Mõtlege

Mõtlege is the Estonian second-person plural or formal imperative form of the verb mõelda, meaning "to think." It is used to command or encourage a group of people (or a formally addressed individual) to think about something or to consider options before acting. The form is derived from the stem mõtle- with the ending -ge; the corresponding singular imperative is mõtle.

Etymology and related forms: mõelda comes from the root mõtle- for the imperative to think, while the noun mõte means a thought or idea. The negative imperative for this form is Ärge mõelge, used to tell a group not to think about something, or to desist from a course of thought.

Usage and register: Mõtlege is common in instructional, formal, and collaborative contexts, such as presentations, guidelines, announcements, or educational settings. It signals a careful, thoughtful approach and is appropriate when addressing multiple people or when politeness is intended in Estonian communication.

Examples:

- Mõelge enne vastamist. (Think before answering.)

- Mõelge erinevate võimaluste üle. (Consider the different options.)

- Ärge mõelge liiga kiiresti. (Do not think about it too quickly.)

In everyday, informal speech, speakers typically use mõtle (singular) to one person and mõelge is reserved for multiple listeners or formal address.