Basic Words and Phrases in Estonian
Reinier van der Windt
About Estonian
Estonian is a Finno-Ugric language primarily spoken in Estonia, a country located in Northern Europe. It is closely related to Finnish and distantly related to Hungarian. Estonian is the official language of Estonia and is spoken by approximately 1.1 million people. It has a phonetic orthography, meaning the pronunciation can be determined from the written form. Estonian features a complex grammar system with a variety of cases, noun and adjective declensions, and verb conjugations. It uses the Latin-based alphabet with additional characters. Estonian has its unique vocabulary and is an integral part of Estonian culture and identity.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | Jah |
|---|---|
| No | Ei |
| Please | Palun |
| Yes, please | Jah, palun |
| No, thank you | Ei, aitäh |
| Thanks | Aitäh |
| Thank you | Aitäh |
| Thank you very much | Aitäh sulle väga |
| You're welcome | Ei ole midagi (It's nothing) Pole tänu väärt (Don't mention it) |
| No problem | Pole probleemi |
| Excuse me | Vabandust |
| I’m sorry | Vabandust |
| Sorry | Vabandage |
| Cheers! | Tervist! |
| Okay | Okei |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Tere (frm) Tervist (inf) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Tere (frm) Tervist (inf) |
| Good day | Tere Tere päevast |
| Good morning | Tere hommikust |
| Good afternoon | Tere päevast |
| Good evening | Tere õhtust |
| Good night | Head ööd |
| Goodbye | Head aega |
| See you later! | Näeme hiljem! |
| Have a nice day! | Ilusat päeva! |
| Bye | Hüvasti |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Kuidas läheb? |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | Mul läheb hästi |
| Good, thank you! | Hea, aitäh! |
| And you? | Ja sinul? |
| Nice to meet you! | Meeldiv tutvuda Tore sind tutvuda! |
| Pleased to meet you! | Rõõm sind tutvuda! |
| What is your name? | Mis su nimi on? |
| My name is … | Minu nimi on … |
| Where are you from? | Kust sa oled pärit? |
| I am from … | Ma olen pärit ... |
| I don't speak Estonian | Ma ei räägi eesti keelt |
| Do you speak English? | Kas sa räägid inglise keelt? |
| I understand | Ma saan aru |
| I do not understand | Ma ei saa aru |
| I like it | See meeldib mulle |
| I don't like it | See ei meeldi mulle |
| How is the weather today? | Kuidas on täna ilm? |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Kas saate soovitada mõnda kohalikku vaatamisväärsust? |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Hotell |
|---|---|
| Reception | Vastuvõtt |
| Reservation | Reservatsioon |
| Hotel room | Hotellituba |
| Key | Võti |
| Breakfast | Hommikusöök |
| I have a reservation | Mul on broneering |
| I would like to book a room | Ma sooviksin tuba broneerida |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Kas teil on vabu tube? |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Restoran |
|---|---|
| Menu | Menüü |
| A table for one, please | Laua jaoks ühele, palun |
| A table for two, please | Laua jaoks kahele, palun |
| I would like a coffee, please | Ma sooviksin ühte kohvi, palun |
| Enjoy your meal! | Head isu! |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Kas ma saaksin arve, palun? |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Kas saaksite mulle arve tuua, palun? |
| I would like to pay, please | Ma sooviksin maksta, palun |
| The bill, please | Arve, palun |
| Can I pay with cash? | Kas ma saan maksta sularahas? |
| Can I pay with card? | Kas ma saan maksta kaardiga? |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Kas ma saan maksta krediitkaardiga? |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Kas saaksite mulle midagi soovitada? |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Kas ma saaksin klaasi vett, palun? |
