Questions & Answers about Aamiainen on valmis.
The sentence breaks down like this:
- aamiainen = breakfast
- on = is (the 3rd person singular form of the verb olla = to be)
- valmis = ready, finished, completed
So the literal meaning is Breakfast is ready.
Finnish does not use articles (like English a, an, the) at all.
Whether you mean the breakfast is ready or breakfast is ready is understood from context, not from a separate word.
So:
- Aamiainen on valmis. can mean:
- The breakfast is ready.
- Breakfast is ready.
Context (for example, are you talking about a specific breakfast you just prepared?) tells the listener how to interpret it.
The basic dictionary form (aamiainen) is called the nominative singular.
In a simple X is Y sentence in Finnish:
- The subject (X) is in nominative: aamiainen
- The describing word (Y) is also in nominative: valmis
- The linking verb is on (is)
So:
- Aamiainen (nominative subject)
- on (is)
- valmis (nominative predicative adjective)
No extra case ending is needed here.
It does agree with aamiainen, but in a way that is usually invisible in the singular.
In Finnish, in a sentence like Aamiainen on valmis.:
- aamiainen = nominative singular
- valmis (adjective) also appears in nominative singular
Adjectives in this position (after olla = to be) normally match the subject’s number (singular/plural) and case:
- Aamiainen on valmis. – Breakfast is ready. (singular)
- Ateriat ovat valmiit. – The meals are ready. (plural)
- ateriat (plural nominative)
- valmiit (plural nominative)
Because both aamiainen and valmis are singular nominative, they both look like plain dictionary forms.
Standard written Finnish needs the verb on here, so:
- Correct (standard): Aamiainen on valmis.
However, in informal spoken Finnish, people often drop on when the meaning is obvious:
- Aamiainen valmis (colloquial, very informal)
- Or often shortened even more in speech: Aamianen valmis / Aamiane valmis (pronunciation varies)
For clear, correct Finnish—especially in writing or when learning—you should keep on.
All three relate to being ready, but they are used in different structures:
valmis – ready (as a description, after olla)
- Aamiainen on valmis. – Breakfast is ready.
valmiina – in a ready state (essive case)
- Aamiainen on valmiina pöydällä. – Breakfast is ready (set) on the table.
(Emphasizes being already in a ready state, often physically ready/laid out.)
- Aamiainen on valmiina pöydällä. – Breakfast is ready (set) on the table.
valmiiksi – until ready / to a ready state (translative case)
- Laitoin aamiaisen valmiiksi. – I prepared breakfast (until it was) ready.
In your sentence, you just want a simple description X is ready, so valmis is the normal form.
In neutral, everyday Finnish, the natural word order is:
- Aamiainen on valmis.
You can change word order for emphasis, but it sounds marked/poetic or at least unusual in everyday speech:
- Valmis on aamiainen. – Sounds poetic or very emphatic: Ready is the breakfast.
- On aamiainen valmis. – Also marked, used for emphasis or rhythm, for example in song lyrics.
For normal usage and when you’re learning, stick to Aamiainen on valmis.
Approximate English-style pronunciation (not exact, but close enough to start):
- aamiainen ≈ AA-mee-eye-nen
- aa: a long a as in father, but held longer
- mi: like mee in meet
- ai: like eye
- nen: nehn, with e as in get
In IPA: [ˈɑː.mi.ɑi̯.nen]
- valmis ≈ VAHL-miss
- va: vah (a as in father, but shorter)
- lmis: l-miss, with a clear i as in sit, final s like in see
In IPA: [ˈvɑl.mis]
Stress is always on the first syllable in Finnish: AA-mi-ai-nen, VAL-mis.
Valmis is quite general. It can mean:
- ready / prepared
- finished / completed
- done
Examples:
- Aamiainen on valmis. – Breakfast is ready.
- Läksyt ovat valmiit. – The homework is finished.
- Olen valmis. – I am ready.
- Talo on valmis. – The house is finished (construction is done).
Context tells you whether it is about food being ready to eat, a task being finished, a person being ready to go, etc.
Yes, several alternatives with slightly different nuances:
- Aamiainen on valmis. – Breakfast is ready. (neutral, very common)
- Aamiainen on pöydässä. – Breakfast is on the table.
(Implies it’s ready and served.) - Aamiainen on katettu. – Breakfast is laid (set out).
(More about the table being set.) - Aamiainen on tarjolla. – Breakfast is being served / available.
(Common in hotels, buffets.)
In everyday family use, Aamiainen on valmis. is perfectly natural and common.
Yes.
- aamu = morning
- aamiainen = breakfast (literally something like morning meal)
So the word is historically built from aamu and a noun-forming ending, giving the meaning of a meal associated with morning.
No. Finnish has no grammatical gender:
- No distinction like he/she/it in pronouns (Finnish uses hän for both he and she).
- Adjectives like valmis do not change for masculine/feminine/neuter.
Valmis only changes for number (singular/plural) and case, not for gender.
Compare:
- Aamiainen on valmis. – Breakfast is ready.
- Lapsi on valmis. – The child is ready.
- Auto on valmis. – The car is ready.
Valmis stays the same each time.
In the plural, both the noun and the adjective usually take plural forms:
- Aamiaiset ovat valmiit.
- aamiaiset = breakfasts (plural nominative)
- ovat = are (3rd person plural of olla)
- valmiit = ready (plural nominative of valmis)
So the pattern is:
- Singular: Aamiainen on valmis.
- Plural: Aamiaiset ovat valmiit.