tunnistamme

Tunnistamme is a Finnish verb form meaning “we identify” or “we recognize.” It is the present indicative first-person plural form of the verb tunnistaa, which means to identify, recognize, or authenticate. As a finite verb, tunnistamme expresses an action carried out by the speaker and at least one other person in the present.

Etymology and related terms: The verb tunnistaa derives from the root related to sign or identifier, often linked to the noun tunnus (sign, identifier) with a derivational suffix. Related words include tunnistus (identification) and tunnistaminen (the process of identifying). The meaning of tunnistamme centers on recognizing or establishing the identity of someone or something. It is distinct from tunnustaa, which means to confess, and from tunnustus (confession or acknowledgment).

Usage and examples: Tunnistaa is transitive and typically takes a direct object in the accusative or genitive form to indicate what is being identified. Examples include: Me tunnistamme asiakkaan, kun hän kirjautuu järjestelmään. (We identify the customer when he logs into the system.) or Me tunnistamme toisemme kasvontunnistuksella, in contexts discussing biometric identification. In everyday language, tunnistaa can mean recognizing someone by sight or identifying a person or object in various contexts.

Grammatical notes: Tunnistamme forms part of a full set of conjugations for tunnistaa, including tunnistan, tunnistat, tunnistaa, tunnistimme, tunnistitte, tunnistivat. The term is commonly used in technology and security contexts as well as in ordinary conversation when discussing recognition or identification tasks.

See also: tunnistaa, tunnistus, tunnistaminen, tunnustus (for contrast with the related concept of confession).