Learn Finnish: Ovatko väärennetyt viikset todellisen näköiset?

Ovatko väärennetyt viikset todellisen näköiset?

Do the forged mustaches look real?

Breakdown of Ovatko väärennetyt viikset todellisen näköiset?

-looking / looking like

väärennetty

forged / fake

Questions & Answers about Ovatko väärennetyt viikset todellisen näköiset?

How does the phrase todellisen näköiset work here?

This is a genitive-modifier compound. It combines the genitive form of todellinen (real), which is todellisen, with the adjective näköinen (looking). Notice that only the second part gets the plural ending to match the noun, while the genitive part todellisen stays exactly the same.

Why does the sentence use näköiset instead of just näköinen?

The adjective must agree with the noun it describes. The subject of the sentence is viikset (mustache), which is a plural word in Finnish, so näköinen takes the plural marker -t to become näköiset.

Wait, is the word for mustache always plural in Finnish?

Yes! Just like the words for scissors or pants in English, viikset is a plural-only noun. That is why the sentence uses the plural verb ovat in the question word ovatko.

What kind of word is väärennetyt?

It is the past passive participle of the verb väärentää (to forge or fake) being used as an adjective. Because it describes viikset, it also takes the plural -t ending.