Sammutamme

Sammutamme is a Finnish verb form meaning “we extinguish” or “we are extinguishing.” It is a present-tense form used with a first-person plural subject and is derived from the verb sammuttaminen or sammuttaa, which means to extinguish, put out, or switch off.

In everyday and technical language, sammuttaa is used for extinguishing fires, turning off lights or machines, and generally stopping a source of heat, flame, or energy. Examples include Sammatamme valot (we switch off the lights) and Sammatamme nuotion ennen kuin lopetamme.

Grammatically, sammutamme is formed as the first-person plural present indicative form of the verb sammutt- from sammuttaa. Finnish verbs express tense through endings rather than separate auxiliary verbs, so present tense can convey both present action and near-future intent. Related forms include sammuttaminen (the act of extinguishing), sammuttaja (extinguisher, person who extinguishes) and sammuttamaton (unextinguished or not being extinguished). The past tense form is sammutimme (we extinguished), and passive or impersonal forms such as sammutetaan (it is extinguished) exist for different constructions.

Usage notes: sammutamme is common in safety instructions, workplace communications, and everyday speech. The form aligns with standard Finnish conjugation patterns, without irregularities in its basic present tense, making it straightforward for learners to recognize as the 1st person plural form of sammuttamaan.