Olemmeko

Olemmeko is a Finnish interrogative form meaning “are we?” used to pose questions involving the speaker and at least one other person. It is formed by combining the present tense first-person plural of the verb olla (to be), olemme, with the question particle -ko/-kö, resulting in olemme + ko fused as olemmeko. The construction signals a joint decision, assumption, or proposal and is common in everyday dialogue as well as in written text.

In Finnish, the -ko/-kö particle attaches to the word it follows, typically the finite verb in the clause. When used with olla, olemme, or other verb forms, kwambe combinations can vary in form, but olemme + ko yields olemme-ko, written as olemmeko or, more commonly, as olemme + ko contracted to olemeko in fluid speech. The form is used for yes–no questions that expect a shared action or state, such as “Olemmeko valmiita lähtemään?” (Are we ready to leave?) or “Olemmeko menossa nyt?” (Are we going now?).

Usage notes include its prevalence in conversational Finnish, where it invites consensus or input from listeners. In formal written Finnish, speakers may opt for clearer question forms that avoid ambiguity, but olemme + ko remains widely understood and natural in many contexts.

See also Finnish grammar, question formation, Finnish verb conjugation.