Syön ruokaa kotona.

I eat food at home.

Breakdown of Syön ruokaa kotona.

• minä: I
• kotona: at home
• ruoka: the food
• syödä: to eat

Questions & Answers about Syön ruokaa kotona.

Why is the subject pronoun omitted in Syön?

In Finnish, the verb form syön already indicates the first-person singular. The suffix -n tells us that the subject is I, so adding the pronoun minä is optional unless you want to emphasize it.

Why do we use the partitive form ruokaa instead of ruoka?

Finnish often uses the partitive to express an indefinite amount of something when it’s not a specific or a whole entity. Syön ruokaa implies you’re eating “some amount of food,” rather than all of it or a specific piece.

How do I know when to use kotona instead of kotiin or kodista?

Kotona means “at home,” describing a static location. Kotiin means “to home,” indicating movement towards home. Kodista means “from home,” indicating movement away. Since you’re describing the place where you’re currently eating, kotona is correct.

Does Syön ruokaa kotona mean I am eating right now or I usually eat at home?

Finnish doesn’t have a separate continuous tense, so syön could mean either “I eat” (habitually) or “I am eating” (right now). Context usually clarifies the intended meaning.

Could I also say Minä syön ruokaa kotona?

Yes, you can. Adding minä emphasizes the subject but isn’t necessary for grammatical correctness. Both forms are perfectly natural in Finnish.