vanem

Vanem is a native Estonian noun meaning parent, the person who takes primary care of a child. It can refer to either the mother or the father; when gender is specified, ema means mother and isa means father. The plural form vanemad means parents. In addition to its noun use, vanem also exists as an adjective meaning older or elder, used in phrases such as vanem kui (older than).

In family life, a vanem is typically responsible for the child's basic needs, upbringing, education, and welfare. The term also appears in legal and administrative contexts as part of phrases like vanemlik vastutus (parental responsibility) and vanemlik staatus (parental status), reflecting the social and legal role of a parent. With adoption, guardianship, or stepfamilies, the vanem may be biological or non-biological; the core concept is the person recognized as the guardian and caregiver of the child.

Cultural aspects: In Estonian society, the family unit and parental involvement are central to child development, though family structures vary. The language uses a simpler set of kin terms, with ema and isa specifying gender, while vanem emphasizes the parental role without specifying gender.