tähtpäev

Tähtpäev is an Estonian noun meaning a calendar date of particular significance, especially a date by which something must be completed or an event occurs. In legal and administrative contexts, tähtpäev refers to a fixed date that marks the time limit for fulfilling an obligation or for submitting a document. It denotes a specific day on the calendar rather than a length of time.

Etymology: The term combines täht (“significant, important”) and päev (“day”) to denote an important day.

Usage: The word is common in official texts, contracts, court procedures, and government communications. Examples include deadlines for submitting documents or payments where a date such as tähtpäev on 1. juuli 2025 defines when the action is due. In everyday language, tähtpäev can also refer to notable days such as anniversaries or birthdays, not only formal deadlines.

Relation to other terms: Tähtpäev is closely related to tähtaeg, which is more about a time limit or deadline that may be measured from a starting point and can imply a window rather than a fixed date. In many contexts, tähtpäev emphasizes a specific calendar date, while tähtaeg highlights the duration or period within which an obligation must be fulfilled.