mõtega

Mõtega is an Estonian instrumental form derived from the noun mõte, meaning thought or idea. The combination mõttega is used to express that an action is performed with a certain motive, intention, or mental purpose. It can convey deliberate behavior, planning, or a consciously chosen approach.

In use, mõttega roughly translates to “with the thought” or “with the intention (to).” It is often employed after verbs of saying, deciding, or acting to indicate why or with what aim the action is taken. Examples include: “Ma tegin seda mõttega, et aidata teisi” (I did this with the intention to help others) and “Ta ütles seda mõttega, et mind hoiatada” (He said it with the intention to warn me). The phrase can appear in formal or written Estonian and is common in contexts discussing motives, plans, or deliberate strategies.

Morphologically, mõttega is formed by adding the instrumental suffix -ga to the genitive-like stem mõtte, which itself is the genitive of mõte (thought). Spelling reflects this heritage, with -tte- in the stem and -ga as the instrumental ending. It should not be confused with other forms such as mõte or mõtte, which have different grammatical roles.

Overall, mõttega functions as a concise way to indicate motive or intentionality in Estonian, linking an action to the speaker’s mental aim.