Tunnistame

Tunnistame is the first-person plural present tense form of the Estonian verb tunnistama. The core meaning of tunnistama is to identify, recognize, or attest something, and the form tunnistame is used when the subject is a group acting together. In broader use, the word can also appear in contexts meaning to acknowledge or admit a fact in formal or collective statements.

Grammar and related forms: Tunnistama is a regular -ama verb. In present tense, the 1st person plural form is tunnistame, the 3rd person singular is tunnistab, and the past tense is tunnistasime. Imperative forms include tunnistage (you plural). Related nouns include tunnistus (identification, certificate) and tunnustamine (recognition or authentication in a broad sense). A closely related verb with a different nuance is tunnustama, which more often conveys confessing or acknowledging something as true, sometimes in moral or legal contexts.

Usage and nuance: Tunnistame is common in formal, policy, and organizational communication. It signals collective acknowledgment or recognition of a fact, situation, or obligation. Examples: “Me tunnistame, et plaan vajab muutmist.” (We acknowledge that the plan needs modification.) “Me tunnistame vigade tähtsust ja töötame nende parandamise nimel.” (We acknowledge the importance of mistakes and are working to fix them.)

See also: tunnistust, tunnistama, tunnustama, tunnistus, tunnustamine. In IT and security contexts, the related noun tunnustamine is sometimes used to denote authentication or recognition processes.