Ajattelimme

Ajattelimme is the first-person plural imperfect (imperfect indicative) form of the Finnish verb ajatella, meaning “we thought” or “we were thinking.” It is used to describe a thought process carried out by a group in the past. Morphologically, it consists of the verb stem ajatell-, the past tense marker -i-, and the personal ending -mme, indicating 1st person plural. The form is common in both spoken and written Finnish and can introduce reported speech or set the stage for a decision or plan.

Common usages include statements such as ajattelimme että... (we thought that...) and ajattelimme mennä... (we were thinking of going...). For example: “Kokouksessa ajattelimme erilaisia vaihtoehtoja.” and “Me ajattelimme mennä kahville.” The nuance conveyed is deliberation and collaboration, rather than a definitive action; it often signals the first step in forming an intention or conclusion. It contrasts with other past forms such as ajattelin (I thought) or mietimme (we considered more tentatively). In everyday language, ajattelimme is versatile and can frame discussions, proposals, or narratives from a collective past perspective.