You use the verb ajattella to talk about thinking. This is a regular verb, and it works like other verbs you might know, like puhua (to speak).
Here are some examples:
Minä ajattelen. (I think.)
Hän ajattelee paljon. (He/she thinks a lot.)
Me ajattelemme sinua. (We think of you.)
You'll hear this verb often in everyday Finnish, so it's a good one to learn early.
You use the verb ajattella to talk about thinking, pondering, or having an opinion. This verb is super useful in many everyday situations. For example, if you want to say “I think that…”, you would use minä ajattelen, että…. It’s also used when you're considering something or planning an action.
When using the verb "ajatella" (to think), the object of your thought typically takes the partitive case. For example, if you think about a book, you would say "ajattelen kirjaa" (I think about a book), not "ajattelen kirja."
However, if you are thinking about an action or a verb, you would use the first infinitive with the -mA marker. So, "I'm thinking of going" would be "ajattelen menemistä." This applies when the thought involves an activity rather than a concrete noun.
ajattella 30 सेकंड में
- Use 'ajattella' when you mean to think or ponder.
- It's a common verb for mental activity.
- Remember the double 't' and the 'e' ending for this verb.
§ Understanding 'ajattella'
The Finnish verb 'ajattella' means 'to think'. It's a common verb, and you'll hear and use it a lot. It's a Type 3 verb, which means its stem ends in two consonants. This is important for conjugation, but we'll focus on its use for now.
- DEFINITION
- To think, to consider, to ponder.
§ Basic sentence structure with 'ajattella'
When you use 'ajattella', you'll often be thinking *about* something or *that* something is true. Let's look at how to form these sentences.
You can simply state that someone is thinking:
Minä ajattelen.
I think.
Hän ajattelee.
He/She thinks.
§ Thinking about something: the partitive case
When you're thinking *about* a noun, that noun will often be in the partitive case. This is a very common use for 'ajattella'.
Minä ajattelen sinua.
I think of you. (Lit: I think you [partitive])
He ajattelevat kesää.
They think about summer. (Lit: They think summer [partitive])
§ Thinking that something is true: using 'että'
If you want to say you think *that* something is true or *that* something will happen, you use the conjunction 'että' (that).
Minä ajattelen, että sataa huomenna.
I think that it will rain tomorrow.
Hän ajattelee, että se on hyvä idea.
He/She thinks that it is a good idea.
§ Thinking how, what, why: using question words + 'että'
You can also combine 'ajattella' with question words and 'että' to express thinking about how, what, or why something is happening.
Minä ajattelen, miten voin auttaa.
I'm thinking how I can help. (Lit: I think, how that I can help.)
Hän ajattelee, mitä hän tekee seuraavaksi.
He/She is thinking what he/she will do next. (Lit: He/She thinks, what that he/she does next.)
§ Thinking about doing something: the first infinitive
When you're thinking about *doing* an action, you can use the verb 'ajattella' followed by another verb in its basic form (the first infinitive).
Minä ajattelen mennä kauppaan.
I am thinking of going to the shop. (Lit: I think to go to the shop.)
Me ajattelemme muuttaa Helsinkiin.
We are thinking of moving to Helsinki. (Lit: We think to move to Helsinki.)
§ Common phrases with 'ajattella'
Mitä sinä ajattelet? - What do you think?
En ajatellut sitä. - I didn't think of that.
Se on ajateltavaa. - That is worth thinking about / That's food for thought.
Hello again, language learners! Today we're diving into the Finnish verb 'ajattella', which means 'to think'. This is a super useful word you'll hear and use constantly. Let's see where you'll encounter it in everyday Finnish life – at work, school, and even in the news.
§ At Work
In a Finnish workplace, 'ajattella' is used just like 'to think' in English. You'll hear it in meetings, during planning, or when discussing tasks and problems. It's essential for expressing opinions, proposing ideas, and considering solutions.
- DEFINITION
- To think, to consider, to ponder.
Minun täytyy ajatella tätä asiaa. (I need to think about this matter.)
Your Finnish colleagues might ask for your thoughts:
Mitä sinä ajattelet tästä ehdotuksesta? (What do you think about this proposal?)
