Puhutko

Puhutko is a Finnish phrase built from the verb puhua, meaning to speak, in the second-person singular present tense (puhut) combined with the question particle -ko. The phrase literally translates as “do you speak” and is used to ask whether someone speaks a particular language or dialect.

In Finnish, the question particle -ko/-kö attaches to the preceding word and follows vowel harmony rules. With puhut, which ends in a back vowel sound, the common form is puhutko. The phrase is normally completed with the language or subject in the partitive case, for example: Puhutko englantia? (Do you speak English?), Puhutko suomea? (Do you speak Finnish?).

Usage notes: Puhutko is widely used in everyday conversation, travel, and language-learning contexts to inquire about someone’s language ability. The construction is typically informal or neutral in tone and can initiate a longer question. For more formal or specific inquiries, speakers may use alternatives such as Osaatko puhua ...? (Are you able to speak …?), which emphasizes ability rather than routine speaking.

Etymology and semantics: Puhutko demonstrates Finnish yes–no question formation, where the particle -ko/-kö is added to the verb stem to form a question. The statement and its complement determine the overall meaning, while the core meaning remains “do you speak.” The phrase is a common building block in practical Finnish dialogue.