failed government policies because it's punchy and relatable. The literal 'mytty' is a source of minor stress in Finnish homes, where tidiness (järjestys) is often emphasized.
Use 'ihan' for emphasis
Finns almost always say 'ihan myttyyn' (completely wrong) to add flavor to the failure.
Don't use with people
Never say 'Hän meni myttyyn' to mean someone failed in life. It sounds like they physically crumpled.
Meaning
Something turned out badly.
Use 'ihan' for emphasis
Finns almost always say 'ihan myttyyn' (completely wrong) to add flavor to the failure.
Don't use with people
Never say 'Hän meni myttyyn' to mean someone failed in life. It sounds like they physically crumpled.
Perfect for travel
This is the #1 phrase to use when complaining about VR (Finnish railways) or flight delays.
Test Yourself
Täytä puuttuva sana oikeassa muodossa.
Meidän piknik ______ myttyyn sateen takia.
The subject 'piknik' is singular, and the context implies a past event.
Mikä näistä tarkoittaa samaa kuin 'mennä myttyyn'?
Valitse synonyymi.
'Mennä mönkään' is a direct synonym for failing.
Yhdistä tilanne ja oikea lause.
Tilanne: Unohdit avaimet kotiin ja myöhästyt tärkeästä tapaamisesta.
A series of bad events like forgetting keys and being late makes the day 'go myttyyn'.
Täydennä keskustelu.
A: 'Miten sun tentti meni?' B: 'Ihan ______.'
The idiom always uses the illative form 'myttyyn'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Ways to Fail in Finnish
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMeidän piknik ______ myttyyn sateen takia.
The subject 'piknik' is singular, and the context implies a past event.
Valitse synonyymi.
'Mennä mönkään' is a direct synonym for failing.
Tilanne: Unohdit avaimet kotiin ja myöhästyt tärkeästä tapaamisesta.
A series of bad events like forgetting keys and being late makes the day 'go myttyyn'.
A: 'Miten sun tentti meni?' B: 'Ihan ______.'
The idiom always uses the illative form 'myttyyn'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's not rude or offensive. It's just informal. You can use it with your boss if you have a good relationship.
Not really. If a phone breaks, it doesn't 'mennä myttyyn'. But if your *plan* to call someone fails because the phone broke, then the plan 'meni myttyyn'.
They are almost identical. 'Mönkään' is slightly more common in Western Finland, while 'myttyyn' is universal.
Finnish doesn't have a future tense, so you use the present: 'Se menee myttyyn' (It will go wrong).
Yes, in informal writing like emails, texts, and blogs, and very often in newspaper headlines.
Yes! This is the most common way to use it. It means 'everything went wrong'.
Usually a medium to large failure. It implies the whole 'shape' of the plan is gone.
Only if you are describing a past failure and what you learned from it, and the atmosphere is relaxed. Otherwise, use 'epäonnistua'.
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but you could say 'mennä putkeen' (to go through the pipe/perfectly).
No, it's been around for decades. It's a classic idiom that doesn't go out of style.
Related Phrases
mennä mönkään
synonymTo go wrong / to fail.
mennä pieleen
similarTo go wrong.
mennä puihin
similarTo fail (especially a performance or task).
tehdä mytty
builds onTo make a bundle / to fail something intentionally.
