Just to give some very basic examples, let’s say you’re in a coffee shop and want to order a cup of coffee. In English, you might say something like “a cup of coffee, please”. But we don’t have the word “please” in Finnish. To make “I want a cup of coffee” polite in Finnish, there are several things you can do (we’re adding an extra layer of politeness with each sentence):
“A cup of coffee, thank you.”
(Kuppi kahvia, kiitos.)
“I would take/have, a cup of coffee.”
(Ottaisin kupin kahvia.)
“I would take/have, a cup of coffee, thank you.”
(Ottaisin kupin kahvia, kiitos.)
“May/can I have a cup of coffee?”
(Saisinko kupin kahvia?)
“May/can I have a cup of coffee, thank you?”
(Saisinko kupin kahvia, kiitos?)
“Could I have a cup of coffee?”
(Voisinko saada kupin kahvia?)
“Could I have a cup of coffee, thank you?”
(Voisinko saada kupin kahvia, kiitos?)