Tarkkailetko

Tarkkailetko is a Finnish verb phrase formed from the verb tarkkailla, meaning to monitor, observe, or pay close attention, combined with the question suffix -ko, which is used to form yes/no questions. The phrase translates roughly to “Are you watching?” or “Are you paying attention?” and is typically used in informal spoken Finnish.

Grammar and formation: tarkkailla is a regular verb; its present-tense second-person singular form is tarkkailet. When the question marker -ko is added, the form becomes tarkkailetko, with the hoofd verb stem preceding the suffix. The question particle -ko is appended to the preceding word in Finnish, and manifestly appears without a separate question word in this construction. The standalone question form is commonly punctuated with a question mark in writing.

Usage and nuance: Tarkkailetko is used to inquire whether someone is actively watching or paying attention to something, and it can be literal (watching a video, a game, a presentation) or figurative (following a discussion, paying attention to instructions). The tone is typically informal and conversational; context and intonation determine whether it sounds casual, ironic, or mildly confrontational. It is not usually employed in formal written Finnish.

Variants and related forms: The phrase can be adapted for different subjects, for example tarkkailetteko? (are you all watching?) or tarkkailetteko tätä? (are you all paying attention to this?). The related verb tarkkailla and the broader topic of Finnish question formation with -ko/-kö are common points of reference in grammar discussions.

See also: Tarkkailla, Finnish question formation, -ko/-kö question suffix.