How to Build Your Own Survival Finnish Phrasebook with Google Sheets

If you couldn’t find a phrase list that fits your needs, make one!

Yes, you can. 

With the help of Google Sheets and its GOOGLETRANSLATE formula.

 

Step 1: Set Up YOUR Sheet

Here is my sheet, for your reference. You may copy it then delete the content on my first column to make a template, ready to use. 

You may also set up from scratch. It's super quick, and fun!

Here's how I usually set up my new sheets:

1. Name the columns.

2. Freeze the first row by pulling down the thick gray horizontal bar at the top-left corner.

3. Add formulas.

 

In this case it's only =IF(A2="", "", GOOGLETRANSLATE(A2, "en", "fi")). Insert this formula in the cell you want the translation to show. Replace A2 with the cell of your source text. If your source language is not English, replace "en" with the official abbreviation of yours; you can look it up on Google or Bing.

Copy this formula-contained cell. Select its entire column by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Page Down. Then paste, with Ctrl + P.

Do you know why an IF formula is needed? Without it, when your source text cell is empty, the translation cell will show error. The mark "" means empty in Excel language. The whole formula means, "If A2 is empty, leave this cell empty. Else, translate A2 text from English to Finnish."

Beside human languages, I'm also fascinated by the language of computers.

4. Add some style and improve readability with Alternating Colors.

Step 2: Add YOUR Survival Sentences

Now you're allowed to imagine future disasters. Think of scenarios where you will have to speak Finnish. What will you need or want to say?

Write them down. But keep them short. Why? Try adding a long sentence and you'll get it. The translation will be long as well, which is hard to remember. Our goal is to get these phrases in our brain, not just on this sheet. I recommend 3-to-4-word sentences at max.

Step 3: Categorize Your Entries (Optional)

After collecting a fair number of phrases, you may want to sort them out by topic or context for easy revision. Simply add a third column of tags, then you can filter the phrases by tag.

I'm so sleepy. I believe you know how to filter tables.

Hyvää opiskelua!