Onnistuimme

Onnistua is a Finnish verb meaning to succeed or to manage to do something. The form “onnistuimme” is the first-person plural imperfect, meaning “we succeeded” or “we managed (to).” It is used when the subject of the sentence is a group that includes the speaker.

Grammatical notes: Onnistua is intransitive and does not form a passive voice. The present tense forms include minä onnistun, sinä onnistut, hän onnistuu, me onnistumme, te onnistutte, he onnistuvat. The past plural form “onnistuimme” is used to refer to a completed action by a group in the past, e.g., “Me onnistuimme” or within a larger clause such as “Viime viikolla onnistuimme ratkaisemaan ongelman.”

Etymology: The verb is connected to the concept of luck or fortune, with “onni” meaning luck. The sense of onnistua encompasses both succeeding in general and managing to achieve a goal that may have required effort or favorable conditions.

Usage: The word is common in everyday Finnish as well as in formal reporting to convey that a group achieved a desired outcome. It can describe finishing a task, meeting a goal, or overcoming obstacles. It is typically followed by a complement indicating what was accomplished, such as an objective, a project, or a problem solved.

See also: onnistua, the base verb; nouns such as onnistuminen (the act of succeeding) and other related forms derived from the same root.