kiusaamme

Kiusaamme is the Finnish verb form kiusata in the present tense for the first-person plural, meaning “we bully” or “we tease.” It indicates that the speaker and others are performing the action toward someone else. The base verb kiusata describes actions aimed at another person that are intended to provoke distress, discomfort, or humiliation. The present-tense forms include minä kiusaan, sinä kiusaat, hän kiusaa, me kiusaamme, te kiusaatte, he kiusaavat.

Kiusaaminen is the corresponding noun for the act of bullying or harassment, often implying repetition or systematic mistreatment. Finnish distinguishes mild teasing from more harmful bullying, but context remains crucial. The phrase “Me kiusaamme häntä” would translate as “We bully him/her.” In everyday language, kiusaaminen can occur among peers, in schools, workplaces, or online (cyberbullying).

Policy and culture: In Finland, schools and authorities emphasize preventing kiusaaminen and supporting victims, with reporting mechanisms and educational programs. The term appears frequently in discussions of well-being, safety, and social climate in educational and workplace settings. Researchers, media, and policy discussions use kiusaaminen to describe harmful behavior and to promote interventions aimed at reducing it.