Ehtne

Ehtne is an Estonian adjective meaning real, genuine, authentic, or true. It is used to describe things that are not fake or imitation, and to indicate sincerity or veracity in statements or people.

Common uses include materials and products: ehtne kuld (genuine gold), ehtne nahk (genuine leather), ehtne hõbe (genuine silver). It can also describe people or expressions as sincere or trustworthy, for example, a "ehtne sõber" (a true friend) or a "ehtne arvamus" (a genuine opinion).

In everyday language ehtne contrasts with võlts (fake or counterfeit) and with kunstlik (artificial). The word is typically preferred for authentic items and genuine qualities, while võlts is used for counterfeit goods and fakery, and kunstlik for artificial or man-made appearances. In some modern contexts, autentne is also used as a loanword variant, but ehtne remains the standard native term for authenticity in Estonian.

Etymologyally, ehtne is a native Estonian word; its precise historical origins are not widely discussed in standard reference works. The term is firmly established in contemporary Estonian and is widely understood across dialects.

See also: authenticity, genuineness, Estonian language.