Or you might use it to express your own thought process:
En ole vielä ajatellut sitä loppuun asti. (I haven't thought it through completely yet.)
§ At School
In a Finnish school or university setting, 'ajattella' is fundamental. Students are constantly encouraged to think critically, analyze information, and form their own conclusions. Teachers will often prompt students to think about topics more deeply.
Opiskelijoiden täytyy ajatella itsenäisesti. (Students must think independently.)
You might hear a teacher saying:
Mitä te ajattelette tästä historiallisesta tapahtumasta? (What do you all think about this historical event?)
Or you might use it to explain your own reasoning in an assignment:
Minä ajattelen, että tämä teoria on validi. (I think that this theory is valid.)
§ In the News
When you read or watch Finnish news, 'ajattella' comes up frequently in discussions about public opinion, political stances, or expert analysis. Journalists often report on what people or groups 'think' about various issues.
Kansalaiset ajattelevat hallituksen toimista. (Citizens think about the government's actions.)
You might see it in headlines or direct quotes:
Pääministeri ajatteleee, että talous kohenee. (The Prime Minister thinks that the economy will improve.)
Or in discussions about future planning:
Mitä asiantuntijat ajattelevat tulevaisuudesta? (What do experts think about the future?)
As you can see, 'ajattella' is a versatile and frequently used verb. Mastering its use will greatly enhance your ability to understand and participate in Finnish conversations across various situations. Keep practicing, and you'll be thinking in Finnish in no time!
रोचक तथ्य
The word 'ajatella' has cognates in other Uralic languages, such as Estonian 'ajatella' and Hungarian 'gondol'.
कठिनाई स्तर
short
short
short
short
आगे क्या सीखें
आगे सीखें
उन्नत
ज़रूरी व्याकरण
The verb 'ajatella' is often followed by a partitive object when referring to thinking about something in a general or indefinite way.
Ajattelen sinua. (I'm thinking of you.)
When expressing what someone thinks about a specific topic or subject, the illative case can be used with a noun.
Ajattelen matkaan. (I'm thinking about the trip.)
To express thinking that something is a certain way, you can use 'ajatella' with a clausal complement introduced by 'että' (that).
Ajattelen, että se on hyvä idea. (I think that it's a good idea.)
When 'ajatella' is followed by another verb, the second verb is typically in the infinitive form, often with a possessive suffix.
Ajattelen mennä kauppaan. (I'm thinking of going to the store.)
The verb can also be used reflexively with 'itse' (oneself) to mean 'to think to oneself' or 'to ponder'.
Hän ajatteli itsekseen. (He thought to himself.)
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
Minun täytyy ajatella tätä asiaa huolellisesti ennen päätöksen tekemistä.
I need to think about this carefully before making a decision.
täytyy + verb in infinitive (A-infinitive) expresses obligation or necessity.
Mitä sinä ajattelet tästä uudesta suunnitelmasta?
What do you think about this new plan?
Ajatella takes the elative case (-sta/-stä) when talking about thinking 'about' something.
Hän istui hiljaa ja ajatteli tulevaisuutta.
He sat quietly and thought about the future.
The verb istua (to sit) is in the past tense (istui). Ajatella is also in the past tense (ajatteli).
En voi ajatella mitään muuta kuin tätä ongelmaa.
I can't think of anything else but this problem.
En voi + verb in infinitive expresses inability. Mitään is the partitive of mikään (anything) used in negative sentences.
Sinun tulisi ajatella ennen kuin puhut.
You should think before you speak.
Tulisi is the conditional form of tulla (to come), used here to express 'should'. Ennen kuin (before) is a conjunction.
Lapset ajattelivat joulupukista ja lahjoista.
The children thought about Santa Claus and presents.
Joulupukista and lahjoista are in the elative case, indicating 'about'.
Jos ajattelet positiivisesti, asiat yleensä sujuvat paremmin.
If you think positively, things usually go better.
Jos (if) introduces a conditional clause. Yleensä (usually) is an adverb of frequency.
Yritän ajatella luovasti löytääkseni ratkaisun.
I try to think creatively to find a solution.
