Estonian Language (eesti keel)Estonian is an Finnic language closely related to Finnish spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia. The main difference between Estonian and Finnish is that Finnish has a lot of loan words from Swedish, while Estonian contains many words of German origin, plus some words from Russian, Latin, Greek and English. There is considerable mutual intelligibility between Estonian and Finnish. The oldest examples of written Estonian are names, words, and phrases found in early 13th century chronicles. The earliest surviving longer text dates from the 16th century. An Estonian textbook first appeared in 1637. Ferdinand Johann Wiedemann published the comprehensive Estonian-German dictionary in 1869, and a grammar describing the Estonian language in 1875. Estonian alphabet (eesti keele thestik)Estonian alphabet Sample text in EstonianKik inimesed snnivad vabadena ja vrdsetena oma vrikuselt ja igustelt. Neile on antud mistus ja sdametunnistus ja nende suhtumist ksteisesse peab kandma vendluse vaim. TranslationAll human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) Estonian pronunciationEstonian pronunciation NotesStress almost always falls on the first syllable of words. but quite a few words of foreign origin and a few native Estonian words, such as aith, don't follow this pattern.

Vowels and consonants can be short (written with one letter), long or extra long (written with two or three letters).

The letter y is also called igrek.

The letters f, , z and are only used in words of foreign origin.

The letters c, q, w, x and y are used in personal names, placenames and foreign words.

Information about the Estonian alphabet and pronunciation compiled by Wolfram Siegel, with corrections by Allan Kiisk, and some details from: http://www.eki.ee/knn/ungegn/un7_gdl.htm

Estonian phrasesPhrases - Here are some basic Estonian phrases which you can use in everyday conversation, as well as some common words you will see on signs.What is your name?: kuidas on teie nimi?

Nice to meet you: meeldiv tutvuda!

How are you?: kuidas lheb?

I'm good, thanks: tnan, hstiAnd you?: kuidas teil endal lheb?

kas sa rgid inglise keelt?do you speak English? (familiar)

kas te rgite inglise keelt?do you speak English? (polite)

ma ei rgi eesti keeltI don't speak Estonian

ma ei rgi palju eesti keeltI don't speak much Estonian

ma rgin natuke eesti keeltI speak a little Estonian

ma rgin testi vhe eesti keeltI only speak very little Estonian

ilusat peva!have a nice day!

palun rkige aeglasemaltplease speak more slowly (polite)

pole vigano problem

tere hommikustgood morning

tere pevastgood afternoon

tere htustgood evening

head dgoodnight

head aegagoodbye

kus asub tualettruum?where is the toilet?

Estonian phrasesWords -Tere! Hi

jahyes

eino

palunplease; you're welcome

aiththanks

tnanthank you

tnan vgathank you very much

terehi, hello

tervisthello

tere tulemastwelcome

ngemist!bye, see you!

vabanda excuse me (familiar)

vabandageexcuse me (polite)

vabandustsorry

ma saan aruI understand

ma ei saa aruI don't understand

ma teanI know

ma ei teaI don't know

Estonian vocabularyVocabulary
Estonian vocabulary divided into themed lists.Language partners
Find someone to practise your Estonian with.About the Estonian languageEstonian is spoken by about 1.1 million people worldwide, around 950,000 of whom live in Estonia itself.It is a member of the Finno-Ugric language family, being closely related to Finnish and more distantly so to Hungarian. It's not an Indo-European language such as French or Spanish, and as a result the vast majority of words in Estonian will look thoroughly unfamiliar to someone whose mother tongue is English.Estonian is certainly not considered to be an easy language to learn for English-speakers. However, don't be put off! With a little practice, you should soon find yourself able to get by in most everyday situations.So why learn Estonian? You enjoy a challenge - With fourteen different cases and an utterly unrecognisable vocabulary, Estonian should test even the most capable linguist! If you've studied other European languages in the past, you may find it refreshing to learn one where you effectively have to start entirely from scratch. It sounds beautiful - Estonian, with its exotic vowel-rich words and almost song-like intonation, is arguably one of the world's most beautiful-sounding languages. It's rewarding - Estonians are enormously appreciative of any attempts by foreigners to speak their language, which makes practising what you've learnt a particular pleasure. Any trip or stay in Estonia will undoubtedly be enriched if you take the time to learn a little of the language before you go.Do you speak (English/Estonian)?: kas te rgite (inglise / eesti) keelt?

