Significado
Something is failing or decaying.
Contexto cultural
Finns often use this phrase with a sense of 'resigned realism'. It's common to hear it during the short summer when rain starts. The Swedish equivalent 'gå i stöpet' is more idiomatic, while the Finnish 'mennä pilalle' is more literal and common in daily speech. In Japan, the concept of 'Mottainai' (regret over waste) makes the state of 'mennä pilalle' feel more emotionally heavy than in Finland. Americans might say something is 'going south', which is more directional and informal than the Finnish neutral equivalent.
The Milk Test
Use this phrase to practice your 'olla + -massa' progressive form every time you check your fridge.
Direction Matters
Never say 'mennä pilalla'. The '-lle' ending is non-negotiable with 'mennä'.
Significado
Something is failing or decaying.
The Milk Test
Use this phrase to practice your 'olla + -massa' progressive form every time you check your fridge.
Direction Matters
Never say 'mennä pilalla'. The '-lle' ending is non-negotiable with 'mennä'.
Social Softener
Use 'menossa pilalle' instead of 'pilalla' to sound less dramatic and more like you're looking for a solution.
Finnish Sisu
Even if everything is 'menossa pilalle', a Finn will often keep going. It's the 'sisu' way!
Teste-se
Fill in the missing word to show the process is happening now.
Maito on _______ pilalle.
'Menossa' is the progressive form required to show it's currently happening.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct form of the ending.
The allative case (-lle) is required with the verb 'mennä'.
Match the situation to the sentence.
Situation: You see dark clouds before a picnic.
'Sää' means weather, which is what clouds affect.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Hups, unohdin lihan pöydälle yöksi!' B: 'Voi ei, se on varmaan jo _______.'
Leaving meat out causes it to spoil (mennä pilalle).
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosMaito on _______ pilalle.
'Menossa' is the progressive form required to show it's currently happening.
Choose the correct form of the ending.
The allative case (-lle) is required with the verb 'mennä'.
Situation: You see dark clouds before a picnic.
'Sää' means weather, which is what clouds affect.
A: 'Hups, unohdin lihan pöydälle yöksi!' B: 'Voi ei, se on varmaan jo _______.'
Leaving meat out causes it to spoil (mennä pilalle).
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasUsually no. Use 'mennä rikki' for mechanical failure. Use 'mennä pilalle' if the car's paint job is being ruined by chemicals.
No, it's neutral. However, saying 'Sinä pilaat tämän' (You are ruining this) is very direct and can be rude.
'Pilaantua' is a specific verb for biological rot. 'Mennä pilalle' is a broader collocation for any kind of ruin.
Only metaphorically, like 'hän on menossa pilalle' (he is being spoiled/corrupted), but it's rare and sounds a bit objectifying.
Use 'se on pilalla'. Note the change from '-lle' to '-lla'.
Yes, especially regarding the economy ('talous on menossa pilalle') or the environment.
Yes, if the ending is ruining the whole experience: 'Leffa on menossa pilalle huonon lopun takia.'
There isn't one direct opposite, but 'onnistua' (to succeed) or 'parantua' (to improve) are often used.
Yes, 'meidän suhde on menossa pilalle' is a common way to express that a relationship is failing.
Both are grammatically possible, but 'menossa' is much more common in spoken and neutral Finnish for this specific phrase.
Frases relacionadas
mennä mönkään
synonymto go wrong/fail
pilaantua
specialized formto spoil (biologically)
pilata
builds onto ruin something
olla pilalla
similarto be ruined
epäonnistua
similarto fail
