pöörduge

Pöörduge is an Estonian verb form that functions as the plural or formal imperative of the verb pöörduma, meaning to turn toward or to address someone. In standard usage, pöörduge is used to issue a command, instruction, or request to multiple people or to a single person in a formal register. The form is built from the verb stem pöörd- with the imperative suffix -uge, which marks second-person plural or polite address.

Common contexts for pöörduge include directions, safety guidance and official announcements. Examples: Pöörduge vasakule. Turn left. Pöörduge siia, palun. Please turn this way or toward me. In everyday speech, speakers typically use the singular pöördu when addressing one person, or a different construction altogether for informal situations.

Etymology and relation to other forms: pöörduge derives from the same root as pöörd-, relating to turning or turning toward, and carries an imperative mood marker that signals a command to a group or a polite audience. It is one of several imperative forms in Estonian that differentiate number and formality, alongside singular imperatives such as pöördu.

Notes on usage: pöörduge is more common in written instructions, signs, broadcasts and formal discourse, whereas in casual spoken Estonian, speakers are more likely to use the singular pöördu or other verbs depending on tone and context. Related verbs in the same semantic field include pöörduma and pöörduda, which convey related notions of turning toward or addressing someone.