Does she speak Chinese?: kas ta oskab hiina keelt?

A little bit: natuke

How old are you?: kui vana te olete?

I'm 33 years old: ma olen 33 aastat vana

It was nice talking to you: oli tore vestelda!

If you don't understand something, this will be your secret weapon:What do you mean?: mida te selle all mtlete?

I don't understand: ma ei saa aru

I don't know: ma ei tea

Sorry: vabandust!

What is that called in Estonian?: kuidas seda eesti keeles nimetatakse?

What does that word mean in English?: mida see sna inglise keeles thendab?

More personal information about origins and profession:Where are you from?: kust te prit olete?

I'm from the U.S: ma olen usa-st

I'm American: ma olen ameeriklane

Where do you live?: kus te elate?

I live in the U.S: ma elan usa-s

What do you do for a living?: millega te tegelete?

I'm a student: ma olen lipilane

Offering or asking for help and giving directions:Can I help you?: kas saan teid aidata?

Can you help me?: kas saaksite mind aidata?

Where is the airport?: kus on lennujaam?

Go straight: minge otse

Then: siis

Turn left: prake vasakule

Turn right: prake paremale

Good wishes in Estonian in holidays and occasions:Happy birthday: palju nne snnipevaks!

Happy new year: head uut aastat!

Merry Christmas: hid jule!

Good luck: soovin edu!

Congratulations: nnitlen!

Estonian expressions commonly used when traveling or buying:I have a reservation: mul on tuba reserveeritud

Do you have rooms available?: kas teil on vabu tube?

I would like a non-smoking room: ma soovin mittesuitsetajate tuba

How much it costs per night?: kui palju maksab ks ?

Waiter: kelner

How much is this?: kui palju see maksab?

What is this?: mis see on?

Survival phrases considered to be important in emergencies:Are you okay?: kas teiega on kik korras?

I need a doctor: mul on arsti vaja

Help: appi!

Call the ambulance: kutsuge kiirabi!

Call the police: kutsuge politsei!

I am sick: ma tunnen end halvasti

kuidas lhebhow's it going?

kuidas sinul lheb?how are you? (familiar)

kuidas teil lheb?how are you? (polite)

kuidas ksi kib?how are you?

kuidas sa elad?how are you? (familiar)

tnan, hstiI'm fine, thanks

normaalseltI'm ok

lhebit's going ok

halvastibad

mis su nimi on?what's your name? (familiar)

mis on teie nimi?what's your name? (polite)

minu nimi on ...my name is ...

ma olen ...I'm ...

tore sinuga tuttavaks saadagood to meet you (familiar)

meeldiv teiega tuttavaks saadaa pleasure to meet you (polite)

kui vana sa oled?how old are you? (familiar)

mis td sa teed?what do you do? (familiar)

mis td te teetewhat do you do? (polite)

kes sa ametilt oled?what do you do?(familiar)

ma olen ...I'm a ...

petajateacher

lipilane(university) student

arstdoctor

ma ttan ajakirjanikunaI work as a journalist

ma ttan veebidisainerinaI work as a web designer

kas sa suitsetad?do you smoke? (familiar)

kas te suitsetate?do you smoke? (polite)

jah, ma suitsetanyes, I smoke

ma ei suitsetaI don't smoke

kas ma tohin suitsetada?do you mind if I smoke?

mis on su telefoninumber?what's your phone number? (familiar)

kas sa oled vaba tna htul?are you free this evening? (familiar)

kas sa oled vaba homme prastlunal?are you free tomorrow afternoon? (familiar)

kas sa oled vaba homme htul?are you free tomorrow evening? (familiar)

kas sul on ndalavahetuseks plaane?do you have any plans for the weekend? (familiar)

Emergencies - Here are some Estonian phrases and exclamations for use in emergencies and other difficult situations. Hopefully you won't need to use them!

kas te olete midagi joonud?have you had anything to drink?

appi!help!

ole ettevaatlikbe careful

ettevaatust!watch out!

