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Estonian phrasebook Travel Guide

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Estonian (eesti keel) is a Finno-Ugric language spoken by roughly 1.1 million people in Estonia. Though closely related to Finnish and distantly to Hungarian, Estonian bears almost no resemblance to any other European language in either vocabulary or grammar.

The lack of Indo-European language structures makes Estonian a rather difficult language to learn. And though many people in Estonia speak some English (and most young people speak quite good English), an attempt at some basic phrases will definitely impress the locals.

Pronunciation guide

Written Estonian is based on the Latin alphabet and uses 27 letters:

a b d e f g h i j k l m n o p r s š z ž t u v õ ä ö ü

Additionally, the letters c, q, w, x, and y are used in foreign proper names and quotes.

Pronunciation is fairly straightforward. Most words are pronounced as they are written, with a major exception being vowel length (see below).

Vowels

a: like a in father
e: like e in get
i: like ee in flee
o: like o in order
u: like oo in moon
ä: like a in hat
ö: like German ö, similar to e in her
ü: like German ü, similar to ew in few
õ: a uniquely Estonian sound pronounced with the tongue in the same position as the o sound, but with lips unrounded; kind of halfway between the e in get and the u in hung

The duration of vowel sounds can be short, long, or overlong, depending on the word. Short vowels are written with one letter, long and overlong vowels with two. Overlong vowels often change the pitch or stress of the syllable as well as the duration. There is no written distinction between long and overlong vowels. Example:

short sada (SAH-dah) → one hundred

long saada (SAAH-dah) → send!

overlong saada (SAAAH-dah) → to get

Consonants

c: like ts in hats
h: silent at the beginning of a word; before a vowel like English h; before a consonant harshly pronounced guttural h
j: like y in yes
q: like k in kitchen
r: trilled, like Spanish rr
s: like s in soap
š: like sh in shoe
ž: like s in measure
w: like v in very
x: like x in excite

b d f g k l m n p t v y z: pronounced as in English

Consonants can appear doubled, such as kk, pp, tt, etc., and are pronounced by inserting a glottal stop or prolonging the duration of the consonant.

Stress

The first syllable of a word is always stressed except foreign words which can have an accent mark showing the stressed syllable. For example: Améerika (ah-MAAY-ree-kah).

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: Tervist. (TEHR-veest)
Hello. (informal): Tere. (TEHR-reh)
How are you?: Kuidas käsi käib? (KOO-ee-dahs KA-see KA-eeb?)
Fine, thank you.: Tänan, hästi. (TA-nahn, HASS-tee)
What is your name?: Mis on teie nimi? (MEES ohn teh-yeh NEE-mee?)
My name is ______ .: Minu nimi on ______ . (MEE-noo NEE-mee ohn _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: Meeldiv teid kohata. (MAAYL-deev tayd KO-hah-tah)
Please. / You're welcome: Palun. (PAH-loon)
Thank you.: Tänan. (TA-nahn)
Yes.: Jah. (YAHH)
No.: Ei. (ay)
Excuse me.: Vabanda. (VAH-bahn-dah)
I'm sorry.: Vabandust. (VAH-bahn-doost)
Goodbye: Head aega. (HEH-ahd AH-eh-gah.)
Goodbye (informal): Bye. (BIGH)
I can't speak [much] Estonian.: Ma ei räägi [palju] eesti keelt. (MAH ay RAA-gee [PAHL-yoo] EHS-tee KEHLT)
Do you speak English?: Kas te räägite inglise keelt? (KAHS teh RAA-gee-teh EENG-lee-seh KEHLT?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Is there someone here who speaks English? (...?)
Help!: Aidake! (IGH-dak-keh!)
Look out!: Look out! (...!)
Good morning.: Tere hommikust. (TEH-reh HOHM-mee-koost)
Good evening.: Tere õhtust. (TEH-reh ERHH-toost)
Good night.: Head ööd. (HEH-ahd IRRD)
I don't understand.: Ma ei saa aru. (MAH ay sahh AH-roo)
Where is the toilet?: Kus on tualett? (KOOS ohn TOO-ah-let?)