| Do you have any local specialties? | Kas teil on kohalikke eripärasid? |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Hommikusöök |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Lõunasöök |
| Dinner | Õhtusöök |
| Food | Toit |
| Drinks | Joogid |
| Bread | Leib |
| Sandwich | Võileib |
| Cheese | Juust |
| Meat | Liha |
| Fish | Kala |
| Vegetables | Köögiviljad |
| Fruit | Puuviljad |
| Vegetarian | Taimetoitlane |
| I am a vegetarian | Ma olen taimetoitlane |
| Coffee | Kohv |
| Tea | Tee |
| Beer | Õlu |
| Wine | Vein |
| Juice | Mahl |
| Water | Vesi |
| Milk | Piim |
| Dessert | Magustoit |
| Salad | Salat |
| Soup | Supp |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Sularahaautomaat |
|---|---|
| Bank | Pank |
| Beach | Rand |
| Library | Raamatukogu |
| Museum | Muuseum |
| Park | Park |
| Pharmacy | Apteek |
| Post Office | Postkontor |
| School | Kool |
| Tourist Information | Turismiinfo |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Pood |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Supermarket |
| Grocery store | Toidupood |
| Market | Turg |
| Bakery | Pagariäri |
| Bookstore | Raamatupood |
| How much does this cost? | Kui palju see maksab? |
| Can I get a receipt? | Kas saaksin kviitungi? |
| I'm just looking | Ma vaatan lihtsalt |
| Sunglasses | Päikeseprillid |
| Umbrella | Vihmavari |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Kus asub tualett? |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Kus asub rand? |
| How do I get to the airport? | Kuidas ma lennujaama saan? |
| Left | Vasakule |
| Right | Paremale |
| Straight ahead | Otse edasi |
| Is it far from here? | Kas see on siit kaugel? |
| Can you show it on the map? | Kas saate selle kaardil näidata? |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Kui kaua aega kulub sinna jalutamiseks? |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Lennujaam |
|---|---|
| Plane | Lennuk |
| Train station | Rongijaam |
| Train | Rong |
| Bus station | Bussijaam |
| Bus | Buss |
| Taxi | Takso |
| Ticket | Pilet |
| Can I get a ticket to Tallinn? | Kas ma saaksin pileti Tallinna? |
| I would like a ticket to Tallinn | Ma sooviksin piletit Tallinna |
| I need a ticket to Tallinn | Mul on vaja piletit Tallinna |
| A ticket to Tallinn, please | Piletit Tallinna, palun |
| What time is the next train to Tallinn? | Millal on järgmine rong Tallinna? |
| When is the next train to Tallinn? | Millal on järgmine rong Tallinna? |
| When does the next train to Tallinn leave? | Millal järgmine rong Tallinna väljub? |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Aitäh! |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Aita mind! |
| I need help | Mul on abi vaja |
| I need assistance | Mul on abi vaja |
| I need a doctor | Mul on vaja arsti |
| Police | Politsei |
| Police Station | Politseijaoskond |
| Hospital | Haigla |
| Ambulance | Kiirabi |
| Doctor | Arst |
| Fire department | Tuletõrje |
| Fire! | Tuli! |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Mis kell on? |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | On kell üks |
| It is half past two | On kell kaks ja pool |
| Morning | Hommik |
| Afternoon | Pärastlõuna |
| Evening | Õhtu |
| Night | Öö |
| Today | Täna |
| Tomorrow | Homme |
| Yesterday | Eile |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Null |
|---|---|
| One | Üks |
| Two | Kaks |
| Three | Kolm |
| Four | Neli |
| Five | Viis |
| Six | Kuus |
| Seven | Seitse |
| Eight | Kaheksa |
| Nine | Üheksa |
| Ten | Kümme |
| Eleven | Üksteist |
| Twelve | Kaksteist |