palun aidake!please help!

kutsu kiirabi!call an ambulance! (familiar)

kutsuge kiirabi!call an ambulance! (polite)

on juhtunud nnetusthere's been an accident

minu rahakott varastati ramy wallet has been stolen

peatage varas!stop thief!

kutsuge politsei!call the police!

ma olen eksinudI'm lost

Tulekahju! fire!

kas sinuga on kik korras?are you ok? (familiar)

kas teiega on kik korras?are you ok? (polite)

Telling the time - Learn how to tell the time in Estonian. The 24-hour clock is widely used in Estonian, although the 12-hour clock is also common, particularly in less formal situations.mis kell on?what's the time?

kell ksone o'clock

kell kakstwo o'clock

kell kolmthree o'clock

veerand kaksquarter past one

veerand kolmquarter past two

veerand neliquarter past three

pool kakshalf past one

pool kolmhalf past two

pool nelihalf past three

kolmveerand kaksquarter to two

kolmveerand kolmquarter to three

kolmveerand neliquarter to four

viis minutit ks lbifive past one

kmme minutit ks lbiten past one

kakskmmend minutit ks lbitwenty past one

kakskmmend viis minutit ks lbitwenty-five past one

viie prast kaksfive to two

kmne prast kaksten to two

kahekmne prast kakstwenty to two

kahekmne viie prast kakstwenty-five to two

keskpevnoon, midday

keskmidnight

leeilethe day before yesterday

eileyesterday

tnatoday

hommetomorrow

lehommethe day after tomorrow

The weather - Here are some Estonian phrases you can use when talking about the weather.kuidas ilm on?what's the weather like?

mis ilm on?what's the weather like?

pike paistabit's sunny

vihma sajabit's raining

lund sajab it's snowing

palav onit's hot

klm onit's cold

vga palav onit's very hot

vga klm onit's very cold

kui kena pev!what a nice day!

kui ilus pev!what a beautiful day!

kui kohutav pev!what a terrible day!

kui soe vljas on?what's the temperature?

mis ilmaennustus tleb?what's the forecast?

ennustati, et hakkab sadamait's forecast to rain

paistab, et hakkab sadamait looks like it's going to rain

Travel - Here are some general Estonian phrases useful for various types of travel.kus on ...?where is ...?

bussijaamthe bus station

lennujaamthe airport

rongijaam the train station

kust ma saan takso?where can I get a taxi?

bussbus

lennukplane

rongtrain

laevship, boat

taksotaxi

autocar

jalgratasbicycle

bussigaby bus

lennukigaby plane

rongigaby train

laevagaby boat

jalgsion foot

vasakleft

paremright

otse edasistraight ahead

head reisi!have a good journey!

kui kaugel on see ...?how far is it from the ...?

kesklinnastcity centre

lennujaamastairport

raudteejaamastrailway station

autocar

veoautolorry/truck

mootorratasmotorcycle

mopeedmoped

motorollerscooter

Reservation...see on pisut rohkem kui oleksin nus maksmathat's a bit more than I wanted to pay

kas saaksite mulle pakkuda allahindlust?can you offer me any discount?

kas teil on midagi ...?have you got anything ...?

odavamatcheaper

suurematbigger

vaiksematquieter

kas ma saaksin tuba nha?may I see the room?

Making the bookingolgu, ma vtan selleOK, I'll take it

ma sooviksin tuba reserveeridaI'd like to make a reservation

kuidas on teie nimi?what's your name, please?

teid krediitkaardi number, paluncan I take your credit card number?

mis kell te saabute?what time will you be arriving?

kui mitmeks ks?for how many nights?

kui kauaks te jte?how long will you be staying for?

heks ksone night

kaheks kstwo nights

heks ndalaksa week

missugust tuba te sooviksite?what sort of room would you like?

ma sooviksin ...I'd like a ...

heinimesetubasingle room

kaheinimesetubadouble room

kahe voodiga tubatwin room

kolme voodiga tubatriple room

sviitisuite

ma sooviksin ... tubaI'd like a room with ...

vannigaa bath

duigaa shower

vaategaa view

vaatega merelea sea view

rdugaa balcony

kas ma saaksin lisavoodi?could we have an extra bed?