kannustakaa

Kannustakaa is the second-person plural imperative form of the Finnish verb kannustaa, meaning to encourage or cheer on. It is used when addressing a group of people and instructing them to provide encouragement or support to others.

In Finnish, the imperative mood has singular and plural forms. Kannustakaa is formed by adding the plural imperative ending to the verb stem. The verb kannustaa itself is related to the noun kannustus, which denotes encouragement or cheering. The imperative can take objects or be combined with adverbial phrases, for example to indicate who should be encouraged or the target of the encouragement, such as toisa toisten.

Usage notes and context: Kannustakaa appears in contexts where a group is urged to motivate or bolster someone or a team. It is common in sports, education, workplaces, and community events. The tone can range from practical instruction to enthusiastic motivation. In formal writing, more indirect or varied formulations may be used, but kannustakaa remains a standard, direct command in everyday language.

Examples:

- Kannustakaa toisiaan. (Encourage one another.)

- Kannustakaa joukkueenne voittoon. (Encourage your team to victory.)

Related forms include the singular imperative kannusta (you, singular), the negative imperative älkää kannustako (do not encourage), and the noun kannustus (encouragement). Understanding kannustakaa helps learners recognize how Finnish uses imperative mood to mobilize groups and convey motivational instruction.