Questions & Answers about Asuvatko he kotona?
Why is it asuvatko with -ko instead of -kö?
The question ending has two forms: -ko and -kö. Because the verb asuvat has the back vowels a and u, vowel harmony rules mean we must use the back vowel version, which is -ko.
Why does the sentence start with the verb asuvatko instead of the word for they (he)?
In Finnish, yes/no questions are made by adding -ko or -kö to the word you are asking about, and moving that word to the very beginning of the sentence. Since you are asking if they live (rather than do something else) at home, asuvat gets the -ko ending and goes first.
The dictionary word for home is koti, so why is it kotona here?
While you usually add -ssa or -ssä to say in or at a place, being at home is a special, fixed expression in Finnish. You just use the word kotona whenever you mean at home, rather than building it with standard location endings.
What is the -vat part in asuvatko?
That is the verb ending that means they. The basic verb is asua (to live). To say they live, you add -vat to make asuvat. The question ending -ko is always added to the very end of the fully formed word.
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