Teie

Teie is the Estonian second-person pronoun used to address one or more people in formal or polite contexts, and it also functions as a possessive determiner meaning “your.” In standard Estonian, the form is used for both formal singular and plural address, with verb forms indicating the second person. The informal second person is usually sina, and the subject pronoun can be omitted when the verb form makes the subject clear.

As a possessive determiner, teie precedes a noun to express ownership, as in teie auto meaning “your car.” The word does not indicate gender and is used to convey respect or distance in the discourse. In governing clauses, it accompanies the appropriate agrammatical structure of Estonian pronouns, and it aligns with the corresponding verb forms for the second person (for example, olete for “you are” in formal or plural address).

Usage and register vary: teie is common in official communications, business correspondence, education, and media, where a respectful tone is desired. In casual conversation, speakers may favor informal forms or omit the pronoun when the verb form already signals the subject.

See also: Estonian language, Estonian pronouns, Finnish language cognates.