Tarkoituksemme

Tarkoituksemme is the genitive form of tarkoitus, a Finnish noun meaning "purpose" or "intention," with the first-person plural possessive suffix -mme, meaning "our." The phrase literally translates to "our purpose" and is used to refer to the purpose or mission held by a group, such as a company, association, or team.

In Finnish, possessive suffixes attach directly to nouns, and tarkoituksemme can function as the subject or object of a sentence. It is commonly used with the verb olla ("to be") to state a group’s mission: Tarkoituksemme on palvella asiakkaita. It can also introduce related statements about aims or actions pursued by the organization.

Tarkoituksemme is a standard device in organizational language, especially in mission statements, annual reports, and public communications. It signals a collective motivation rather than a single action or goal. The phrase is often contrasted with tavoitteemme (our goals) and tehtävämme (our tasks), which describe concrete targets or duties. While tarkoituksemme emphasizes the underlying purpose guiding the group's work, tavoitteemme tends to refer to measurable objectives, and tehtävämme to specific responsibilities. The choice among these terms helps clarify whether a text stresses meaning and motivation or concrete outcomes.