Voimmeko

Voimmeko is a Finnish verb form meaning “Can we” or “Shall we.” It is the first-person plural present indicative of the verb voida (to be able) with the question particle -ko/-kö added, forming voimmeko. The construction is used to propose an action, ask for permission, or make a polite suggestion.

In use, voimmeko typically appears at the beginning of a sentence and is followed by the rest of the verb’s stem and any objects or complements. Examples include: Voimmeko mennä nyt? (Can we go now?) Voimmeko auttaa teitä? (Can we help you?) Voimmeko aloittaa? (Shall we begin?) The form is versatile and common in both spoken and written Finnish, though in very casual speech people might use alternatives such as voisimme? or could we phrase it differently.

Grammatically, -ko/-kö is a question particle that attaches to the finite verb form. For voimme (we can), the question form becomes voimmeko. The particle does not change the meaning of the verb itself but signals a question. In negative contexts, the corresponding negative question forms apply, for example emmekö? for “shall we not?” or “won’t we?”

If used in formal communication, voimmeko remains appropriate for proposing actions or seeking agreement. In more informal settings, speakers might opt for softer or more tentative forms like voisimmeko (could we) to convey greater politeness or tentativeness.