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Mikä sana tuo on?

Mikä sana tuo on?
What word is that?
From Lesson 7:Basic question words (kuka, mikä, missä)·Finnish

Breakdown of Mikä sana tuo on?

olla
to be
tuo
that
mikä
what
sana
word

Questions & Answers about Mikä sana tuo on?

Why is the verb on at the end of the sentence?
In Finnish, when you ask a question using a question word phrase like mikä sana (what word) and a pronoun like tuo (that), the verb often naturally falls at the end. It translates literally to "What word that is?".
Can I use kuka here instead of mikä?
No. Kuka means "who" and is strictly used for people. Because a sana (word) is a thing, you must use mikä (what).
Is it okay to say Mikä sana se on? instead?
Yes, but the meaning shifts slightly. Tuo specifically points to something physically over there ("that"). Se usually means "it" and is often used for something you were just talking about, rather than something you are physically pointing at.
Does mikä always have to be followed by a noun like sana?
Not always! You can use mikä on its own, like in Mikä tuo on? (What is that?). But just like in English, you can pair it directly with a noun to be more specific, forming mikä sana (what word).

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