Kysyimme

Kysyimme is the past tense form of the Finnish verb kysyä, meaning “to ask.” It is the first-person plural form and translates to “we asked” in English. The word is used to indicate that the speaker and others asked a question or sought information.

Formation and grammar: Kysyimme is formed from the verb stem kysy- plus the past-tense personal ending -imme. In Finnish, past tense endings vary by person, for example minä kysyin (I asked), sinä kysyit (you asked), hän kysyi (he/she asked), te kysyitte (you all asked), he kysyivät (they asked). Thus kysyimme specifically marks a group as the subject in the past tense.

Usage: The form is common in narrative and reporting to attribute questions to a group. It can introduce direct or indirect reported speech and is frequently used in journalism, essays, and everyday conversation when describing collective inquiries. Examples include “Kysyimme kaupunginjohtajalta suunnitelmista” (“We asked the mayor about the plans”) or “Kysyimme heiltä lisätietoja” (“We asked them for further information”). The phrase conveys a sense of shared action and inquiry.

Related forms and notes: The related noun kysymys means “a question,” while kysyä is the base verb “to ask.” The plural past tense for third person is kysyivät (“they asked”). Kysyimme, like other Finnish verb forms, depends on context for nuance, such as formality and the number of people involved.

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