hauska tutustua
/ˈhɑu̯skɑ ˈtutustuɑˣ/word by word
The Finnish phrase for "nice to meet you" is hauska tutustua.
hauska tutustua is a polite expression used when meeting someone for the first time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of hauska, meaning nice or pleasant and tutustua, meaning to get acquainted or to get to know.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can use mukava tutustua as a slightly more formal or polite alternative. In informal situations, particularly in some parts of Western Finland, people often say tosi kiva tutustua to mean "really nice to meet you". Note that if you are greeting someone you already know, you should use Kiva nähdä, which means "Nice to see you".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Western Finland, the informal phrase Tosi kiva tutustua is commonly used.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhɑu̯skɑ ˈtutustuɑˣ/
When do people say it?
A common and natural response to hauska tutustua is samoin!, which means "likewise" or "same to you".
Did you know?
- The word hauska is a linguistic oddity that may have evolved from a root meaning 'useless' or 'wasteful'. This suggests a massive semantic shift from something negative to its modern meaning of 'pleasant' or 'fun'.
- The root of the word tutustua is linked to the concept of 'familiarity'. This implies that the goal of the meeting is not just to exchange names, but to move from being strangers to being familiar with one another.
- The phrase hauska tutustua specifically targets the process of becoming acquainted, rather than just the moment of meeting.
Examples in context
- Hauska tutustua.Nice to meet you.This sentence shows how to use hauska tutustuaTatoeba #3609946 by Silja, translation #499617 by Shishir
- Oli hauska tutustua.It was nice meeting you.
Example conversation
Emma and Juho meet for the first time at a party.
- EmmaMoi, minä olen Emma.Hi, I am Emma.
- JuhoHei Emma, minä olen Juho.Hi Emma, I am Juho.
- EmmaHauska tutustua, Juho!Nice to meet you, Juho!
- JuhoKiitos, samoin!Thanks, likewise!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hauska tutustua, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (hauska, tutustua) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hauska, tutustua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
