kiistelet

Kiistelet is the second-person singular present indicative form of the Finnish verb kiistellä, meaning to dispute, to argue, or to contest. The verb stems from kiista, a noun meaning a dispute or quarrel, and is related to kiistely, the act or process of disputing. Kiistellä is used when describing the act of challenging a claim or proposition in discussion, negotiation, or everyday conversation. The sense is generally neutral and can range from ordinary disagreement to more formal debate, depending on context.

Grammatical notes: In present tense, kiistellä follows the standard Finnish verb pattern. Conjugated forms include: minä kiistelen, sinä kiistelet, hän kiistelee, me kiistelemme, te kiistelette, he kiistelevät. The imperfect or past tense forms are kiistelin, kiistelit, kiisteli, kiistimme, kiistitte, kiistelivät. The passive participle is kiistetty, used to describe a claim or position that has been disputed. An actively disputing person is kiistelevä.

Usage and nuance: Kiistelet emphasizes the act of contending a claim or statement, often in a direct exchange. It is less harsh than kinastella (to quarrel over trifles) and not as formal as väitellä (to debate or argue a position at length). The choice of kiistellä variants can reflect tone, from neutral or practical dispute to more heated argument.

Related terms: kiista (dispute), kiistat (disputes), kiistely (disputing), kiistatöidy (archaic/rare), and related verbs such as väitellä and kinastella.