Learn Finnish: Se on vain kymmenen senttiä.

Se on vain kymmenen senttiä.

It is only ten cents.

Breakdown of Se on vain kymmenen senttiä.

olla

to be

it / he / she (of a person) / that

Questions & Answers about Se on vain kymmenen senttiä.

Why does this sentence use senttiä instead of a plural word for cents?

In Finnish, any number greater than one requires the noun following it to be in the partitive singular case. So instead of a plural, you use the partitive form senttiä. It acts a bit like saying ten of a cent.

Does the word senttiä refer to money or a measurement?

It can be both! The base word sentti means a Euro cent, but it is also the everyday word for a centimeter. You have to rely on the context to know whether the person is talking about price or length.

Can I use maksaa (costs) instead of on (is) in this sentence?

Absolutely. Saying Se maksaa vain kymmenen senttiä (It costs only ten cents) is just as natural and has the exact same meaning.

Can I leave out Se on if I am just answering a question about price?

Yes, Finnish is very efficient. If someone asks you how much something is, you can just reply with Vain kymmenen senttiä.