A few Finnish questions

[coranglaisman]

For all these questions, I'm mostly interested in standard Finnish and the Helsinki dialect since I'm going to be there in a couple months, but I'd gladly take answers specific to other dialects (especially Tampere).

ystävä vs. kaveriSo, I can tell that there's definitely a formal vs. informal divide between the two words. But what I don't know is

Comments

[pikku_gen]

Hei ja tervetuloa! =)

Your definition of "ystävä/kaveri" is correct, and in colloquial use "kaveri" is much more common. There are other such words, but since I'm not actually a resident of Helsinki region, I can't say what's in or hip just now. I'm supposing you don't look for any fast-changing youth slang?

If you use "matkapuhelin" it'll sound like you are about <60 years old or a salesperson for said articles, so "kännykkä" might be the colloquial neutral word you're looking for. Any Helsinki dweller can (and probably will) correct me on this, as the words tend to change as rapidly as any popular phone models... but if you talk about a kännykkä you will be understood

[nbuwe]

If you think you don't know how to use "te" correctly when speaking to one person [...]

Anything special besides correct conjugation for person?

[pure_heroine]

I have to answer to this although the question is over two years old...

The difficulty with using "te" when you're talking to a person is the conjugation of the verb. "Te" is a plural form, and thus the plural form of the verb is used, except for predicatives and participles. They are always in singular form when speaking to one person.

Compare these:

1. "Käyttekö te usein Espanjassa?"
2. "Käyttekö te usein Espanjassa?"

1. & 2. "Do you often go to Spain?" Here the verb "käydä" is a predicate, so the same form (plural) of the verb is used when speaking to several people and to one person. Without context it's impossible to say if the question is addressed to a person or several people. (Just like in English.)

1. "Oletteko te koskaan käyneet Espanjassa?"
2. "Oletteko te koskaan käynyt Espanjassa

[nbuwe]

Thanks!

[xxxxx]

T-V: I heard you have to use "te" in the immigration police when applying for Finnish citizenship :)