tõstke

Tõstke is the second-person plural imperative form of the Estonian verb tõsta, meaning to lift or raise. It is used when addressing a group, typically in formal or instructional contexts, to instruct them to perform the action of lifting or raising something.

In grammar, tõsta is a regular verb, and its imperative forms are formed by adding the plural suffix to the verb stem. The singular imperative is tõsta, while the negative imperative is ärge tõstke. The construction tõstke indicates a command or request directed at multiple people, often with a formal tone.

Usage notes and examples: tõstke is common in safety instructions, classroom commands, public announcements, and any situation where a group is expected to raise or lift something. Examples include: "Tõstke käed!" (Raise your hands!) and "Tõstke palun kaalu üles, et kontrollida." In more polite or softer commands, speakers may add sõnumeid or palun, as in "Palun tõstke käed." The form is not used for casual address to individuals; in informal speech, the singular form tõsta is preferred.

Related forms include tös­t­mine, which denotes the act of lifting (tõstmine), and tõstetav, meaning liftable or capable of being raised. The word is firmly established in standard Estonian and appears in manuals, procedures, and guidance aimed at groups.