Questions & Answers about Kiitos samoin, opettaja!
Where does the word samoin come from?
It is an adverb built from the word sama, which means 'the same'. In Finnish, kiitos samoin is the standard phrase for 'thanks, the same to you!' when someone wishes you a good day or weekend.
Why doesn't the word opettaja get a special ending since we are talking directly to them?
Finnish does not have a special grammar case for addressing people directly. You simply use the basic dictionary form of the word, so opettaja stays exactly as it is.
Is it normal in Finland to call someone by their job title like opettaja?
Generally, Finns use first names even in formal situations. However, addressing a teacher simply as opettaja is a very common exception, especially in schools or language classes.
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