Learn Finnish: Mustekala on uskomaton eläin, kuten kaikki tietävät. - An octopus is an incredible animal, as everyone knows.

In this sentence, kuten means as in the sense of a shared manner or a known fact (as everyone knows). Kuin is primarily used for direct comparisons after a comparative adjective (such as bigger than, isompi kuin) or in similes. Here, kuten acts as a coordinating connector attaching an explanatory clause.

Since kaikki means everything or everyone, why is the verb tietävät in the plural?

When kaikki refers to everyone (groups of people), it acts as a plural pronoun in Finnish, requiring the plural verb form tietävät (they know). When it refers to things (everything), it takes a singular verb, such as kaikki on hyvin (everything is fine).

How is the adjective uskomaton formed?

It is built from the verb uskoa (to believe). The suffix -maton is the negative participle ending, meaning something that is not done or cannot be done. Therefore, uskomaton literally translates to unbelievable, which perfectly captures the meaning of incredible.

Does mustekala literally mean ink fish?

Yes! It is a compound of muste (ink) and kala (fish). Finnish is full of these highly logical, descriptive compound words for animals.