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Questions & Answers about Tuo on kissa.
Since tuo means 'that', what is the difference between tuo and se?
Tuo is used to point out something specific that you can physically see but isn't right next to you (like pointing at a cat across the room). Se usually translates to 'it', but it can also mean 'that' when you are talking about something you cannot see right now or something abstract you just mentioned in conversation.
Why is there no word for 'a' before kissa?
Finnish does not have articles like 'a', 'an', or 'the'. The word kissa simply means 'cat'. Depending on what makes sense in English, you will translate it as 'cat', 'a cat', or 'the cat'. Here, 'That is a cat' is the most natural fit.
Does the verb on change if I use a different word instead of tuo?
On is the 'is' form of the verb olla (to be). You use it for all singular third-person words, like hän (he/she), se (it), tämä (this), and tuo (that). It only changes if you switch to talking about yourself (I am = olen) or the person you are talking to (you are = olet).