Top 10 Common English to Finnish Translation Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Jan 29, 2026, Nishi SinghTranslating from English to Finnish is challenging due to major grammatical, structural, and cultural differences between the two languages. Finnish is not an Indo - European language and relies heavily on case endings, flexible word order, compound words, and cultural context rather than prepositions and rigid sentence structure.
As a result, English to Finnish translation mistakes are common, especially when translators rely on literal translation or machine-only tools. In this guide, myTranscriptionPlace outlines the top 10 most common English - Finnish translation errors and explains how professional linguists avoid them to ensure accuracy in business, legal, medical, and technical content.
Key Takeaways: English to Finnish Translation
Finnish grammar differs fundamentally from English
Literal translation leads to loss of meaning
Case endings and verb forms are critical
Cultural adaptation is essential
Professional review ensures accuracy and credibility
1. Relying on Literal Translation
Why it’s a mistake:
Finnish operates under a completely different linguistic framework than English. Word-for-word translation often produces unnatural phrasing and incorrect meaning.
How to avoid it:
Professional translators use meaning-based translation, restructuring sentences so they sound natural in Finnish while preserving the original intent.
2. Ignoring the Finnish Case System
Why it’s a mistake:
Finnish uses an extensive case system instead of prepositions. Applying English grammar rules directly leads to serious Finnish translation errors.
How to avoid it:
Translators must understand how case endings affect meaning especially in legal, technical, and academic documents, where precision is critical.
3. Making Incorrect Word Order Assumptions
Why it’s a mistake:
English relies on a fixed subject-verb-object structure, while Finnish allows flexible word order for emphasis. Retaining English syntax often results in unnatural Finnish text.
How to avoid it:
Native Finnish translators adjust sentence structure based on emphasis, tone, and context rather than copying English word order.
4. Misinterpreting Finnish Compound Words
Why it’s a mistake:
Finnish frequently combines concepts into long compound words, while English expresses them as multiple words.
How to avoid it:
Translators must recognize compound structures and translate their full conceptual meaning, especially in business, medical, and academic translations.
5. Overlooking Formal vs Informal Language
Why it’s a mistake:
Finnish distinguishes clearly between formal and informal registers. Using casual language in professional settings reduces credibility.
How to avoid it:
Professional translation accounts for audience, context, and tone, ensuring appropriate language use in corporate, legal, and institutional communication.
6. Misusing Tenses and Verb Forms
Why it’s a mistake:
Finnish verb conjugation and tense usage differ significantly from English. Errors here can change meaning entirely.
How to avoid it:
Expert translators understand how Finnish expresses time, continuity, and intent - critical in instructions, contracts, and research documentation.
7. Ignoring Cultural Context
Why it’s a mistake:
Idioms and expressions rarely translate directly. Literal handling of culturally specific phrases leads to confusion or misinterpretation.
How to avoid it:
Professional Finnish translation involves localization, adapting expressions so they make sense culturally while preserving the message.
8. Relying Only on Machine Translation
Why it’s a mistake:
AI tools struggle with Finnish grammar, cases, and context. Machine-generated translations often repeat the same structural errors.
How to avoid it:
Technology should support - not replace - human linguistic expertise, especially for legal, business, and qualitative research content.
9. Using Inconsistent Terminology
Why it’s a mistake:
Switching terms throughout a document reduces clarity and credibility, particularly in long or technical content.
How to avoid it:
At myTranscriptionPlace, we use terminology management systems combined with human review to ensure consistency across all translated materials.
10. Skipping Professional Review
Why it’s a mistake:
Unreviewed translations often contain small errors that can damage trust, cause misunderstandings, or lead to costly revisions.
How to avoid it:
Every Finnish translation should undergo native-level proofreading by experienced linguists before delivery.
How Professional Translators Avoid English - Finnish Translation Errors
At myTranscriptionPlace, accuracy is non-negotiable. Our translation process combines:
Native Finnish linguists
Subject-matter expertise
Cultural localization
Terminology management
Multi-step quality assurance
Translating into Finnish requires more than language proficiency - it demands cultural insight, grammatical precision, and contextual understanding.
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