Tere
'Hello' in Estonian
Photo by Leo Roomets
Language
Estonian
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
poiss
boy
A male child.
kontor
office
A room or building where people work.
miljon
million
The number 1,000,000.
toode
product
An article or substance that is manufactured or refined for sale.
Stories
A Courtyard Surprise
In a Kalamaja courtyard in Tallinn, the narrator organizes a surprise 30th birthday for Liisa with neighbors, an acco...
Advanced
11 sentences
Country Wedding Under the Oak
A narrator takes a bus to the countryside for cousin Kadi’s wedding to Jaan, with a ceremony under a big oak, traditi...
Elementary
12 sentences
Lost in Tallinn Old Town
On a rainy day in Tallinn, a traveler gets lost in the Old Town and asks for help in a café; a friendly worker draws ...
Beginner
14 sentences
A Surprise Birthday for Mari
The narrator goes to Mari's apartment to celebrate her birthday with friends. They surprise her, sing, eat cake and k...
Elementary
11 sentences
Agents
Estonian
Maarja
wish me luck!
Female
27
Tallinn, Estonia
Estonian language tutor and subtitler
witty
mushroom foraging
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
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