sinäform

Sinäform is a term used in Finnish grammar to describe the second-person singular informal form of the verb, typically used when addressing one person in a casual or familiar way. In practice, the sinäform aligns with the pronoun sinä (you) and governs verb endings in the present, past, and other tenses accordingly. Because Finnish often omits the subject pronoun, the verb ending itself signals the second-person subject, making the sinäform a central feature of everyday speech.

In the present tense, verbs in the sinäform end with a second-person singular ending. Common examples include: sinä menet (you go), sinä kirjoitat (you write), sinä tiedät (you know). The subject pronoun sinä is usually clear from the verb form, so it is frequently omitted in ordinary conversation. The sinäform also appears in other tenses and moods, with corresponding endings such as sinä teit (you did) or sinä tulet (you come).

The te-form is used for plural address and for formal or distant address in many contexts. For example, te menette (you all go) or teitte (you all know). In some situations, te can be used as a polite form toward a single person or in service settings, but this varies by context and region. The choice between sinäform and te-form often signals social distance, tone, and levels of familiarity.

Overall, the sinäform is a key element of Finnish second-person conjugation, reflecting informal address and shaping how speakers relate to one another in casual conversation. It exists alongside the te-form, which covers plural and more formal encounters.