kuuntelemme

Kuuntelemme is the first-person plural present indicative form of the Finnish verb kuunnella, meaning to listen. It expresses that the speaker and others are listening in the present time, or that listening is a general activity of the group. The form is built from the stem kuuntele- with the personal ending -mme, which marks "we." In Finnish, verbs conjugate for person by endings rather than auxiliary verbs; the corresponding present forms include kuuntelet (you singular), kuuntelee (he/she), kuuntelemme (we), kuuntelette (you plural), kuuntelevat (they).

In negation the particle ei appears before the verb: Emme kuuntele nyt. The verb kuunnella is transitive and typically takes a direct object in the partitive case, for example kuuntelemme musiikkia (we listen to music).

Etymology: kuunnella derives from the Finnish root kuunt- related to kuulo, meaning hearing, and the noun kuuntelu (listening). Usage: kuuntelemme is common in everyday Finnish and in written text to describe collective listening activities or commitments, such as Kuuntelemme mielellämme neuvoja (We are happy to listen to advice) or Kuuntelemme teidän ehdotuksenne (We will consider your proposal).

The form should be distinguished from the imperative and other moods; for instance, the imperative plural is kuunnelkaa. See also: kuunnella, Finnish verb conjugation, grammar of Finnish verbs.