A1 Collocation Neutral

Olla kallis

Be expensive

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'olla kallis' to describe anything that costs a lot of money, from a cup of coffee to a new house.

  • Means: To be expensive or high-priced.
  • Used in: Shops, restaurants, and when discussing bills or services.
  • Don't confuse: 'Kallis' can also mean 'dear' (beloved) in very specific contexts.
🛍️ + 📈 = 💸 (Item + High Price = Olla Kallis)

Explanation at your level:

At this level, 'olla kallis' is a basic tool. You use it to describe things you see in shops. It's a simple 'Subject + is + Adjective' structure. You learn that 'kallis' is the opposite of 'halpa' (cheap).
You start using the plural form 'kalliita' and the past tense 'oli kallis'. You can compare two things using 'kalliimpi kuin'. You use it to talk about your weekend trips or shopping experiences in more detail.
You can use 'kallis' in more abstract ways, like 'kallis elämä' (expensive life). You understand the difference between 'kallis' and 'hintava'. You can discuss the reasons why something is expensive using basic conjunctions.
You use the phrase in professional contexts, discussing 'kalliit investoinnit' (expensive investments). You are comfortable with the partitive plural and can use the word in various cases (e.g., 'kalliissa kaupassa'). You recognize idiomatic uses like 'maksaa kalliisti'.
You understand the nuance between 'kallis' and 'arvokas' in literature and formal speech. You can analyze the etymological connection to 'precious' and use the word to convey subtle irony or social commentary on consumerism.
You master the cognitive linguistics of 'kallis,' understanding its role in Finnish metaphors of value and morality. You can use it in highly specialized academic or poetic contexts, navigating the full range of its historical and modern connotations with native-like precision.

Bedeutung

High price.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Finns often use 'kallis' as a conversation starter to complain about taxes or the price of alcohol. It's a way of bonding through shared hardship. Finns often travel to Estonia because things are 'halvempaa' (cheaper) there. The contrast between 'kallis Suomi' and 'halpa Viro' is a major cultural theme. In tourist areas of Lapland, prices are notoriously 'kalliita'. Locals and tourists alike often comment on the 'Lapin lisää' (Lapland extra) on prices. Finnish design brands like Marimekko or Iittala are 'kalliita' but considered 'arvokkaita' (valuable) investments that last a lifetime.

💡

The 'Oho' Factor

When you see an expensive price, it's very natural to start with 'Oho!' (Wow/Oops). 'Oho, onpa kallis!'

⚠️

Plural Trap

Remember that 'kallis' changes to 'kalliita' in the plural. This is a very common test question for Finnish learners!

Bedeutung

High price.

💡

The 'Oho' Factor

When you see an expensive price, it's very natural to start with 'Oho!' (Wow/Oops). 'Oho, onpa kallis!'

⚠️

Plural Trap

Remember that 'kallis' changes to 'kalliita' in the plural. This is a very common test question for Finnish learners!

🎯

Use 'Hintava' for Politeness

If you are in a nice boutique, saying 'Tämä on kallis' might sound a bit blunt. 'Tämä on aika hintava' sounds more sophisticated.

💬

Coffee Benchmark

Always check the price of coffee. If it's over 4 euros, you are officially in a 'kallis' place.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the correct form of the verb 'olla'.

Tämä takki ______ kallis.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: on

The subject 'takki' is singular, so we use 'on'.

Which sentence is correct for plural items?

Choose the correct plural form:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Nämä omenat ovat kalliita.

Plural subjects require 'ovat' and the partitive plural 'kalliita'.

Match the Finnish phrase with its English meaning.

Match the following:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Se oli kallis - It was expensive

Matching tenses and comparative forms.

Complete the dialogue at the market.

Asiakas: Kuinka paljon tämä maksaa? Myyjä: Se on 50 euroa. Asiakas: Ohhoh! Se ______ ______.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: on kallis

50 euros is generally considered expensive for a small market item.

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Kallis vs. Halpa

Kallis (Expensive)
Timantti Diamond
Ferrari Ferrari
Halpa (Cheap)
Kynä Pen
Tulitikut Matches

Things that are 'Kalliita' in Finland

🍔

Food & Drink

  • • Alkoholi
  • • Ulkona syöminen
  • • Kahvi
🏠

Living

  • • Vuokra
  • • Sähkö
  • • Bensa

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, but it's formal or poetic. 'Kallis ystävä' means 'Dear friend'. In casual speech, use 'rakas' for loved ones.

The opposite is 'halpa' (cheap) or 'edullinen' (affordable/good value).

Use 'liian kallis'. For example: 'Tämä on liian kallis minulle.'

No, it's a neutral, factual word for a high price.

In Finnish, predicate adjectives for plural subjects are usually in the partitive case. 'Kalliita' is the partitive plural of 'kallis'.

