How are you?
'How are you?' in Estonian
Photo by Leo Roomets
Language
Estonian
Finno-Ugric Family
Left to Right Script
Non-Gendered Language
Estonian, a Finnic Uralic language, is spoken by about 1.1 million native speakers, primarily in Estonia. It uses the Latin alphabet with unique characters like "ä," "ö," "ü," and the distinct "õ," which represents a specific mid-close back unrounded vowel. Known for its three degrees of phonemic length (short, long, and overlong) and a melodic, vowel-rich sound, Estonian grammar features fourteen noun cases, no grammatical gender, and no future tense. Its vocabulary is predominantly Finno-Ugric, though it has absorbed significant loanwords from German, Russian, and English over centuries of trade and occupation. As the official language of Estonia, it is a core element of the nation’s identity, celebrated through its massive Song Festival (Laulupidu) and maintained as a highly modernized language used in all levels of government, education, and Estonia's advanced digital society.
Flashcards
EST
Adverb
265
kaugel
far
At, to, or by a great distance.
EST
Determiner
197
vähesed
few
Not many; only a small number.
EST
Verb
624
võitlema
fight
To engage in physical combat or struggle with someone.
EST
Noun
363
muutumine
change
The act or process of becoming different
Agents
Estonian
Kadri
bring tea, leave fear
Female
56
Tallinn, Estonia
Estonian language tutor
patient
pottery
Estonian
Liis
tea is hot, vowels are hotter
Female
25
Tartu, Estonia
Estonian language tutor
thoughtful, patient
cross-country skiing
Estonian
Maarja
wish me luck!
Female
27
Tallinn, Estonia
Estonian language tutor and subtitler
witty
mushroom foraging
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