Yrittää (to try) takes the A-infinitive. Löytääkseni is the instructive form of the A-infinitive, expressing 'in order to find'.
शब्द परिवार
संज्ञा
क्रिया
विशेषण
सुझाव
Basic use of ajatella
You use ajatella when you want to say to think about something. For example, 'Minä ajattelen.' means 'I think.' Or, 'Ajattelen sinua.' means 'I am thinking of you.'
Ajatella with object in partitive
When you ajatella something, the object of your thought is usually in the partitive case. For example, 'Ajattelen kirjaa.' means 'I am thinking about the book.' (kirja in partitive is kirjaa).
Ajatella about a person
If you are ajatella about a person, that person also goes into the partitive case. For example, 'Ajattelen äitiäni.' means 'I am thinking of my mother.' (äiti in partitive is äitiä).
Using 'että' with ajatella
You can use ajatella with 'että' (that) to introduce a clause. For example, 'Ajattelen, että se on hyvä idea.' means 'I think that it is a good idea.'
Common phrases with ajatella
A common phrase is 'Mitä ajattelet?' which means 'What do you think?' Another is 'Ajatella positiivisesti.' meaning 'To think positively.'
Ajatella in past tense
The past tense of ajatella is 'ajattelin' (I thought). For example, 'Ajattelin sinua eilen.' means 'I thought of you yesterday.'
Ajatella in future context
Finnish doesn't have a separate future tense, so ajatella can be used for future thoughts with a time marker. 'Ajattelen sitä huomenna.' means 'I will think about it tomorrow.'
Don't confuse with luulla
Ajatella means to think in a general sense. Don't confuse it with 'luulla' which means to suppose or to believe something without certainty.
Finnish directness in thought
Finns tend to be quite direct. When someone asks 'Mitä ajattelet?', they genuinely want to know your thoughts, not just polite agreement.
Ajatella as 'to consider'
Beyond just thinking, ajatella can also mean to consider or to ponder. 'Olen ajatellut uuden auton ostamista.' means 'I have been considering buying a new car.'
शब्द की उत्पत्ति
Proto-Uralic
मूल अर्थ: to consider, to think
Uralicसांस्कृतिक संदर्भ
When Finns say 'Minä ajattelen' (I think), it often implies a more deliberate and reflective process than a casual thought. It can be used in situations requiring careful consideration, such as problem-solving or making decisions. The concept of 'sisu' (Finnish fortitude) is often linked to this deliberate thought process, as it involves mental resilience and determination.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालHere's how to conjugate ajatella in the present tense:
Minä ajattelen (I think)
Sinä ajatellen (You think)
Hän ajatellen (He/She thinks)
Me ajatellemme (We think)
Te ajatelleette (You all think)
He ajatelleevat (They think)
Yes, ajatella is commonly used to express 'to think about' something. You would typically use the illative case for the object you are thinking about. For example, 'Minä ajattelen sinua' means 'I think about you.'
While both mean 'to think,' ajatella is more general, referring to the act of thinking. Miettiä often implies a more deliberate, pondering, or considering type of thinking. Think of it as 'to ponder' or 'to consider seriously.'
To say 'I think so,' you can use Luulen niin. While you could technically say 'Ajattelen niin,' Luulen niin is much more natural and common in this context.
You would use Minä ajattelen, että... For example, 'Minä ajattelen, että se on hyvä idea' (I think that it is a good idea).
Yes, a common one is Mitä sinä ajattelet? which means 'What do you think?' Another useful phrase is Ajatella omilla aivoillaan, meaning 'to think for oneself' (literally, 'to think with one's own brains').
You can use ajatella to express an opinion, often with the structure 'Minä ajattelen, että...' For example, 'Minä ajattelen, että tämä kirja on hyvä' (I think that this book is good).
In some contexts, ajatella can also imply 'to consider' or 'to plan.' For example, 'Me ajattelemme matkustaa ensi kesänä' (We are thinking/planning to travel next summer).
In the past tense, ajatella becomes ajattelin (I thought). For example, 'Minä ajattelin sinua eilen' (I thought of you yesterday).
To form the negative, you use the negative verb ei with the main verb. For example, 'Minä en ajattele' (I don't think).
