tulemmeko

Tulemmeko is a Finnish verb form used to suggest or invite that the speaker and others come or join in an action. It translates roughly as “shall we come?” and is commonly used when making plans or extending invitations. The form can be used with a following complement, such as kahville (for coffee) or mukaan (along), to specify the proposed activity or destination.

Morphology and etymology: Tulemmeko is built from the verb tulla (to come). The stem tule- carries the 1st-person plural ending -mme, yielding tulemme, and the interrogative particle -ko is added to form a question: tulemmeko. The -ko/-kö particle attaches to the preceding element and marks the sentence as a yes–no question. This construction is typical in Finnish and can be combined with various postpositions, for example Tulemmeko kahville? or Tulemmeko mukaan?

Usage and nuance: Tulemmeko is an inclusive, invitation-oriented question that invites participation. It is versatile across registers, from casual to more formal contexts, depending on tone and accompanying language. It can be used to propose plans on the spur of the moment or to check others’ interest in a suggested activity. Finnish often couples the form with another verb or noun to specify the activity, destination, or company.

Examples: Tulemmeko kahville? (“Shall we come for coffee?”) Tulemmeko kanssasi elokuviin? (“Shall we go to the movies with you?”)

See also: Finnish grammar, question particles, -ko/-kö, verb conjugation in Finnish.