kestääkö

Kestääkö is a Finnish question form built from the verb kestää, meaning to endure, last, or take (time). It is used to ask yes–no questions about durability or duration, and is formed by adding the question particle -kö to the finite verb: kestää → kestääkö. The particle follows vowel harmony rules, so the form remains natural in different sentence contexts.

The phrase serves two primary functions. First, it asks about durability or endurance of an object or situation: for example, Kestääkö tämä laite pitkään? “Will this device last long?” In this use, the subject precedes or follows the verb, and the question centers on how long the item will remain functional under use. Second, kestääkö can inquire about time required, i.e., how long something will take: Kestääkö tämä operaatio kaksi tuntia? “Will this operation take two hours?” Here the duration is stated with a time expression in partitive form, common in Finnish for durations.

Related constructions include Kestääkö? as a shortened question when the context is clear, and Kuinka kauan tämä kestää? which explicitly asks “How long does this take?” The distinction between the two senses—durability and duration—often relies on the surrounding nouns and verbs.

In usage, kestääkö appears across spoken and written Finnish, from everyday questions to product reviews and instructions. It complements sentences that compare expected longevity or plan timelines, and is a standard tool for assessing practicality, reliability, and planning.