Problems

Leave me alone.: Jäta mind rahule. (...)
Don't touch me!: Ära puuduta mind! (...)
I'll call the police.: Ma kutsun politsei. (...)
Police!: Politsei! (...)
Stop! Thief!: Stop! Varas! (...)
I need your help.: Ma vajan teie abi. (...)
It's an emergency.: See on hädaolukord. (...)
I'm lost.: Ma olen eksinud. (...)
I lost my bag.: Ma kaotasin oma koti. (...)
I lost my wallet.: Ma kaotasin oma rahakoti. (...)
I'm sick.: Ma olen haige. (...)
I've been injured.: Ma olen vigastatud. (...)
I need a doctor.: Ma vajan arsti. (...)
Can I use your phone?: Kas ma võiksin teie telefoni kasutada? (...)

Numbers

0: null (nool)
1: üks (ewks)
2: kaks (kahks)
3: kolm (kohlm)
4: neli (NEH-lee)
5: viis (veess)
6: kuus (kooss)
7: seitse (SAYT-seh)
8: kaheksa (KAH-hek-sah)
9: üheksa (EW-hek-sah)
10: kümme (KEWM-meh)
11: üksteist (EWKS-tayst)
12: kaksteist (KAHKS-tayst)
13: kolmteist (KOHLM-tayst)
14: neliteist (NEH-lee-tayst)
15: viisteist (VEESS-tayst)
16: kuusteist (KOOSS-tayst)
17: seitseteist (SAYT-seh-tayst)
18: kaheksateist (KAH-hek-sah-tayst)
19: üheksateist (EW-hek-sah-tayst)
20: kakskümmend (KAHKS-kewm-mend)
21: kakskümmend üks (KAHKS-kewm-mend EWKS)
22: kakskümmend kaks (KAHKS-kewm-mend KAHKS)
23: kakskümmend kolm (KAHKS-kewm-mend KOHLM)
30: kolmkümmend (KOHLM-kewm-mend)
40: nelikümmend (NEH-lee-kewm-mend)
50: viiskümmend (VEESS-kewm-mend)
60: kuuskümmend (KOOSS-kewm-mend)
70: seitsekümmend (SAYT-seh-kewm-mend)
80: kaheksakümmend (KAH-hek-sah-kewm-mend)
90: üheksakümmend (EW-hek-sah-kewm-mend)
100: sada (SAH-dah)
200: kakssada (KAHKS-sah-dah)
300: kolmsada (KOHLM-sah-dah)
1000: tuhat (TOO-haht)
2000: kaks tuhat (KAHKS TOO-haht)
1,000,000: miljon (MEEL-yohn)
1,000,000,000: miljard (MEEL-yahrd)
1,000,000,000,000: biljon (BEEL-yohn)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): number _____ (NOOM-behr _____)
half: pool (pohl)
less: vähem (VA-hehm)
more: enam (EH-nahm)

Time

now: nüüd (newd)
later: hiljem (HEEL-yehm)
before: enne (EHN-neh)
morning: hommik (HOHM-meek)
afternoon: pärastlõuna (PA-rahst-LUHR-oo-nah)
evening: õhtu (UHRHH-too)
night: öö (urr)

Clock time

Estonia uses a 24 hour clock for most things

one o'clock AM: kell üks (kehl EWKS)
two o'clock AM: kell kaks (kehl KAHKS)
noon: keskpäev (KEHSK-pa-ehv)
one o'clock PM: kell kolmteist (kehl KOHLM-tayst)
two o'clock PM: kell neliteist (kehl NEH-lee-tayst)
midnight: kesköö (KEHSK-urr)

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ minute(s) (...)
_____ hour(s): _____ hour(s) (...)
_____ day(s): _____ day(s) (...)
_____ week(s): _____ week(s) (...)
_____ month(s): _____ month(s) (...)
_____ year(s): _____ year(s) (...)

Days

today: täna (TA-nah)
yesterday: eile (AYL-eh)
tomorrow: homme (OHM-meh)
this week: sel nädalal (sehl NA-dah-lahl)
last week: möödunud nädalal (MUR-doo-nood NA-dah-lahl)
next week: järgmisel nädalal (YARG-mee-sehl NA-dah-lahl)

Sunday: pühapäev (PEW-hah-pighv)
Monday: esmaspäev (ESS-mah-pighv)
Tuesday: teisipäev (TAY-see-pighv)
Wednesday: kolmapäev (KOHL-mah-pighv)
Thursday: neljapäev (NEHL-yah-pighv)
Friday: reede (REH-deh)
Saturday: laupäev (LAH-oo-pighv)