Here's the full negative conjugation:
Minä en ajattele
Sinä et ajattele
Hän ei ajattele
Me emme ajattele
Te ette ajattele
He eivät ajattele
खुद को परखो 66 सवाल
Translate this sentence into Finnish: "I think about work."
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Minä ajattelen työtä.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'ajatella': "Hän _______ paljon."(He thinks a lot.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hän ajattelee paljon.
Form a simple Finnish sentence using the verb 'ajatella' in the present tense, reflecting on something common like 'home'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Minä ajattelen kotia.
What is the person thinking about?
Read this passage:
Minä ajattelen. Ajattelen sinua. Ajattelen myös ruokaa.
What is the person thinking about?
The passage says 'Ajattelen sinua' (I think about you) and 'Ajattelen myös ruokaa' (I also think about food).
The passage says 'Ajattelen sinua' (I think about you) and 'Ajattelen myös ruokaa' (I also think about food).
What are the children thinking about?
Read this passage:
Lapset ajattelevat leluja. Heillä on paljon leluja. Mikä on heidän lempilelunsa?
What are the children thinking about?
The first sentence 'Lapset ajattelevat leluja' directly translates to 'The children think about toys'.
The first sentence 'Lapset ajattelevat leluja' directly translates to 'The children think about toys'.
Why is the student thinking about the exam?
Read this passage:
Opiskelija ajattelee koetta. Koe on huomenna. Hän on vähän hermostunut.
Why is the student thinking about the exam?
The passage states 'Koe on huomenna' which means 'The exam is tomorrow'.
The passage states 'Koe on huomenna' which means 'The exam is tomorrow'.
This sentence means 'I think of you.' The verb 'ajattelen' (I think) comes after the subject 'Minä' (I).
This sentence means 'He/She thinks about work.' 'Hän' is the subject (he/she), followed by the verb 'ajattelee' (thinks).
This sentence means 'We think about food.' 'Me' is the subject (we), followed by the verb 'ajattelemme' (think).
What does 'ajattella' mean?
Ajattella is the Finnish verb for 'to think'.
Which of these is the correct Finnish word for 'think'?
'Ajattella' means 'to think'. The other options mean 'to eat', 'to sleep', and 'to read' respectively.
Choose the best translation for 'I think about you.'
'Ajattelen' is the first person singular form of 'ajattella' (to think). 'Sinua' is the partitive form of 'sinä' (you), used when thinking about someone.
The word 'ajattella' is a verb.
Yes, 'ajattella' is a verb meaning 'to think'.
'Ajattella' means 'to speak'.
No, 'ajattella' means 'to think', not 'to speak'. The Finnish word for 'to speak' is 'puhua'.
If you want to say 'He thinks', you would use 'Hän ajattelee'.
Yes, 'ajattelee' is the third person singular form of 'ajattella', so 'Hän ajattelee' means 'He/She thinks'.
I often think of you.
What do you think about this?
He thought about traveling to Finland.
Read this aloud:
Ajatteletko paljon töitä?
Focus: Ajatteletko
तुमने कहा:
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Read this aloud:
Meidän täytyy ajatella positiivisesti.
Focus: positiivisesti
तुमने कहा:
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Read this aloud:
Lapset ajattelevat leikkiä ulkona.
Focus: ajattelevat leikkiä
तुमने कहा:
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This is a common way to ask 'What are you thinking?' in Finnish.
The phrase 'Minun täytyy' means 'I must' or 'I have to'.
The verb 'ajatella' conjugates to 'ajattelevat' for 'they'.
This sentence means 'I need to think about this matter.' The verb 'ajatella' is in its infinitive form here.
This sentence translates to 'He/She always thinks positively.' 'Ajattelee' is the third person singular form of the verb.
This means 'What do you think about it?' 'Ajattelet' is the second person singular form.
Mitä sinä ___ teet huomenna?
The verb 'ajatella' needs to be conjugated to the second person singular present tense, which is 'ajattelet'.
Hän ___ usein tulevaisuudesta.
The verb 'ajatella' needs to be conjugated to the third person singular present tense, which is 'ajatteleee'.
Meidän täytyy ___ uusia ratkaisuja.
