Pettäisivät

Pettäisivät is the conditional plural form of the Finnish verb "pettää." The verb "pettää" primarily means to betray, cheat, or deceive. Therefore, "pettäisivät" translates to "they would betray," "they would cheat," or "they would deceive." This form is used in hypothetical or conditional sentences to express a potential action that might occur under certain circumstances.

For example, in a sentence like "Jos heillä olisi tilaisuus, he pettäisivät meidät," the meaning would be "If they had the opportunity, they would betray us." The conditional mood in Finnish, indicated by the "-isi-" stem, is crucial for conveying such nuanced meanings of possibility or unreality. The "-vät" ending signifies the third-person plural subject, meaning "they." This grammatical structure allows speakers to discuss scenarios that are not currently happening but could potentially happen. Understanding the conditional mood and personal verb endings is essential for comprehending the full meaning of "pettäisivät" within a Finnish sentence.