It's better to say 'korkea hinta' (high price), but 'kallis hinta' is understood.

The superlative is 'kallein'. 'Tämä on kaupan kallein takki.'

Yes, 'suolainen' (salty) is very common slang for a high price.

99% of the time in modern Finnish, yes. Occasionally it means 'precious' in a non-monetary sense.

Minä olen kallis (I am expensive - rare!), Sinä olet kallis, Se on kallis, Me olemme kalliita, Te olette kalliita, He ovat kalliita.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔄

maksaa paljon

synonym

to cost a lot

🔗

arvokas

similar

valuable

🔗

halpa

contrast

cheap

🔗

hintava

specialized form

pricey

🔗

maksaa maltaita

builds on

to cost a fortune

Wo du es verwendest

☕

At a Cafe

Asiakas: Viisi euroa santsikupista?

Ystävä: Joo, se on aika kallis paikka.

informal
🚗

Buying a Car

Ostaja: Tämä Tesla on hieno.

Myyjä: Se on hieno, mutta se on myös kallis.

neutral
🏠

Paying Rent

Vuokralainen: Vuokra nousee taas.

Naapuri: Tämä alue on nykyään todella kallis.

neutral
🍓

At the Market Square

Turisti: Nämä mansikat ovat kalliita!

Myyjä: Mutta ne ovat suomalaisia ja makeita.

informal
💼

Job Interview (Budget)

Pomo: Tämä ohjelmisto on kallis investointi.

Hakija: Kyllä, mutta se säästää aikaa pitkällä aikavälillä.

formal
📱

Dating App Chat

Käyttäjä A: Mennäänkö tuonne uuteen ravintolaan?

Käyttäjä B: Olen kuullut, että se on tosi kallis. Kävisikö joku muu?

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Callous' salesperson charging you too much. 'Kallis' sounds like 'Callous' prices!

Visual Association

Imagine a golden price tag with wings flying away from your wallet. The tag has the word 'KALLIS' written in bold, red letters.

Rhyme

Kallis hinta, tyhjä rinta (Expensive price, empty chest/heart).

Story

You go to a market in Helsinki. You see a beautiful reindeer skin. You touch it and ask the price. The seller says 'Sata euroa' (100€). You drop the skin and shout 'Oho, onpa kallis!' and the reindeer on the skin winks at you because it knows it's high quality.

Word Web

hintarahaostaahalpamaksaalompakkokuittialennus

Herausforderung

Go to a Finnish online store (like Verkkokauppa.com) and find three items you think are 'kalliita'. Write them down: '[Item] on kallis.'

In Other Languages

Spanish high

ser caro

Spanish adjectives must agree in gender, which Finnish doesn't have.

French high

être cher

French uses 'cher' more frequently for people than modern Finnish.

German high

teuer sein

German doesn't share the 'beloved' sense for the word 'teuer'.

Japanese moderate

高い (takai)

Japanese doesn't require a verb 'to be' in the same way for adjectives (takai desu).

Arabic high

غالي (ghaali)

Arabic has complex gender and number agreement for the adjective.

Chinese moderate

贵 (guì)

Chinese is a tonal language and doesn't use a 'to be' verb with adjectives.

Korean high

비싸다 (bissada)

The grammatical category is a verb, not an adjective.

Portuguese high

ser caro

Pronunciation and gender agreement rules.

Easily Confused

Olla kallis vs. korkea

Learners use 'korkea' (high) for prices because of English 'high price'.

Use 'kallis' for the object itself, and 'korkea' only if you use the word 'hinta' (price).

Olla kallis vs. rakas

Both 'kallis' and 'rakas' can mean 'dear'.

Use 'rakas' for romantic or deep love, and 'kallis' for 'precious' or 'expensive'.

FAQ (10)

Yes, but it's formal or poetic. 'Kallis ystävä' means 'Dear friend'. In casual speech, use 'rakas' for loved ones.

The opposite is 'halpa' (cheap) or 'edullinen' (affordable/good value).

Use 'liian kallis'. For example: 'Tämä on liian kallis minulle.'

No, it's a neutral, factual word for a high price.

In Finnish, predicate adjectives for plural subjects are usually in the partitive case. 'Kalliita' is the partitive plural of 'kallis'.

It's better to say 'korkea hinta' (high price), but 'kallis hinta' is understood.

The superlative is 'kallein'. 'Tämä on kaupan kallein takki.'

Yes, 'suolainen' (salty) is very common slang for a high price.

99% of the time in modern Finnish, yes. Occasionally it means 'precious' in a non-monetary sense.

Minä olen kallis (I am expensive - rare!), Sinä olet kallis, Se on kallis, Me olemme kalliita, Te olette kalliita, He ovat kalliita.

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