Months

January: jaanuar (YAAH-noo-ahr)
February: veebruar (VEH-broo-ahr)
March: märts (MARTS)
April: aprill (AH-preell)
May: mai (MAH-ee)
June: juuni (YOO-nee)
July: juuli (YOO-lee)
August: august (AH-oo-goost)
September: september (SEHP-tehm-behr)
October: oktoober (OHK-toh-behr)
November: november (NOH-vehm-behr)
December: detsember (DEHT-sehm-behr)

Writing time and date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

black: must (muhst)
white: valge (VAHL-geh)
gray: hall (hahl)
red: punane (POO-nah-neh)
blue: sinine (SEE-nee-neh)
yellow: kollane (KOHL-lah-neh)
green: roheline (ROH-heh-lee-neh)
orange: oranž (OH-rahzh)
purple: lilla (LEEL-lah)
brown: pruun (proon)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Kui palju maksab pilet _____? (...)
One ticket to _____, please.: Üks pilet _____, palun. (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: Kuhu see rong/buss sõidab? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Kust väljub rong/buss _____? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Kas see rong/buss peatub _____? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Millal väljub rong/buss _____? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: Millal saabub rong/buss _____? (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: Kuidas ma saan _____ ? (...)
...the train station?: ...rongijaama? (...)
...the bus station?: ...bussijaama? (...)
...the airport?: ...lennujaama? (...)
...downtown?: ...kesklinna? (...)
...the youth hostel?: ...the youth hostel? (...)
...the _____ hotel?: ... _____ hotelli? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...Ameerika/Kanada/Austraalia/Briti konsulaati? (...)
Where are there a lot of...: Where are there a lot of... (...)
...hotels?: ...hotelle? (...)
...restaurants?: ...restorane? (...)
...bars?: ...baare? (...)
...sites to see?: ...vaatamisväärsusi? (...)
Can you show me on the map?: Kas te näitaksite mulle kaardil? (...)
street: tänav (...)
Turn left.: Pööra vasakule. (...)
Turn right.: Pööra paremale. (...)
left: vasak (...)
right: parem (...)
straight ahead: otse edasi (...)
towards the _____: _____ suunas (...)
past the _____: _____ mööda (...)
before the _____: enne _____ (...)
Watch for the _____.: Watch for the _____. (...)
intersection: ristmik/risttee (...)
north: põhi (...)
south: lõuna (...)
east: ida (...)
west: lääs (...)
uphill: ülesmäge (...)
downhill: allamäge (...)

Taxi

Taxi!: Taxi! (...)
Take me to _____, please.: Take me to _____, please. (...)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: How much does it cost to

get to _____? (...)

