Questions & Answers about Mikä sävy tämä on?
Why does this sentence use mikä instead of miten or kuinka?
Because sävy (shade) is a noun. When asking "what [noun]", Finnish uses mikä. The words miten and kuinka (how) are used with adjectives or verbs. For example, if you wanted to use kuinka, you would need an adjective: Kuinka tumma tämä sävy on? (How dark is this shade?).
Could I say Millainen sävy tämä on? instead?
Yes, but the meaning changes slightly. Using mikä asks for a specific name or identification (like "crimson" or "navy blue"). Using millainen (what kind of) asks for a description, so the answer might be "it is very bright and warm."
Is it possible to change the word order to Mikä tämä sävy on?
Absolutely! Both word orders are perfectly fine and mean almost exactly the same thing. Mikä sävy tämä on? translates literally to "What shade is this?", while Mikä tämä sävy on? translates to "What is this shade?".
Does sävy only refer to the shade of a color?
No, sävy translates to "shade", "hue", or "tone". Just like in English, it can be used for colors, but also for sounds (like a tone of voice) or the general mood and nuance of a text or situation.