Phrase in 30 Seconds
A simple, essential way to tell someone that an object belongs to them or that you are giving it to them.
- Means: 'It is yours' (literally: It is of-you).
- Used in: Returning lost items, giving gifts, or confirming ownership.
- Don't confuse: With 'Sinulla on se', which means 'You have it' (possession vs. ownership).
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Indicating someone else's ownership.
Contexte culturel
Finns are very honest. If you say 'Se on sinun' to return something, they will likely say 'Kiitos' and maybe offer a small smile, but don't expect a long conversation. In a professional setting, 'Se on sinun' can be used to delegate a task. It implies full trust that you will handle it. Younger generations use 'sun' almost exclusively. Using 'sinun' in a text message to a friend might feel a bit stiff or overly dramatic. While you can pick berries anywhere, if someone says 'Tämä marjapaikka on sinun', they are being incredibly generous with their secret spot.
The 'N' Rule
Always remember the 'n' at the end of 'sinun'. Without it, you're just calling the object 'you'!
Go Casual
Use 'sun' in 90% of your daily conversations. It makes you sound much more like a local.
The 'N' Rule
Always remember the 'n' at the end of 'sinun'. Without it, you're just calling the object 'you'!
Go Casual
Use 'sun' in 90% of your daily conversations. It makes you sound much more like a local.
Plural Alert
If you have two or more things, 'Se' becomes 'Ne' and 'on' becomes 'ovat'. 'Ne ovat sinun'.
Politeness
Pair 'Se on sinun' with 'Ole hyvä' (Here you go) to be extra polite when giving something.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct possessive form of 'sinä'.
Tämä kirja on ______.
We use the genitive form 'sinun' to show ownership.
Which sentence means 'It is yours' in spoken Finnish?
Choose the informal version:
'Sun' is the common spoken reduction of 'sinun'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Onko tämä kassi sinun? B: Kyllä, ______.
B is confirming that the bag belongs to them (mine).
Match the phrase to the situation.
You find a friend's keys on the floor.
You are telling your friend that the keys belong to them.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Standard vs Spoken
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesTämä kirja on ______.
We use the genitive form 'sinun' to show ownership.
Choose the informal version:
'Sun' is the common spoken reduction of 'sinun'.
A: Onko tämä kassi sinun? B: Kyllä, ______.
B is confirming that the bag belongs to them (mine).
You find a friend's keys on the floor.
You are telling your friend that the keys belong to them.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, if someone asks 'Kenen tämä on?' (Whose is this?), you can simply answer 'Sinun'.
'Sinun' is standard/formal; 'sun' is spoken/informal. They mean the same thing.
You say 'Se ei ole sinun'.
No, it's neutral. To be more polite to a stranger, use 'Se on teidän'.
No, that would imply slavery or extreme possession. Use 'Hän on sinun ystäväsi' (He is your friend).
In spoken Finnish, 'se' is often used for 'he' or 'she' too, but in this phrase, it usually refers to an object.
Add '-ko' to the verb: 'Onko se sinun?'
Use 'Se on teidän'.
Yes, 'Tämä' means 'this'. Use it if the object is in your hand.
In slang, you might just say 'Sun.' while pointing.
No, 'sinun' covers both 'your' (sinun kirja) and 'yours' (se on sinun).
Change 'on' to 'oli': 'Se oli sinun'.
Expressions liées
Se on minun
contrastIt is mine
Se kuuluu sinulle
similarIt belongs to you
Ole hyvä
builds onHere you go / You're welcome
Ota tästä
similarTake from here
Se on teidän
specialized formIt is yours (plural/polite)
Où l'utiliser
Returning a lost item
A: Anteeksi, onko tämä avain sinun?
B: Kyllä, kiitos paljon!
A: Ole hyvä, se on sinun.
Giving a birthday gift
Friend: Hyvää syntymäpäivää! Tässä on paketti.
You: Voi kiitos! Onko se minulle?
Friend: Joo, se on sinun.
At a coffee shop
Barista: Kauramaito-latte?
Customer: Se on sinun, oletan?
Friend: Joo, se on sun. Kiitos.
Sharing a photo on a phone
A: Katso tätä kuvaa meistä!
B: Onpa kiva. Voitko lähettää sen?
A: Nyt se on sinun puhelimessasi.
Assigning a task at work
Pomo: Tämä projekti on tärkeä.
Työntekijä: Otan vastuun mielelläni.
Pomo: Hyvä, se on sinun.
Finding a seat on a bus
A: Onko tämä paikka vapaa?
B: On, se on sinun.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Sinun' as 'Sin-un' — 'Since it's yours, you own it.'
Association visuelle
Imagine a gift box with a giant letter 'U' on it, and you are pointing at it while saying 'Se on sinun'.
Rhyme
Se on sinun, ei minun! (It is yours, not mine!)
