jäätelö
/ˈjæːtelø/
The English phrase "ice cream" is translated into Finnish as jäätelö.
jäätelö is a noun used to refer to the frozen dessert.
Meaning: dessert (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use jäätelön when referring to a specific, whole object, such as "the ice cream". Use the partitive form jäätelöä when expressing an indefinite amount or describing the act of eating it.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use the partitive jäätelöä for indefinite amounts or when describing actions like eating. Use the genitive/accusative form jäätelön when referring to a specific, whole object.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈjæːtelø/
Did you know?
- The creation of the word jäätelö is attributed to the same man who wrote the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.
- Finnish speakers use the slang term pehmis, a shortening of the word pehmeä meaning 'soft', specifically for soft serve ice cream.
- While 'ice cream' can be a broad term in English, jäätelö almost always implies that the treat contains dairy.
Examples in context
- En halua syödä jäätelöä.I didn't want to eat ice cream.This sentence is useful for practicing the partitive form jäätelöä in a negative context.Tatoeba #7889898 by Orava, translation #6259279 by CK
- Tomi söi kaiken jäätelön.Tom ate all the ice cream.This sentence shows how to use the form jäätelön when referring to a specific object.Tatoeba #13458374 by Johannes_S, translation #2544609 by CK
- Hän tykkää syödä jäätelöä.He enjoys eating ice cream.This sentence demonstrates the use of the partitive form jäätelöä with a verb of liking.Tatoeba #3815738 by Silja, translation #288684 by CK
- Taidetaan pysähtyä jätskille matkalla rannalle.Let's stop for ice cream on the way to the beach.
- Saisinko kaksi palloa suklaajäätelöä?Could I have two scoops of chocolate ice cream?
- Antaisitko minulle minttujäätelöä?Could you give me some mint ice cream?
- Onko teillä vegaanista jäätelöä?Do you have vegan ice cream?
- Haluaisin maistaa käsin tehtyä jäätelökakkua.I'd like to try some handmade ice cream cake.
- Onko sinun suosikkijäätelösi lakritsi?Is your favorite ice cream flavor licorice?
- Minun ehdoton suosikkini on vaniljajätski.My absolute favorite is vanilla ice cream.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Antti are walking past a dessert shop.
- SofiaHaluatko syödä jäätelöä?Do you want to eat ice cream?
- AnttiKyllä, se kuulostaa hyvältä.Yes, that sounds good.
- SofiaMinkä makuinen jäätelö on lempparisi?What flavor of ice cream is your favorite?
- AnttiPidän eniten vaniljasta.I like vanilla the most.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ice cream” translations and entries jäätelö, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
