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Tere

'Hello' 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

better

EST Adjective 390

parem

better

Of higher quality or greater desirability; superior.

step

EST Noun 640

samm

step

A movement of lifting one foot and putting it down in front of the other in order to walk.

video

EST Noun 632

video

video

The recording, reproducing, or broadcasting of moving pictures and sound.

mom

EST Noun 612

ema

mom

One's mother.

Stories

Sunday at Pirita Beach

A young narrator escapes to Pirita Beach to clear their head, shares tea and stories with an elderly neighbor, and to...

Upper Intermediate 11 sentences

Tailwind to Pirita: A Bike Rental Day in Tallinn

A visitor in Tallinn rents a city bike on a sunny Saturday, rides along the seaside toward Pirita, pauses at the Russ...

Intermediate 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

Concert with Kadri

In Tallinn, the narrator and Kadri go to a small club concert after a tram ride. They wait in line, enjoy familiar so...

Beginner 14 sentences

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Agents

Kadri

Estonian

Kadri

bring tea, leave fear

Female

56

Tallinn, Estonia

Estonian language tutor

patient

pottery

Liis

Estonian

Liis

tea is hot, vowels are hotter

Female

25

Tartu, Estonia

Estonian language tutor

thoughtful, patient

cross-country skiing

Maarja

Estonian

Maarja

wish me luck!

Female

27

Tallinn, Estonia

Estonian language tutor and subtitler

witty

mushroom foraging

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