tähis

Tähis is the Estonian term for a symbol or sign—an element that represents an idea, object, operation, or relation within a system of signs. It is used in writing, mathematics, logic, and information technology to convey meaning succinctly.

In writing and typography, tähis can refer to any character, including letters, numerals, and punctuation marks. In computing and digital text, tähised are encoded as characters in character encodings such as Unicode, allowing consistent representation across platforms and languages.

In mathematics and logic, tähised are symbols that represent operations, relations, constants, and quantifiers, such as +, −, =, ∑, ∀, and ∃. Their interpretation depends on the domain and follows formal conventions established by mathematical or logical systems.

In semiotics and linguistics, tähis is used to discuss signs in terms of signifier and signified, focusing on the relationship between a sign and the concept or object it represents. This broader use highlights how symbols function within cultures and communication.

In everyday Estonian usage, the term covers both orthographic elements (letters and diacritics) and non-textual signs used in writing and data representation. The concept of a tähis thus spans practical typography, formal symbols in science, and theoretical discussions of meaning.