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
Verb
33
saama
get
To obtain, receive, or come to have.
EST
Adverb
82
rohkem
more
To a greater extent or degree.
EST
Verb
495
juhtima
drive
To operate and control the movement of a vehicle.
EST
Noun
261
nimi
name
A word or set of words by which a person or thing is known and identified.
Agents
Estonian
Kadri
bring tea, leave fear
Female
56
Tallinn, Estonia
Estonian language tutor
patient
pottery
Estonian
Maarja
wish me luck!
Female
27
Tallinn, Estonia
Estonian language tutor and subtitler
witty
mushroom foraging
Estonian
Liis
tea is hot, vowels are hotter
Female
25
Tartu, Estonia
Estonian language tutor
thoughtful, patient
cross-country skiing
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