Etteivätkö

Etteivätkö is a Finnish negative-question form used to ask for confirmation about something that is negated in the clause. It is formed by combining the negative part eivät (they are not / are not) with the interrogative particle kö, attached to the first word of the clause containing the finite verb. The result eteenkö or ettekö or etteivätkö depends on the person and number of the subject, but et siis use-case is the same: the speaker expects confirmation or expresses surprise about a negated situation.

In use, et endast kö forms are most common when the speaker wants to challenge or verify a claim that something did not happen, or that a given state is not the case. The construction often carries a slightly emphatic or formal nuance and can appear at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, especially in written Finnish or careful spoken style. It is most typical with a clearly stated subject and a present or perfect tense of the verb.

Examples:

- Etteivätkö nämä tiedot ole oikeat? Aren’t these data correct?

- Etteivätkö suunnitelmat ole muuttuneet? Have the plans not changed?

Notes:

- The -kö particle attaches to the clause’s first finite word, and the form reflects the negation used in the clause.

- The construction is characteristic of Finnish and is not typically used in many other languages without a direct equivalent.

- It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though its emphatic, confirmatory tone is more noticeable in formal or written language.