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Questions & Answers about Hauska tutustua.
Why is there no word for “it” or “is” in this sentence?
Finnish often drops the verb on (is) and any dummy subject in set phrases. The full thought is implicitly On hauska (tutustua [sinuun]). In everyday use, this gets reduced to the fixed, idiomatic Hauska tutustua.
What form is tutustua, and why is it used here?
Tutustua is the dictionary form (the so‑called A‑infinitive), meaning “to get acquainted.” After adjectives like hauska/mukava/kiva, Finnish commonly uses an infinitive: Hauska tutustua, Mukava tavata, Kiva nähdä, etc.
How is tutustua different from tavata and nähdä?
- tutustua = to become acquainted, to get to know (a first contact or starting a relationship; works even online).
- tavata = to meet (physically encountering someone).
- nähdä = to see (often used with people you already know). Typical set phrases:
- Hauska tutustua.
- Hauska tavata. (“Nice to meet you” in person.)
- Hauska nähdä. (“Nice to see you,” usually when you’ve met before.)
Do I need to say “you,” like “with you”?
No—Hauska tutustua stands on its own. If you want to be explicit:
- With tutustua (which governs the illative): Hauska tutustua sinuun (to you, singular), … teihin (to you, plural/polite).
- With tavata (which takes a direct object): Hauska tavata sinut/teidät.
Which case does tutustua require?
The illative (answers “into whom/what?”: keneen/mihin):
- tutustua sinuun (to get to know you, sg)
- tutustua teihin (you, pl/polite)
- tutustua suomalaiseen kulttuuriin (Finnish culture)
Is Hauska tutustua formal, informal, or neutral?
Neutral and polite. Variants by register:
- Casual: Kiva tutustua.
- Neutral: Mukava tutustua.
- More formal: On ilo tutustua.
How do I respond politely to this?
Common replies:
- Kiitos, samoin! (Thanks, likewise!)
- Samoin!
- Kiitos, mukava tutustua. (mirrors the sentiment)
How do you pronounce it?
- Stress the first syllable of each word.
- Hauska: HAUS‑ka (like “how” + “skah”; Finnish au is as in “cow”).
- tutustua: tu‑tus‑tu‑a (four syllables; every vowel is clearly pronounced; Finnish u ≈ “oo,” a ≈ “ah”). Say it smoothly: HAUS‑ka tu‑TUS‑tu‑a.
Should it be Hauskaa instead of Hauska?
Use the set phrase Hauska tutustua. If you include a verb, both are heard, but nominative is a safe default:
- Present: On hauska tutustua.
- Past/closing a meeting: Oli hauska tutustua. (You may also hear Oli hauskaa tutustua, but as a stand‑alone greeting, stick to Hauska tutustua.)
Can I use it at the end of a meeting?
Yes—switch to the past to wrap up:
- Oli hauska tutustua.
- Very natural alternatives: Oli kiva/mukava tutustua.
Is it okay to use in email or online chats when meeting someone virtually?
Yes. Hauska tutustua works well in first‑contact emails, chats, and video calls. If you want to sound a bit more formal in writing, On ilo tutustua is a good choice.
Does hauska ever mean “funny”? Is that intended here?
Hauska can mean “fun” or “funny” depending on context, but in greetings like Hauska tutustua, it means “pleasant/nice,” not “funny.”
Is there a polite “you” in Finnish I should consider?
You can address one person politely or a group with te:
- Hauska tutustua teihin. In formal letters, Te may be capitalized, but in everyday modern Finnish it’s rarely needed unless addressing multiple people or being explicitly formal.
Are there closely related alternatives I should know?
Yes:
- Hauska tavata (in‑person meeting).
- Kiva/Mukava tavata (casual/neutral).
- Hauska nähdä (seeing someone you already know).
- Very formal: On ilo tutustua.