Breakdown of Kiitos samoin! Minä olen iloinen.
olla
to be
minä
I
iloinen
happy
kiitos samoin
thanks, likewise
Questions & Answers about Kiitos samoin! Minä olen iloinen.
Does samoin come from the word for "same"?
Yes! It is related to the word sama (same). In greetings, samoin acts like a word meaning "likewise" or "the same to you." You will often hear it as a polite reply when someone wishes you a good day or weekend.
Do I have to say Minä here, or can I just say olen iloinen?
You can absolutely just say olen iloinen. Because the verb ending -n in olen already tells us that "I" am the one doing the action, the word Minä (I) is optional. In spoken Finnish, it is very common to drop it.
I learned another word for happy, onnellinen. Why use iloinen here?
Iloinen is usually about a temporary, outward feeling of joy or gladness, like being in a good mood right now. Onnellinen refers to a deeper, more long-term sense of happiness or fulfillment in life. Here, the speaker is expressing a cheerful, immediate feeling.
Can I change the order and say Samoin kiitos! instead?
Yes, you can! Both Kiitos samoin! and Samoin kiitos! are completely natural and used interchangeably to say "Thanks, same to you!"
Learn Kiitos samoin! Minä olen iloinen and more in Finnish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free