Finnish Vowels And Dipthongs

Front 1

a

Back 1

ah
a in father

e.g. ja
(Back vowel)

Front 2

aa

Back 2

argh
as in calm

e.g. taas
(Back vowel)

Front 3

e

Back 3

eh
e in net

e.g. ehkä
(Middle vowel)

Front 4

ee

Back 4

ehhh
e as in net, but double length

e.g. eteenpäin
(Middle vowel)

Front 5

i

Back 5

ih
i as in sit

e.g. kippis
(Middle vowel)

Front 6

ii

Back 6

ee
as in seat

e.g. kiitos
(Middle vowel)

Front 7

o

Back 7

ogh
o as in rot

e.g. jo
(Back vowel)

Front 8

oo

Back 8

awe
as in taught

e.g. joo
(Back vowel)

Front 9

u

Back 9

ooh (but short)
as in o as the end of who
e.g. usein => (ooh-sane)
kuka => (kooh-ka)
(Back vowel)

Front 10

uu

Back 10

ooh (hold it)
as in boom

e.g. muuten
(Back vowel)

Front 11

y

Back 11

ew (but short)
as in über

e.g. hyvä (rhymes with über)
(Front vowel)

Front 12

yy

Back 12

eww

e.g. myyjä (meww-yah)
(Front vowel)

Front 13

ä

Back 13

a
a in hat / apple

e.g. missä
(Front vowel)

Front 14

ää

Back 14

aa
as in cat, but double

e.g. sisään
(Front vowel)

Front 15

ö

Back 15

er
as in better

e.g. söpö
(Front vowel)

Front 16

öö

Back 16

err
as in murder

e.g. insinööri
(Front vowel)

Front 17

ai

Back 17

I
as in aisle

e.g. aina

Front 18

ei

Back 18

ay
as in eight

e.g. okei

Front 19

oi

Back 19

oy
as in voice

e.g. noin

Front 20

ui

Back 20

ooee
as in Spanish muy

e.g. kuinka

Front 21

yi

Back 21

ewwee
as in French suis

e.g. hyi

Front 22

äi

Back 22

I-E (but flowing as one)

e.g. näin (pronounced 'nine')
e.g. äiti

Front 23

öi

Back 23

O-E (but flowing as one)

e.g. töihin

Front 24

au

Back 24

ow (as in cow)

e.g. kaunis

Front 25

eu

Back 25

ehoo

e.g seuraava

Front 26

iu

Back 26

E-oo

e.g. tiukka

Front 27

ou

Back 27

O-ooh
(O starting at the back of the mouth, moving to the front)

e.g. kokous

Front 28

äy

Back 28

a-ew

e.g. täynna

Front 29

öy

Back 29

O-ew

e.g. löyly

Front 30

ie

Back 30

E-eh
as is spanish Bien

mies

Front 31

uo

Back 31

oo-Oh
(oo starting at the front of the mouth, moving to 'O' at the back)
e.g. Suomi

Front 32

yö

Back 32

ew-er

e.g. yötä