Neues Konzept
Short, clear, polite
A Finnish work email is famously brief. Three lines are perfectly polite; padding them with pleasantries can read as insincere.
| Part | Typical Finnish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Hei Tuula, / Hei, | Hi Tuula, / Hello, |
| Hyvä Tuula Järvinen, | Dear Tuula Järvinen, (more formal) | |
| Hyvä vastaanottaja, | Dear Sir or Madam, | |
| Opening | Kiitos viestistäsi. | Thank you for your message. |
| Request | Voisitko lähettää…? | Could you send…? |
| Olisin kiitollinen, jos… | I'd be grateful if… | |
| Attachment | Liitteenä on… | Please find attached… |
| Follow-up | Palaan asiaan pian. | I'll get back to you soon. |
| Closing | Ystävällisin terveisin | Kind regards |
| Parhain terveisin / Terveisin | Best regards / Regards |
- Hei is fine even with people you've never met; most Finnish work emails start that way.
- Arvoisa… (esteemed) belongs only to very official letters — avoid it.
- No comma after Ystävällisin terveisin: the name simply follows on the next line.