Peruspaloja: Persoonapronominit (Basic bits: Personal pronouns)

Hei taas! Pitkästä aikaa! (Hello again! Long time no see :D)

Finnish Factory has been silent way too long xD Thankfully the workers are back at work, ready to present you more grammar puzzles :)

So what's happening today? Basic bits as the title says! Olkaa hyvät! (There you go!)

PERSOONAPRONOMINIT (PERSONAL  PRONOUNS)

These friends are very simple (you may even remember them from the last post :O).

As you can see, typical to Finno-Ugric languages, there are no genders in Finnish. Instead Finnish "hän" corresponds to both, feminine and masculine. Whole language is gender-neutral. You have to be careful when translating these pronouns to avoid misunderstandings and unintended humor.

• He smokes, she doesn't. Mies tupakoi, nainen ei. (lit. Man smokes, woman doesn't)
• That's his wife, and that's her husband. Tuo tuolla on tuon miehen vaimo ja tuo tuolla on tuon naisen mies. (not Tuo on hänen vaimonsa ja tuo on hänen miehensä = marriage between three persons?)

Unlike in English, the usage of hän is way more restricted. It's not as common to refer important items or animals as 3rd person. It is however possible, not very common. It has a childish tone.

• Look at this Viking Line ship! Isn't she gorgeus?
  Katso tätä Viking Line -alusta! Eikö se olekin uljas?
• Finland had to defend herself against her enemies.
  Suomen täytyi puolustautua sen vihollisia vastaan.
• My dog's name is Terry. He's such a glutton.
  Koirani nimi on Terry. Se on oikea suursyömäri.

So when speaking about non-human things, hän is "se" (it) and in plural "ne" (they, non-humans) 

In the situations where politeness is needed, Finnish follows the French way (using plural, and not separate word like "usted/ustedes" in Spanish and "Sie" in German) to show the one speaking with is socially higher due age or social status. Instead of "sinä", "te" is used.

• Sir, would you like to have more tea?
  Monsieur, voulez-vous plus de thé?
  Herra, haluatteko lisää teetä?
• Princess, you are so beautiful.
  Princesse, vous êtes très belle.
  Prinsessa, olette niin kaunis.

OK. That's enough for now. There's more to this but let it be a topic in the future :D