Significado
Asking if a seat or item is available.
Contexto cultural
Finns value 'oma rauha' (personal peace). Asking 'Onko tämä vapaa?' is the polite way to negotiate shared space without being intrusive. In Eastern Finland, the answer might be more roundabout. Instead of a simple 'on', they might say 'onhan tuo tuossa' (well, it's there). In the capital, interactions are faster. 'Onks tää vapaa?' is often followed by a quick nod and no further words. Finnish-Americans might still use the phrase but with an English-influenced accent, sometimes confusing 'vapaa' with 'vapa' (rod).
The Power of a Nod
In Finland, a simple nod while saying 'Onko tämä vapaa?' is often enough. You don't need a long sentence.
Don't say 'ilmainen'
If you ask if a seat is 'ilmainen', people will think you want to steal the furniture.
Significado
Asking if a seat or item is available.
The Power of a Nod
In Finland, a simple nod while saying 'Onko tämä vapaa?' is often enough. You don't need a long sentence.
Don't say 'ilmainen'
If you ask if a seat is 'ilmainen', people will think you want to steal the furniture.
Use 'Anteeksi'
Starting with 'Anteeksi' (Excuse me) makes you sound much more fluent and polite.
Silence is OK
After you sit down, it is perfectly normal to remain silent. You don't have to talk to the person next to you.
Teste-se
Complete the question to ask if the seat is free.
Anteeksi, ____ tämä vapaa?
We use 'onko' because it is a question (on + ko).
Which one is the casual, spoken form?
How would you say 'Is this free?' to a friend?
'Onks tää' is the standard spoken contraction of 'Onko tämä'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You see a chair in a cafe and want to sit.
This is the standard way to ask for a seat.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Anteeksi, onko tämä vapaa? B: ____, ole hyvä.
If the seat is free, the answer is 'On' (It is).
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Vapaa vs. Ilmainen
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosAnteeksi, ____ tämä vapaa?
We use 'onko' because it is a question (on + ko).
How would you say 'Is this free?' to a friend?
'Onks tää' is the standard spoken contraction of 'Onko tämä'.
You see a chair in a cafe and want to sit.
This is the standard way to ask for a seat.
A: Anteeksi, onko tämä vapaa? B: ____, ole hyvä.
If the seat is free, the answer is 'On' (It is).
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, use 'Oletko vapaa?' for a person. 'Onko tämä vapaa' is for objects/seats.
Not at all! It's actually ruder to sit down without asking if the place is crowded.
It means the seat is taken. Just say 'Okei, anteeksi' and move on.
'Vapaa' is the basic form. 'Vapaata' is the partitive form, often used to mean 'some free space'. Both are okay.
Use 'Onko tuo vapaa?'.
No, 'Onko tämä vapaa?' is enough, but 'Onko tämä paikka vapaa?' is also very common.
Yes, 'sananvapaus' (freedom of speech) uses the same root.
Only if you are asking if a specific display item or a fitting room is available.
'Anteeksi, olisiko tämä paikka vapaa?' is very polite.
Just pointing and saying 'Vapaa?' with a questioning tone works in very casual settings.
Frases relacionadas
onko tässä vapaata
similarIs there free space here?
onko tämä varattu
contrastIs this reserved?
voinko istua tähän
similarCan I sit here?
onks tää vapaa
specialized formIs this free? (Spoken)
tilaa on
builds onThere is space.
