Learn Finnish: Delfiini on viisas eläin, kuten koirakin. - A dolphin is a smart animal, like a dog.

While both can translate to "like" or "as", kuten is used to show a parallel situation, manner, or to give examples (like a dog is). kuin is strictly used for direct comparisons of degree, such as with comparative adjectives (for example, viisaampi kuin koira - smarter than a dog).

Why is the suffix -kin attached to koira?

The suffix -kin means "also" or "too". When making comparisons with kuten, Finnish speakers very often add -kin to the example word to emphasize the shared trait. It gives the natural feel of saying "just as a dog is, too".

Could I just write kuten koira without the -kin suffix?

You can, and it is grammatically correct, but adding -kin makes the sentence sound much more natural and cohesive in Finnish. Without it, the comparison feels slightly abrupt or incomplete to a native ear.

Why is there a comma before kuten here?

In Finnish grammar, when kuten introduces a distinct comparative phrase or an additional example appended to a complete thought, a comma is required. The first part, Delfiini on viisas eläin, forms a fully independent clause on its own.