Tänan

Tänan is an Estonian word that functions as the first-person singular present tense form of the verb tänama, meaning to thank. It translates to “I thank” in English and is commonly used to express gratitude in everyday speech.

In practice, Tänan can stand as a complete sentence to express thanks, especially in polite or formal contexts. It is often used with a direct object or courtesy pronoun, such as Tänan teid for “I thank you,” or Tänan väga for “thank you very much.” The related noun tänu means gratitude or thanks, and the two terms share a common semantic origin.

Formality and register vary: Tänan teid is considered more formal, while the informal equivalent for casual speech is often aitäh. In written Estonian, in customer service, or in official communications, Tänan teid is common, whereas in casual conversation, people more frequently say aitäh.

Etymology and related terms: Tänan is derived from the verb tänama and is related to the noun tänu, both linked to the concept of gratitude or thanks. The word occupies a standard place in everyday Estonian and is part of a set of expressions used to convey appreciation in various social contexts.

See also: Tänu; Aitäh.