Perusilmaisut

Perusilmaisut, literally basic expressions, is a concept used in Finnish language education to refer to a core set of phrases that enable speakers to function in everyday situations. The term encompasses practical, socially appropriate utterances that learners commonly need, such as greetings, introductions, requests, thanks, apologies, questions, and common transactional language. In classroom practice, perusilmaisut form a foundation for communicative competence and are taught alongside grammar and vocabulary.

The purpose is to give learners ready-to-use language to navigate daily life, support confidence, and facilitate social interaction. They are often organized by real-life situations—getting to know someone, shopping, dining, seeking help, traveling, health, and emergencies.

Typical content includes greetings and farewells, self-introduction, asking for help, numbers, time, dates, directions, shopping expressions, ordering at a restaurant, paying, and expressing feelings. Examples in Finnish: Hei! Mitä kuuluu? (Hello! How are you?), Kiitos, ole hyvä. (Thank you. You're welcome.), Saisinko apua? (Could I get help?), Paljonko tämä maksaa? (How much does this cost?), Missä on vessa? (Where is the bathroom?), Anteeksi, en ymmärrä. (Sorry, I don’t understand.)

Delivery and assessment: Perusilmaisut are typically taught through dialogues, role-plays, and phrase banks, reinforced by audio and visual materials. They are assessed for functional accuracy and the ability to use phrases in appropriate social contexts. The concept supports early fluency and is widely used in Finnish as a first language and in Finnish as a second language curricula.