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Definition 2024

See also: vään

vaan

but (... instead)
Se ei ole musta, vaan punainen.
It is not black, but red.

Many speakers use the word vaan where one would expect vain ‎(“just, only”), especially in speech:

Elämä on unta vaan. > Elämä on unta vain.

Life is but a dream.

Sä annoit mulle vaan kaks' euroo. > Annoit minulle vain kaksi euroa.

You gave to me only two euros.