Take me there, please.: Take me there, please. (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Do you have any rooms available? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: How much is a room for one person/two people? (...)
Does the room come with...: Does the room come with... (...)
...bedsheets?: ...bedsheets? (...)
...a bathroom?: ...a bathroom? (...)
...a telephone?: ...a telephone? (...)
...a TV?: ...a TV? (...)
May I see the room first?: May I see the room first? (...)
Do you have anything quieter?: Do you have anything quieter? (...)
...bigger?: ...bigger? (...)
...cleaner?: ...cleaner? (...)
...cheaper?: ...cheaper? (...)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: I will stay for _____ night(s). (...)
Can you suggest another hotel?: Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
Do you have a safe?: Do you have a safe? (...)
...lockers?: ...lockers? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included?: Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper?: What time is breakfast/supper? (...)
Please clean my room.: Please clean my room. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (...)
I want to check out.: I want to check out. (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (...)
Do you accept British pounds?: Do you accept British pounds? (...)
Do you accept credit cards?: Do you accept credit cards? (...)
Can you change money for me?: Can you change money for me? (...)
Where can I get money changed?: Where can I get money changed? (...)
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
What is the exchange rate?: What is the exchange rate? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: A table for one person/two people, please. (...)
Can I look at the menu, please?: Can I look at the menu, please? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen?: Can I look in the kitchen? (...)
Is there a house specialty?: Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty?: Is there a local specialty? (...)
I'm a vegetarian.: I'm a vegetarian. (...)
I don't eat pork.: I don't eat pork. (...)
I don't eat beef.: I don't eat beef. (...)
I only eat kosher food.: I only eat kosher food. (...)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
fixed-price meal: fixed-price meal (...)
à la carte: à la carte (...)
breakfast: breakfast (...)
lunch: lunch (...)
tea (meal): tee (...)
supper: supper (...)
I want _____.: Ma sooven _____. (...)
I want a dish containing _____.: I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken: kana (...)
beef: beef (...)
fish: kala (...)
ham: ham (...)
sausage: sausage (...)
cheese: juust (...)
eggs: eggs (...)
salad: salat (...)
(fresh) vegetables: (fresh) vegetables (...)
(fresh) fruit: (fresh) fruit (...)
bread: leib (...)
toast: toast (...)
noodles: noodles (...)
rice: rice (...)
beans: beans (...)
May I have a glass of _____?: May I have a glass of _____? (...)
May I have a cup of _____?: May I have a cup of _____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____?: May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
coffee: kohv (...)
tea (drink): tea (...)
juice: mahl (...)
(bubbly) water: vesi gasiga (...)
water: vesi (...)
beer: õlu (...)
red/white wine: red/white wine (...)
May I have some _____?: May I have some _____? (...)
salt: salt (...)
black pepper: black pepper (...)
butter: butter (...)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Excuse me, waiter? (...)
I'm finished.: I'm finished. (...)
It was delicious.: It was delicious. (...)
Please clear the plates.: Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please.: The check, please. (...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Do you serve alcohol? (...)
Is there table service?: Is there table service? (...)
A beer/two beers, please.: A beer/two beers, please. (...)
A glass of red/white wine, please.: A glass of red/white wine, please. (...)
A pint, please.: A pint, please. (...)
A bottle, please.: A bottle, please. (...)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: _____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey: whiskey (...)
vodka: vodka (...)
rum: rum (...)
water: vesi (...)
club soda: club soda (...)
tonic water: tonic water (...)
orange juice: apelsin mahl (...)
Coke (soda): Coke (...)
Do you have any bar snacks?: Do you have any bar snacks? (...)
One more, please.: Palun, üks veel. (...)
Another round, please.: Another round, please. (...)
When is closing time?: When is closing time? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Do you have this in my size? (...)
How much is this?: How much is this? (...)
That's too expensive.: That's too expensive. (...)
Would you take _____?: Would you take _____? (...)
expensive: expensive (...)
cheap: cheap (...)
I can't afford it.: I can't afford it. (...)
I don't want it.: I don't want it. (...)
You're cheating me.: You're cheating me. (...)
I'm not interested.: I'm not interested. (..)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
Can I have a bag?: Can I have a bag? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)?: Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need...: I need... (...)
...toothpaste.: ...toothpaste. (...)
...a toothbrush.: ...a toothbrush. (...)
...tampons.: ...tampons. (...)
...soap.: ...soap. (...)
...shampoo.: ...shampoo. (...)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...pain reliever. (...)
...cold medicine.: ...cold medicine. (...)
...stomach medicine.: ...stomach medicine. (...)
...a razor.: ...a razor. (...)
...an umbrella.: ...an umbrella. (...)
...sunblock lotion.: ...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard.: ...a postcard. (...)
...postage stamps.: ...postage stamps. (...)
...batteries.: ...batteries. (...)
...writing paper.: ...writing paper. (...)
...a pen.: ...a pen. (...)
...English-language books.: ...English-language books. (...)
...English-language magazines.: ...English-language magazines. (...)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...an English-language newspaper. (...)
...an English-English dictionary.: ...an English-English dictionary. (...)

Driving

I want to rent a car.: I want to rent a car. (...)
Can I get insurance?: Can I get insurance? (...)
stop (on a street sign): stop (...)
one way: one way (...)
yield: yield (...)
no parking: no parking (...)
speed limit: speed limit (...)
gas (petrol) station: gas station (...)
petrol: petrol (...)
diesel: diesel (...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: I haven't done anything wrong. (...)
It was a misunderstanding.: It was a misunderstanding. (...)
Where are you taking me?: Where are you taking me? (...)
Am I under arrest?: Am I under arrest? (...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (...)
I want to talk to a lawyer.: I want to talk to a lawyer. (...)
Can I just pay a fine now?: Can I just pay a fine now? (...)

Learning more

This is where you'd give more information on learning the language, such as links to online courses or textbooks, or suggestions for in-person courses to take.

Learn and listen to useful expressions in Estonian

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