tetään

Tetään is a Finnish word that functions as the first-person plural imperative form of the verb "tehdä," which means "to do" or "to make." Therefore, "tetään" translates directly to "let's do" or "let's make." It is a common and versatile expression used in everyday Finnish conversation to suggest a shared action or to propose that a group undertake a task together.

The grammatical structure of "tetään" involves the verb stem "te-" combined with the passive/impersonal suffix "-tään." This passive form, when used in the first-person plural context, creates the imperative sense of "let's." For example, "Mennään elokuviin, tetään jotain kivaa!" translates to "Let's go to the movies, let's do something fun!"

This expression is informal and is used among friends, family, or colleagues when a collaborative effort or a shared activity is being initiated. It conveys a sense of camaraderie and collective decision-making. The usage of "tetään" is widespread across Finland and is a fundamental part of spoken Finnish. Its simplicity and directness make it an efficient way to propose joint actions.