Translations from Swedish into Finnish by qualified professional translators
Did you know that…
Finnish is not only spoken in Finland – the language also has the status of a minority language in Sweden. Unlike our other neighboring languages, Danish and Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish have little in common. Finnish words are often perceived as very long for a Swedish reader. This is partly due to the fact that Finnish has many cases and forms the words in a different way than Swedish. Instead of using a preposition like ”in” or ”on,” in Finnish, the words are added as a suffix. A Finnish noun can have 2,000 forms, while a verb can have as many as 12,000 forms. But it’s not only Finland’s complex grammar and all its conjugation forms that are famous; it’s also one of the world’s most abundant countries in terms of lakes, with almost 188,000 of them. You may have heard of ”the land of a thousand lakes”.(Sources: Isof, Wikipedia)
Word order is quite flexible in Finnish, which means that people can have very individual opinions on how something should be phrased. If you’ve had material translated into Finnish, you should not be surprised if you receive comments on the translation from other Finnish speakers. This does not necessarily mean anything is wrong; rather, it’s often a matter of people wanting to express themselves in different ways. It’s also worth remembering that Finnish is structured completely differently from the other Nordic languages and English, and these structural differences become apparent when texts are translated. From experience, we know that a close dialogue between the reviewer and the translator is required to find precisely the right feel and tone in the Finnish language right from the start.
In Finland, people believe in individual responsibility and quick, effective decisions. In Sweden, there is more shared responsibility, negotiation and a consensus culture. Both in Finland and Sweden, a very high value is placed on honesty and sticking to what has been agreed.
Finns are generally proficient in languages and often speak English, Swedish and perhaps another language in addition to Finnish. However, despite studying Swedish at school, most people prefer English as the business language, even with their Swedish-speaking partners.
Many companies choose to translate into our Nordic languages, for example Finnish, in addition to Swedish or English.
We have a large network of professional translators who produce top-quality translations into Finnish. The translators have various specialised skills, and before each translation we carefully review the material and then check it with a suitable native speaker who also evaluates the material before we provide you with a quotation. Finnish is one of the languages we translate into most, and we have many talented and experienced Finnish translators.
Of course we also support language pairs other than Swedish to Finnish. If you’d like to know whether we have a particular language pair, you're welcome to contact us. The easiest way to do this is by filling in our form. here.
Our business areas
We work across a number of different business areas such as medicine, technology, IT, law, finance and marketing. Shown below are the things to keep in mind when translating from Swedish into Finnish, both generally and in each industrial area.
General tips for each business area when translating into Finnish
A good source text is essential for achieving the best possible translation. Make sure the manuscript is clear to ensure the best possible translation. Who is your target audience for the text and what is the message? Please provide this information to the translator to help them adapt the text.
A well-crafted text takes time to produce. It’s often said that the preparatory work is the most time-consuming phase, but it’s also the most important in terms of the best end result. Therefore, be sure to clearly communicate the purpose of the material; what you want to achieve with the text and how the material will be used. If there is a specific deadline for the assignment, please don’t forget to let us know.
If you're clear about your content from the outset, this will also be reflected in the translation, as the translator will have a better foundation to work from. For translations into Finnish, it’s a good idea to provide as much relevant information as possible, such as the desired tone and the desired level of formality. If there’s a glossary or other business-specific information that you believe could be relevant to our translation, please share that information with us as well. This will enable us to help you achieve the top-quality translation you're aiming for.
We produce our translations according to your wishes and jointly review your intended tone and register before we begin the translation. We also make sure the text is adapted to your specific industry terminology.
Because translating from Swedish into Finnish should be simple, convenient and time-saving, we always deliver in the same file format in which we received the material.
We also offer the possibility of a referral reading, where we send our translation to one of your approved reviewers. This could be, for example, one of your retailers who can look at the text. We make any adjustments in consultation with the translator and deliver the final translation to you. This method of work is particularly good for a language like Finnish, where there may be comments.
Tips for translating from Swedish to Finnish in medicine, healthcare and social care
A misinterpretation in healthcare can have devastating consequences. Therefore, it’s extremely important to provide as much necessary information as possible to facilitate our translation into Finnish. Good information could, for example, be who the material is intended for. Is it for patients and their relatives, or is it for healthcare professionals? We would be grateful if we could receive this information when you place the order for the translation.
Often, the translation needs to be localised to the different conditions in the country where the text is to be used. It's therefore helpful for our translators if they receive information about this when the order is placed.
Tips for translating from Swedish to Finnish in technology and IT
Technical translations from Swedish to Finnish demand a high level of industry expertise from the translator in the field the specific text concerns.
Whether you need to translate your user manuals, or whether it concerns the translation of websites or other types of documentation, it’s always good for us to know how the material should be used. Is the material for internal use or is it aimed at consumers, retailers, or subcontractors? If the source material contains specific information that will not work in each respective country, it’s especially important that the information in the translation be localized according to the target audience and/or the market where the translation will be used.
If there’s any reference material that may be relevant to our translators, or a list of specific industry terms that should be included in translations from Swedish to Finnish, please inform us about this when submitting the translation.
Tips for translating from Swedish to Finnish in law, economics and finance
Regardless of the industry or business, there’s always a variety of legal and financial documents in a company. Sometimes you need help translating these documents into Finnish. The language company provides tips here on what to consider when translating financial reports and translating legal documents from Finnish to Finnish.
When translating an annual report or a quarterly report, you need to schedule your translation in advance, as it’s usually a complex process involving many stakeholders.
Many also choose the same translator they have worked with in the past, who therefore knows their business well. So, be sure to book your translator well in advance to ensure their availability when your company needs translation support. We review the schedule together with you. The following are some things that can be useful to prepare for a translation:
- What deadlines do we have to work to?
- Would you prefer deliveries of the texts as we proceed or as a single, combined delivery?
- Will the translator need to be on standby for any corrections after translation delivery?
Because your security is important to us at Språkbolaget, we maintain strict confidentiality so you can feel completely secure entrusting your documents to us for translation. We can also draw up separate non-disclosure agreements for assignments that require it. Feel free to contact us for further information.
When translating legal documents, it’s important to provide information about the type of translation you require. If your document requires a certified translation with a stamp, Språkbolaget can help with this. In this case, the document needs to be translated from Swedish or into Swedish. Unfortunately, we’re unable to assist with other languages; we refer you to the corresponding authority for authorized translators in the relevant country.
Tips for translation from Swedish to Finnish for communication agencies, advertising agencies, or internal marketing departments
It’s not uncommon for companies to hire external agencies to help with their communication and marketing. At Språkbolaget, we often receive requests to translate such things as websites, SoMe posts or marketing texts.
But what we rarely find out (unless it’s explicitly stated in the translation materials) is who the end customer is and what their requirements are. For example, what register and tone should the translation maintain? Therefore, it’s a great advantage if you let us get to know your end customer via a short presentation. This can range from requests for register and tone to words that should be included in the translation for better keyword optimization. Other information that’s useful for us includes who the target audience is for the text for translation into Finnish? It’s better to provide us with too much information than too little, and all information helps us to deliver a top-quality translation into Finnish for you and the end customer.