Meaning
To have a desire for something, usually food.
Cultural Background
Finns drink more coffee than anyone else. 'Tehdä mieli kahvia' is the most common way to start a break. Finnish children usually only eat candy on Saturdays. They often express their 'mieliteko' (cravings) all week leading up to it. Salty liquorice is a unique Finnish craving. It's a polarizing taste that many Finns 'tekee mieli' when they are abroad. After a sauna, it is very common to 'tehdä mieli' something cold to drink or a 'saunamakkarat' (sauna sausage).
The Partitive Rule
Always use the partitive for nouns. If you want 'coffee', it's 'kahvia'. If you want 'a sandwich', it's 'leipää'.
No 'Minä'!
Never start this phrase with 'Minä'. It must be 'Minun' (Genitive).
Meaning
To have a desire for something, usually food.
The Partitive Rule
Always use the partitive for nouns. If you want 'coffee', it's 'kahvia'. If you want 'a sandwich', it's 'leipää'.
No 'Minä'!
Never start this phrase with 'Minä'. It must be 'Minun' (Genitive).
Softening Requests
Use this phrase to sound less demanding when suggesting lunch to a friend.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the person (Genitive).
_______ (Minä) tekee mieli suklaata.
The person having the craving must be in the genitive case.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct craving for coffee.
You need Genitive (Minun) + 3rd person singular (tekee) + Partitive (kahvia).
Complete the dialogue.
A: Onko nälkä? B: On! Minun _______ mieli pitsaa.
The verb 'tehdä' is always in the 3rd person singular 'tekee' in this expression.
Match the feeling to the phrase.
You are very tired and want to go to bed.
'Nukkua' means to sleep, which matches being tired.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises_______ (Minä) tekee mieli suklaata.
The person having the craving must be in the genitive case.
Choose the correct craving for coffee.
You need Genitive (Minun) + 3rd person singular (tekee) + Partitive (kahvia).
A: Onko nälkä? B: On! Minun _______ mieli pitsaa.
The verb 'tehdä' is always in the 3rd person singular 'tekee' in this expression.
You are very tired and want to go to bed.
'Nukkua' means to sleep, which matches being tired.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsUsually no. It's for food or activities. For people, use 'tykätä' (to like) or 'rakastaa' (to love).
It is 'Minun teki mieli'. The verb 'tehdä' changes to 'teki'.
Say 'Minun ei tee mieli' or just 'Ei tee mieli'.
It is always 'Minun' (Genitive). 'Minulla' (Adessive) is for 'I have'.
Yes, but 'Haluaisin' (I would like) is more standard for ordering. Use 'tekee mieli' when discussing the menu with your friends.
Yes, in this expression, 'mieli' is always in the nominative singular form.
Not at all! Adults use it constantly, especially regarding coffee or being tired.
The verb remains 'tekee'. 'Minun tekee mieli omenoita ja banaaneja.'
Yes! 'Minun tekee mieli itkeä' is very natural.
'Huvittaa' is mostly for activities, while 'tekee mieli' is for both food and activities.
Related Phrases
haluta
similarto want
himottaa
specialized formto crave intensely
mieliteko
builds ona craving (noun)
huvittaa
similarto feel like / to amuse
