mittaako

Mittaako is a Finnish verb form used to form yes–no questions from the verb mitata, meaning to measure. It is created by attaching the question particle -ko (or -kö in writing) to the present-tense stem of the verb, yielding mittaako, which functions as “does (someone) measure” or “is measuring.” In other words, mittaako is not a separate word with its own meaning; it is the interrogative form of the verb.

Usage and function: Mittaako is used to ask whether a measurement or act of measuring is taking place. It typically appears in direct questions and can be combined with a subject and objects, much like any other finite verb form. Examples include Mittaako hän tämän? (Is he measuring this?) and Mittaako se tämän? (Does it measure this?) The construction is common in standard Finnish and is understood across dialects, though colloquial speech may alter word order or omit certain elements without changing the core meaning.

Formation notes: The -ko/-kö particle signals a yes–no question and is attached directly to the finite verb form. The exact orthography respects Finnish orthographic conventions, so mittaako is written with a single word and a question mark when used in isolation or at the end of a clause. In embedded questions or indirect speech, the question particle is typically not used, and the sentence follows normal declarative syntax.

See also: Finnish grammar, question formation in Finnish, yes–no questions.