A collection of useful phrases in Livvi-Karelian (livvi), a Finnic language spoken mainly in the Russian Republic of Karelia, and also in Finland.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| Phrase | livvi (Livvi-Karelian) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Tule terveh! (sg) Tulgua terveh! (pl) |
| Hello (General greeting) | Terveh (sg) Terveh teile! (pl) Terveh taloih (When visiting someone's house) |
| Hello (on phone) | Terveh! |
| How are you? | Kuibo dielot? Kuibo elät? (sg) Kuibo elättö? (pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ylen hyvin Passibo, hyviä kuuluu |
| What's your name? | Kuibo on sinun nimi? Kuibo sinuu kučutah? |
| My name is ... | Minun nimi on ... |
| Where are you from? | Kuspäi työ tulitto? |
| I'm from ... | Minä tulin ... Olen ... päi |
| Pleased to meet you | Mieleh on tuttavuo |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Hyviä huondestu |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Hyviä päiviä |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Hyviä ildua |
| Good night | Hyviä yödy |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Jiä tervehekse (sg) Jiägiä tervehekse (pl) |
| Good luck! | Ozua da lykkyy! |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Teijän tervehyökse! |
| Have a nice day | Hyviä päivänjatkuo! |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Hyviä syöndyhimuo! |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Hyviä matkua! |
| Yes | Da |
| No | Ei |
| Maybe | Toinah |
| I don't know | En tiijä |
| Do you understand? | Ellendätgo? |
| I understand | Minä ellendän |
| I don't understand | En ellendä |
| Please speak more slowly | Ole hyvä, pagize hillembäh |
| Please say that again | Ole hyvä, sano tai uvvessah |
| Please write it down | Ole hyvä, kirjuta se bumuagah |
| Do you speak English? | Pagizetgo angliekse? |
| Do you speak Karelian? | Pagizetgo karjalakse? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Da, vähäzen |
| Do you speak a language other than Karelian? |
Pagizetgo midätah tostu kieldy ku karjalua? |
| Speak to me in Karelian | Pagize minule karjalakse |
| How do you say ... in Karelian? | Kui sanuo ... karjalakse? |
| Excuse me | Prostikkua |
| How much is this? | Äijängo tämä maksau? |
| Sorry | Minul on žiäli (I'm sorry) Andiekse? (Sorry? Pardon?) Prosti minuu (forgive me - sg) Prostikkua minuu (forgive me - pl) |
| Please | Ole hyvä |
| Thank you | Passibo |
| Reply to thank you | Ole hyvä |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Kusbo on käymäl? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Tämä džentlmen maksau kaiken |
| This lady will pay for everything | Tämä duamu maksau kaiken |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Tahtozitgo tansuija minunke? |
| Do you come here often? | Kävytgo tiä puaksuh? |
| I miss you | Minul on igävy sinuu |
| I love you | Suvaičen sinuu |
| Get well soon | Parane terväzeh |
| Go away! | Mene iäre! |
| Leave me alone! | Jätä minuu rauhah! |
| Help! | Avvutakkua! |
| Fire! | Tulipalo! |
| Stop! | Stoi! |
| Call the police! | Soitakkua politsil! |
| Christmas greetings | Hyviä Rastavua! |
| New Year greetings | Hyviä uuttu vuottu! |
| Easter greetings | Hyviä Äijiäpäiviä! |
| Birthday greetings | Hyviä roindupäiviä! |
| Congratulations! | Olgah ozakse! |
| One language is never enough | Yksi kieli nikonzu ei tävvy |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Minun ilmupielusalus on tävvelleh ängerjähii |
Phrases provided by Mazzaruli and Erik J.L.
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Other collections of Livvi-Karelian phrases
https://www.digitaldialects.com/Karelian.htm
https://app.memrise.com/course/1185790/karelian-basic-phrases-vocabulary/
Information about Livvi-Karelian | Phrases | Numbers
Estonian, Finnish, Kven, Livonian, Livvi-Karelian, Veps, Võro
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