Photography

1. Saanko ottaa valokuvan täällä?

   May I take a photo here?

   Usage

   Use to check if photography is permitted in temples or museums

   Grammar Note

   "Saanko" is the first-person interrogative of "saada" (to get/be allowed), used to seek permission

2. Saanko ottaa sinusta valokuvan?

   Can I take your photo?

   Usage

   Always ask permission before photographing a person

   Grammar Note

   "sinusta" is the elative case of "sinä" (you). Finnish uses the elative to express the subject of a photo

3. Voisitteko ottaa meistä kuvan?

   Could you take a photo of us?

   Usage

   Ask a stranger to photograph your group at a tourist spot

   Grammar Note

   "-tte-" marks the polite plural second person. "Voisitteko" is the polite conditional of "voida" (can)

4. Kuvaaminen ei ole sallittua täällä

   KU-vaa-mi-nen ei O-le SAL-lit-tu-a TÄÄL-lä

   Photography is not allowed here.

   Usage

   Used by staff to inform visitors that photography is prohibited

   Grammar Note

   "sallittua" is the partitive of the passive past participle of "sallia" (to allow)

5. Täällä on täydellinen valo valokuville!

   The light is perfect for photos here!

   Usage

   An enthusiastic comment about ideal lighting conditions

   Grammar Note

   "valokuville" is the plural allative of "valokuva" (photo). Finnish has 15+ grammatical cases

6. Voisitteko siirtyä hieman vasemmalle/oikealle?

   Can you stand a bit to the left / right?

   Usage

   Direct a subject to shift position for better composition

   Grammar Note

   "vasemmalle/oikealle" are allative forms meaning toward left/right. "-lle" marks movement toward

7. Missä on paras paikka valokuvata tätä nähtävyyttä?

   Where is the best spot to photograph this landmark?

   Usage

   Ask locals for the best vantage point at a landmark

   Grammar Note

   "paras" is the superlative of "hyvä" (good). "nähtävyyttä" is the partitive of "nähtävyys" (landmark)

8. Kamerani akku on tyhjä — missä voin ladata sen?

   My camera battery is dead — where can I charge it?

   Usage

   Ask at a café or hotel for a charging point

   Grammar Note

   "tyhjä" means empty and is used for a dead battery. "missä" is the question word for where

9. Etsin muistikorttia

   ET-sin MUIS-ti-kort-ti-a

   I'm looking for a memory card.

   Usage

   Use in electronics stores or camera shops

   Grammar Note

   "muistikorttia" is the partitive case, used for the object being searched. Partitive marks incompleteness

10. Tämä maisema on henkeäsalpaava — minun täytyy ottaa kuva!

    This view is breathtaking — I must take a photo!

    Usage

    An enthusiastic exclamation when encountering a stunning view

    Grammar Note

    "henkeäsalpaava" is a compound of "henki" (breath) and "salpaava" (stopping), literally breathtaking

Browse all TravelPhrases languages