ettähän

Ettähän is a Finnish conjunction that functions as a subordinate conjunction, introducing dependent clauses. It is a compound word formed from "että" (that) and "hän" (he/she/they). While grammatically correct, its usage is considered colloquial and informal.

The primary function of ettähän is to connect a main clause with a subordinate clause that expresses a reason, cause, or explanation. It often conveys a sense of certainty or an obvious fact from the speaker's perspective. For example, in a sentence like "Hän ei tullut, ettähän oli sairas" (He didn't come, that he was sick), ettähän implies that the sickness is a known or evident reason for his absence.

In more formal Finnish, the conjunction "koska" (because) or simply "että" would be preferred depending on the exact nuance. The presence of "hän" within the conjunction ettähän can sometimes lead to ambiguity if the subject of the subordinate clause is not clearly "hän". However, in most informal contexts, the meaning is understood through the surrounding sentence structure and context. Its use is generally limited to spoken language or very casual written communication among native Finnish speakers.