After 'täytyy' (must), the verb 'ajatella' remains in its infinitive form.
Lauseessa 'Minä ajattelen, että olet oikeassa.' verbi 'ajattelen' on oikein käytetty.
'Ajattelen' is the correct first person singular present tense form of 'ajatella'.
Lauseessa 'He ajatteleet paljon töistä.' verbi 'ajatteleet' on oikein käytetty.
The correct third person plural present tense form is 'ajattelelevat', not 'ajatteleet'.
Lause 'On tärkeää ajatella kriittisesti.' käyttää infinitiivimuotoa 'ajatella' oikein.
In this context, 'ajatella' is correctly used as an infinitive after 'on tärkeää'.
The speaker is asking for an opinion on a new project.
The sentence is about someone constantly thinking about their best friend.
The speaker expresses surprise at the difficulty of something.
Read this aloud:
Mitä sinä ajattelet elämästä?
Focus: äl-ä-mäh
तुमने कहा:
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Read this aloud:
Minun täytyy ajatella tätä tarkemmin.
Focus: tär-keh-min
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hän ajatteli ääneen matkalla kotiin.
Focus: ää-neen
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
En voi olla ___ toisin, kuin että tämä päätös on virhe.
Here, 'ajatella' is used as an infinitive after 'voi olla' (can be), expressing 'cannot help but think'.
Pitäisi ___ tarkemmin ennen kuin tekee lopullisen johtopäätöksen.
'Pitäisi' (should) requires the base infinitive form of the verb, which is 'ajatella'.
Hän jäi ___ pitkäksi aikaa ikkunan ääreen.
'Jäi ajatellen' uses the instructive participle, meaning 'remained thinking' or 'was left thinking'.
On tärkeää ___ kriittisesti kaikkia saamiamme tietoja.
'On tärkeää' (it is important) is followed by the infinitive form 'ajatella' (to think).
Emme voineet muuta kuin ___ hänen puolestaan.
'Emme voineet muuta kuin' (we could do nothing but) is followed by the infinitive 'ajatella' (to think).
Hänen tapansa ___ asioista on aina ollut poikkeuksellinen.
'Tapansa ___' (his way of thinking) uses the infinitive 'ajatella' to complete the meaning.
What do you think about this new proposal?
I have been thinking about it all night.
He always thinks of the best possible outcome.
Read this aloud:
Voitko ajatella ratkaisua tähän ongelmaan?
Focus: ratkaisua
तुमने कहा:
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Read this aloud:
Ajattelin matkustaa ensi kesänä Lappiin.
Focus: matkustaa
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Mitä mieltä ajattelet tulevaisuudesta?
Focus: tulevaisuudesta
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence structure (Subject + Adverb + Verb + Adverb + Object in genitive + Object in partitive) is common in Finnish when describing a recurring action with an adverb.
The 'on tärkeää' construction (it is important) is followed by the infinitive form of the verb, and then adverbs and clauses that further specify the action.
This sentence uses the perfect tense ('ovat ajatelleet') to indicate an action that started in the past and continues or has an effect in the present. The infinitive 'muuttaa' follows to express the intended action.
/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Ajattella is the Finnish verb for 'to think,' crucial for expressing thoughts and ideas.
- Use 'ajattella' when you mean to think or ponder.
- It's a common verb for mental activity.
- Remember the double 't' and the 'e' ending for this verb.
Basic use of ajatella
You use ajatella when you want to say to think about something. For example, 'Minä ajattelen.' means 'I think.' Or, 'Ajattelen sinua.' means 'I am thinking of you.'
Ajatella with object in partitive
When you ajatella something, the object of your thought is usually in the partitive case. For example, 'Ajattelen kirjaa.' means 'I am thinking about the book.' (kirja in partitive is kirjaa).
Ajatella about a person
If you are ajatella about a person, that person also goes into the partitive case. For example, 'Ajattelen äitiäni.' means 'I am thinking of my mother.' (äiti in partitive is äitiä).
Using 'että' with ajatella
You can use ajatella with 'että' (that) to introduce a clause. For example, 'Ajattelen, että se on hyvä idea.' means 'I think that it is a good idea.'
