Meaning
To have conflicting views.
Cultural Background
Finns value 'asiallisuus' (matter-of-factness). Disagreeing is seen as a sign of honesty rather than a personal attack. The Law of Jante (Janteloven) influences social dynamics, but in professional settings, consensus is reached through open (though calm) disagreement. In Finnish universities, students are encouraged to be 'eri mieltä' with professors to foster critical thinking. On Finnish social media, 'Olen eri mieltä' is often used as a hashtag or a starting point for long, detailed arguments.
Soften the blow
Add 'vähän' (a bit) or 'hieman' (slightly) before 'eri mieltä' to sound more polite in social situations.
Case sensitivity
Don't forget the -sta ending on 'asiasta'. Without it, the sentence feels unfinished.
Meaning
To have conflicting views.
Soften the blow
Add 'vähän' (a bit) or 'hieman' (slightly) before 'eri mieltä' to sound more polite in social situations.
Case sensitivity
Don't forget the -sta ending on 'asiasta'. Without it, the sentence feels unfinished.
The 'Toista' alternative
Use 'olla toista mieltä' if you want to sound slightly more idiomatic in a 1-on-1 debate.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing words in the correct case.
Minä ______ eri ______ tästä ______.
The verb 'olla' conjugates to 'olen' for 'minä'. 'Mieli' must be in partitive 'mieltä', and 'asia' in elative 'asiasta'.
Which sentence is the most polite way to disagree in a meeting?
Miten sanot kohteliaasti, että et ole samaa mieltä?
'Olen eri mieltä asiasta' is neutral and professional. The others are aggressive or rude.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Mielestäni meidän pitäisi muuttaa Lappiin.' B: '____________________. Minä vihaan kylmää.'
Since B hates the cold, they disagree with moving to Lapland.
Match the Finnish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are common variations of the phrase using adverbs and different subjects.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMinä ______ eri ______ tästä ______.
The verb 'olla' conjugates to 'olen' for 'minä'. 'Mieli' must be in partitive 'mieltä', and 'asia' in elative 'asiasta'.
Miten sanot kohteliaasti, että et ole samaa mieltä?
'Olen eri mieltä asiasta' is neutral and professional. The others are aggressive or rude.
A: 'Mielestäni meidän pitäisi muuttaa Lappiin.' B: '____________________. Minä vihaan kylmää.'
Since B hates the cold, they disagree with moving to Lapland.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common variations of the phrase using adverbs and different subjects.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, in Finland it is generally considered honest and professional, as long as your tone is calm.
It's a bit formal for food. Better to say 'En pidä tästä' (I don't like this).
'Eri mieltä' is the phrase used with the verb 'olla'. 'Erimielinen' is an adjective meaning 'disagreeing'.
Use 'Olen jyrkästi eri mieltä' or 'Olen täysin eri mieltä'.
Because the construction 'olla jotakin mieltä' always requires the partitive case.
Yes, but 'kanssasi' is more correct in written Finnish. In speech, 'sun kaa' is common.
Yes, constantly. It's the standard way to report on political or scientific disagreements.
Use 'Olen eri mieltä [Nimi]:n kanssa'. For example: 'Olen eri mieltä Pekan kanssa'.
Not exactly a slang 'phrase', but people might say 'Eri linjoilla' or just 'Ei tod'.
Yes, it is perfectly appropriate for academic and formal writing.
Related Phrases
olla samaa mieltä
contrastTo agree
olla toista mieltä
synonymTo be of another mind
erimielisyys
builds onDisagreement (noun)
vastustaa
specialized formTo oppose
