myös

Also (Myös)

Level 1

Use 'myös' in affirmative sentences to include an additional person, object, or action. It usually comes right before the word it emphasizes.

How It Works

The word myös is the standard way to express 'also' or 'too' in Finnish. Unlike English, where 'too' often goes at the end of a sentence, myös typically sits immediately before the word it is highlighting.

1. Placement and Focus
The meaning changes slightly depending on where you put it:

  • Myös minä opiskelen. = Also I study. (Someone else studies, and I do too.)
  • Minä myös opiskelen. = I also study. (I do other things, and I add studying to the list.)

Note: In short, standalone phrases like 'Me too', myös follows the pronoun: Minä myös.

2. Affirmative vs. Negative
Crucially, myös is only used in positive (affirmative) sentences. If you want to say 'not either' in a negative sentence, you must use -kaan/-kään or the word myöskään.

3. Myös vs. -kin
Both myös and the suffix -kin are standard Finnish. While myös is often used for emphasis or in formal writing, the suffix -kin is extremely common in all registers. Sometimes you may even hear them combined as myöskin, though this is usually considered redundant in formal writing.

Examples (4)

  1. Hän puhuu suomea ja myös englantia.

    He speaks Finnish and also English.

    Word by Word: He speaks Finnish and also English.

    Here, 'myös' adds a second language to the list of things he speaks.

  2. Myös lapset saavat tulla mukaan.

    Also the children may come along.

    Word by Word: Also children may come along.

    Placing 'myös' at the start emphasizes that children, in addition to adults, are included.

  3. Tämä kirja on halpa, mutta se on myös hyvä.

    This book is cheap, but it is also good.

    Word by Word: This book is cheap, but it is also good.

    In this case, 'myös' adds a second quality (good) to the first quality (cheap).

  4. Minä juon kahvia. Juotko sinä myös kahvia?

    I am drinking coffee. Are you also drinking coffee?

    Word by Word: I drink coffee. Drink-question you also coffee?

    A common way to ask if someone else is doing the same thing.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'myös' in a negative sentence.

    En myös tiedä.
    En myöskään tiedä.

    In negative sentences, 'myös' must change to 'myöskään' (or the suffix -kaan/-kään) to mean 'either'.

  • Treating 'myös' at the end as a mistake.

    Different MeaningMinä tulen myös.
    Myös minä tulen. / Minäkin tulen.

    'Minä tulen myös' is a normal sentence meaning 'I am coming too'. Moving 'myös' changes the focus: 'Myös minä tulen' stresses that I, as well as others, am coming. -kin works too: 'Minäkin tulen'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

myösLevel 1Also (Myös)

Learn This First

To use 'myös' (also) correctly, you need to understand basic Finnish word order, as the particle's meaning changes depending on which word it precedes. Familiarity with personal pronouns and basic conjunctions helps in forming common additive expressions.

Words in This Pattern

myös