syötkö

Syötkö is a Finnish phrase formed from the verb syödä (to eat) and the question suffix -ko/-kö. It means “Are you eating?” or, depending on context, “Do you eat?” and is used in informal spoken Finnish to ask someone about their current eating or to invite them to eat.

Formation and usage

In the second person singular present form of syödä, the verb is typically realized as syöt. By adding the question particle -ko, the clause becomes a question: Syötkö? (Are you eating?). For plural address, the corresponding form is Syöttekö? (Are you all eating?). The structure is common for everyday questions and can also be used to invite meals, as in a context where someone asks about whether another person is about to eat or ready to join a meal.

Variants and related forms

- Syötkö? is used for singular, informal address.

- Syöttekö? is used when talking to more than one person.

- The same mechanism applies to related verbs and other pronouns, producing forms like Syöttekö vielä? (Are you all still eating?).

Context and tone

Syötkö is typical of casual conversation and neutral in tone. It can function as a straightforward inquiry about eating, a prompt to begin eating, or a way to check someone’s appetite. In more formal or polite contexts, Finns might choose different formulations, such as offering food directly or using a more indirect question.

See also

Finnish language, verb conjugation, question particles in Finnish.