Let Us (teeme, lähme)
Teeme pausi! means Let's take a break! Lähme koju! means Let's go home!
How It Works
To say let's, use the present tense we-form ending in -me, usually without me:
- Teeme pausi! (Let's take a break!)
- Proovime uuesti! (Let's try again!)
- Räägime eesti keelt! (Let's speak Estonian!)
The same form is also a normal statement: Me teeme pausi means we are taking a break. The tone, the exclamation mark and leaving out me show that it is a suggestion. As a question, it asks shall we: Kas lähme kinno?
minema has two forms. Läheme is the neutral form. Lähme is the everyday form, used mostly for suggestions: Lähme koju! The old colloquial läki is also heard.
Let's not is ärme plus the short verb form: Ärme räägi sellest. Formal and written style also has -gem forms (tehkem, ärgem tehkem), which you will meet in speeches and slogans.
Examples (6)
- Teeme pausi!
Let's take a break!
Word by Word: make-we pause
- Lähme koju!
Let's go home!
Lähme is the everyday short form of läheme.
- Proovime uuesti!
Let's try again!
- Räägime eesti keelt!
Let's speak Estonian!
- Hakkame minema, on juba hilja.
Let's get going, it is already late.
Hakkame minema is a fixed everyday phrase.
- Kas lähme kinno?
Shall we go to the cinema?
As a question, the we-form asks shall we.
Common Mistakes
Translating let's word for word with laskma.
Lase meil koju minna.Lähme koju!Lase meil means allow us. To suggest doing something together, use the we-form.
Using the singular imperative when you mean let's.
Tee pausi!Teeme pausi!Tee pausi! tells one other person to take a break. To include yourself, use the we-form teeme.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Let's is the we-form of the present.
Related Patterns
- Singular Command
The imperative tells someone else to act; the we-form includes you.
Level 1 - Plural and Polite Command (-ge/-ke)Plural and Polite Command
The plural command to others, compared with a suggestion to the group.
Level 1 - Formal Let Us (-gem)
The formal written forms tehkem and ärgem tehkem.
Level 5 - Leaving Out ma and saLeaving Out the Pronoun
Pronouns are often dropped; in let's, me is usually left out.
Level 2 - minema + IllativeGoing to (Minema + Illative)
Lähme koju and lähme kinno combine let's with a destination.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Let Us (teeme, lähme) in Bubblegum
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