Story
You find a shiny gold ring on a Finnish forest path. A tall Finn walks up looking worried. You hold up the ring and say 'Se on sinun'. He smiles and gives you a cinnamon bun.
In Other Languages
Similar to English 'It is yours' or Swedish 'Den är din'. Most European languages use a similar 'Subject + Be + Possessive' structure.
Word Web
Défi
Go through your room and point at 5 things that belong to someone else (or imagine they do) and say 'Se on sinun' out loud.
Review this phrase every time you hand something to someone today.
Prononciation
Short 'e' like in 'set'.
Short 'o' like in 'on' (British pronunciation).
Stress on the first syllable. Both 'u' sounds are short.
Spectre de formalité
Se on teidän. (General ownership)
Se on sinun. (General ownership)
Se on sun. (General ownership)
Se o sun, ota pois. (General ownership)
The phrase is built from Proto-Uralic roots. 'Se' comes from the demonstrative pronoun system, and 'sinun' is the genitive of 'sinä', which shares roots with other Finno-Ugric languages like Estonian 'sinu'.
Le savais-tu ?
The Finnish genitive '-n' is one of the oldest and most stable suffixes in the language, dating back thousands of years.
Notes culturelles
Finns are very honest. If you say 'Se on sinun' to return something, they will likely say 'Kiitos' and maybe offer a small smile, but don't expect a long conversation.
“Löysin lompakkosi. Se on sinun.”
In a professional setting, 'Se on sinun' can be used to delegate a task. It implies full trust that you will handle it.
“Tämä raportti on sinun vastuullasi.”
Younger generations use 'sun' almost exclusively. Using 'sinun' in a text message to a friend might feel a bit stiff or overly dramatic.
“Tää koodi on sun.”
While you can pick berries anywhere, if someone says 'Tämä marjapaikka on sinun', they are being incredibly generous with their secret spot.
“Tämä mätäs on sinun.”
Amorces de conversation
Löysin tämän sateenvarjon. Onko se sinun?
Tämä kakunpala on sinun. Haluatko sen?
Onko tämä paikka sinun vai voinko istua tässä?
Tämä uusi vastuu on sinun. Mitä aiot tehdä?
Erreurs courantes
Se on sinä
Se on sinun
L1 Interference
Sinulla on se
Se on sinun
L1 Interference
Se on sinun kynä
Se on sinun kynäsi
L1 Interference
Ne on sinun
Ne ovat sinun
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Es tuyo
Spanish changes 'tuyo' to 'tuya' based on gender; Finnish has no gender.
C'est à toi
Finnish uses the genitive case instead of a preposition.
Es gehört dir
Finnish 'Se on sinun' is more common than the German equivalent 'Es ist deins'.
それはあなたのものです
Japanese often requires the word 'mono' (thing) to complete the sentence.
إنه لك
Arabic structure is more focused on 'for you' than 'of you'.
它是你的
The word order is identical to Finnish.
그것은 당신의 것입니다
Korean requires a formal sentence ending and often a noun to hold the possession.
É teu / É seu
Portuguese has a distinction between 'teu' (informal) and 'seu' (formal/third person).
Spotted in the Real World
“Minä olen sinun.”
A romantic song where the singer says 'I am yours'.
“Onko tämä lompakko sinun?”
A character is being asked if a wallet belongs to him.
“Osta pois, se on sinun kympillä.”
A marketplace listing saying 'Buy it, it's yours for ten euros'.
“Tämä on sinun, sanoi Muumipeikko.”
Moomintroll giving something to a friend.
Facile à confondre
Learners think it means 'It is yours'.
Remember: 'Sinulla on' = You have (possession); 'Se on sinun' = It is yours (ownership).
Mixing up 'you' and 'yours'.
If you are talking about an object, you need the 'n' at the end of 'sinun'.
Questions fréquentes (12)
Yes, if someone asks 'Kenen tämä on?' (Whose is this?), you can simply answer 'Sinun'.
usage contexts'Sinun' is standard/formal; 'sun' is spoken/informal. They mean the same thing.
grammar mechanicsYou say 'Se ei ole sinun'.
basic understandingNo, it's neutral. To be more polite to a stranger, use 'Se on teidän'.
cultural usageNo, that would imply slavery or extreme possession. Use 'Hän on sinun ystäväsi' (He is your friend).
common mistakesIn spoken Finnish, 'se' is often used for 'he' or 'she' too, but in this phrase, it usually refers to an object.
grammar mechanicsAdd '-ko' to the verb: 'Onko se sinun?'
basic understandingUse 'Se on teidän'.
usage contextsYes, 'Tämä' means 'this'. Use it if the object is in your hand.
practical tipsIn slang, you might just say 'Sun.' while pointing.
practical tipsNo, 'sinun' covers both 'your' (sinun kirja) and 'yours' (se on sinun).
comparisonsChange 'on' to 'oli': 'Se oli sinun'.
grammar mechanics