| Thirteen | Kolmteist |
| Fourteen | Neliteist |
| Fifteen | Viisteist |
| Sixteen | Kuusteist |
| Seventeen | Seitseteist |
| Eighteen | Kaheksateist |
| Nineteen | Üheksateist |
| Twenty | Kakskümmend |
| Twenty-one | Kakskümmend üks |
| Twenty-two | Kakskümmend kaks |
| Twenty-three | Kakskümmend kolm |
| Twenty-four | Kakskümmend neli |
| Twenty-five | Kakskümmend viis |
| Twenty-six | Kakskümmend kuus |
| Twenty-seven | Kakskümmend seitse |
| Twenty-eight | Kakskümmend kaheksa |
| Twenty-nine | Kakskümmend üheksa |
| Thirty | Kolmkümmend |
| Forty | Nelikümmend |
| Fifty | Viiskümmend |
| Sixty | Kuuskümmend |
| Seventy | Seitsekümmend |
| Eighty | Kaheksakümmend |
| Ninety | Üheksakümmend |
| Hundred | Sada |
| Two hundred | Kakssada |
| One thousand | Tuhat |
| Two thousand | Kaks tuhat |
| Three thousand | Kolm tuhat |
| Hundred thousand | Sada tuhat |
| Million | Miljon |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Esimene |
|---|---|
| Second | Teine |
| Third | Kolmas |
| Fourth | Neljas |
| Fifth | Viies |
| Sixth | Kuues |
| Seventh | Seitsmes |
| Eighth | Kaheksas |
| Ninth | Üheksas |
| Tenth | Kümnes |
| Eleventh | Üheteistkümnes |
| Twelfth | Kaheteistkümnes |
| Thirteenth | Kolmeteistkümnes |
| Fourteenth | Neljateistkümnes |
| Fifteenth | Viieteistkümnes |
| Sixteenth | Kuusteistkümnes |
| Seventeenth | Seitsmeteistkümnes |
| Eighteenth | Kaheksateistkümnes |
| Nineteenth | Üheksateistkümnes |
| Twentieth | Kaheteistkümnes |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Esmaspäev |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Teisipäev |
| Wednesday | Kolmapäev |
| Thursday | Neljapäev |
| Friday | Reede |
| Saturday | Laupäev |
| Sunday | Pühapäev |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Jaanuar |
|---|---|
| February | Veebruar |
| March | Märts |
| April | Aprill |
| May | Mai |
| June | Juuni |
| July | Juuli |
| August | August |
| September | September |
| Oktober | Oktoober |
| November | November |
| December | Detsember |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | Mida? |
|---|---|
| What is your name? | Mis on sinu nimi? |
| What is that? | Mis see on? |
| What is this called? | Kuidas seda nimetatakse? |
| What do you need? | Mida sa vajad? |
| What time is it? | Mis kell on? |
| What day is it today? | Mis päev on täna? |
| What do you like? | Mida sulle meeldib? |
| Where? | Kus? |
| Where is the toilet? | Kus on tualett? |
| When? | Millal? |
| When is the next train? | Millal on järgmine rong? |
| When can we meet? | Millal me saame kokku? |
| Why? | Miks? |
| Why is it expensive? | Miks on see kallis? |
| How? | Kuidas? |
| How are you doing? | Kuidas sul läheb? |
| How would you like to pay? | Kuidas sa soovid maksta? |
| How far is this? | Kui kaugel see on? |
| Which? | Milline? |
| Which book belongs to your sister? | Milline raamat kuulub su õele? |
| Which car is yours? | Milline auto on sinu oma? |
| Which museum did you visit? | Millises muuseumis sa käisid? |
| Which museums did you visit? | Millistes muuseumides sa käisid? |
| Which sandwich is yours? | Milline võileib on sinu oma? |
| Who? | Kes? |
| Who is that? | Kes see on? |
| Who is your travel companion? | Kes on sinu reisikaaslane? |
| Whose? | Kelle oma? |
| Whose keys are these? | Kellele need võtmed kuuluvad? |
| Whose phone is ringing? | Kelle telefon heliseb? |
| Whose bag is this? | Kellele see kott kuulub? |
| How many? | Kui palju? |
| How many people were at the concert? | Kui palju inimesi oli kontserdil? |
| How much? | Kui palju? |
| How much does this cost? | Kui palju see maksab? |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
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