Estonian phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Estonian phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Estonian with translation. | Free & useful

Estonian phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.

They are an important part of Estonian culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.

Estonian phrases you should know

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Greet someone in Estonian

If you want to greet someone in Estonian, it’s actually quite easy:

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Welcome! in Estonian	Tere tulemast!	[ˈtere ˈtulemɑst]
Good day to you! in Estonian	Head päeva!	[ˈheɑt ˈpæːʋɑ]
Good morning to you! in Estonian	Tere hommikust!	[ˈtere ˈhomːikust]
Good evening! in Estonian	Head õhtut!	[ˈheɑt ˈɤxtut]
Good to see you. in Estonian	Hea sind näha.	[ˈheɑ ˈsind ˈnæhɑ]
I’m glad to see you. in Estonian	Mul on hea meel sind näha.	[mul on ˈheɑ ˈmeːl ˈsind ˈnæhɑ]

If you are greeted in Estonian, the best way to respond is as follows:

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Have a nice day too! in Estonian	Ilusat päeva ka sulle!	[ˈilu.sɑt ˈpæː.ʋɑ kɑ ˈsul.le]
Thanks, it’s nice to see you too. in Estonian	Aitäh, ka sind on tore näha.	[ɑiˈtæh kɑ ˈsind on ˈtore ˈnæ.hɑ]

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
How are you doing? in Estonian	Kuidas sul läheb?	[ˈkui.dɑs sul ˈlæ.heb]
Are you doing well? in Estonian	Kas sul läheb hästi?	[kɑs sul ˈlæ.heb ˈhæstːi]

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Thank you for asking, I am fine.	Aitäh küsimast, mul läheb hästi.	[ɑiˈtæh ˈky.si.mɑst mul ˈlæ.heb ˈhæstːi]
Thank you, I am fine.	Aitäh, mul läheb hästi.	[ɑiˈtæh mul ˈlæ.heb ˈhæstːi]
Thank you, I am not doing so well.	Aitäh, mul ei lähe väga hästi.	[ɑiˈtæh mul ei ˈlæ.he ˈʋæ.ɡɑ ˈhæstːi]
Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing?	Aitäh, mul on hästi. Kuidas sul läheb?	[ɑiˈtæh mul on ˈhæstːi ˈkui.dɑs sul ˈlæ.heb]

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How do I say goodbye to someone in Estonian?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Estonian is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Goodbye! in Estonian	Head aega!	[ˈhe.ɑd ˈɑe.ɡɑ]
Take care of yourself! in Estonian	Hoolitse enda eest!	[ˈhoː.li.t͡se ˈen.dɑ eːst]
Goodbye in Estonian	Hüvasti	[ˈhy.ʋɑs.ti]
See you tomorrow in Estonian	Kohtume homme	[ˈkoh.tu.me ˈhom.me]
See you soon in Estonian	Varsti näeme	[ˈʋɑrs.ti ˈnæː.me]
See you later in Estonian	Näeme hiljem	[ˈnæː.me ˈhil.jem]
Good night in Estonian	Head ööd	[ˈhe.ɑd ˈøːd]
Sleep well in Estonian	Magusat und	[ˈmɑ.ɡu.sɑt ˈunt]
Talk to you later. in Estonian	Räägime hiljem	[ˈræː.ɡi.me ˈhil.jem]
Nice to have met you! in Estonian	Meeldiv oli tutvuda!	[ˈmeːl.diʋ ˈo.li ˈtut.ʋu.dɑ]

How do I introduce myself in Estonian?

When travelling in Estonia, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Estonian and know who you’re talking to.

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
My name is Jonas.	Minu nimi on Jonas.	[ˈmi.nu ˈni.mi on ˈjo.nɑs]
What is your name?	Mis su nimi on?	[ˈmis su ˈni.mi on]
What is your surname?	Mis su perekonnanimi on?	[ˈmis su ˈpe.re.kon.nɑ.ni.mi on]
What is your first name?	Mis su eesnimi on?	[ˈmis su ˈeːs.ni.mi on]
What is your surname?	Mis su perekonnanimi on?	[ˈmis su ˈpe.re.kon.nɑ.ni.mi on]

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Where do you come from?	Kust sa pärit oled?	[ˈkust sɑ ˈpæ.rit ˈo.led]
I am from London.	Ma olen pärit Londonist.	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈpæ.rit ˈlon.do.nist]
Are you from Birmingham?	Kas sa oled Birminghamist pärit?	[kɑs sɑ ˈo.led ˈbɪr.mɪn.ɡæ.mist ˈpæ.rit]
No, I’m from Madrid.	Ei, ma olen pärit Madridist.	[ei mɑ ˈo.len ˈpæ.rit mɑˈdrit.ist]
Great, I’m from Madrid too.	Väga tore, ma olen ka Madridist.	[ˈvæ.ɡɑ ˈto.re mɑ ˈo.len kɑ mɑˈdrit.ist]
Where do you live?	Kus sa elad?	[ˈkus sɑ ˈe.lɑd]
I live in Berlin.	Ma elan Berliinis.	[mɑ ˈe.lɑn berˈliː.nis]

If you have problems with your Estonian, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Do you speak English?	Kas sa räägid inglise keelt?	[kɑs sɑ ˈræː.ɡid ˈiŋ.ɡli.se keːlt]
Yes, I speak English.	Jah, ma räägin inglise keelt.	[jɑh mɑ ˈræː.ɡin ˈiŋ.ɡli.se keːlt]
Yes, I speak some English.	Jah, ma räägin natuke inglise keelt.	[jɑh mɑ ˈræː.ɡin ˈnɑ.tu.ke ˈiŋ.ɡli.se keːlt]
No, I do not speak any English.	Ei, ma ei räägi inglise keelt.	[ei mɑ ei ˈræː.ɡi ˈiŋ.ɡli.se keːlt]
I only speak English.	Ma räägin ainult inglise keelt.	[mɑ ˈræː.ɡin ˈɑi.nult ˈiŋ.ɡli.se keːlt]
I understand some Estonian.	Ma saan natuke eesti keelest aru.	[mɑ sɑːn ˈnɑ.tu.ke ˈeːs.ti ˈkeː.lest ˈɑ.ru]

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Estonian and express your wishes and concerns:

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
I am English in Estonian	Ma olen inglane	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈiŋ.lɑ.ne]
I am injured in Estonian	Ma olen vigastatud	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈvi.ɡɑs.tɑ.tud]
I am here in Estonian	Ma olen siin	[mɑ ˈo.len siːn]
I am hungry in Estonian	Ma olen näljane	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈnæl.jɑ.ne]
I am thirsty in Estonian	Ma olen janune	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈjɑ.nu.ne]
I am a single person in Estonian	Ma olen vallaline	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈvɑl.lɑ.li.ne]
I need help! in Estonian	Mul on abi vaja!	[mul on ˈɑ.bi ˈvɑ.jɑ]
I am tired in Estonian	Ma olen väsinud	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈvæ.si.nud]
I am happy in Estonian	Ma olen õnnelik	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈɤn.ne.lik]
I am sad in Estonian	Ma olen kurb	[mɑ ˈo.len kurp]
I am in love in Estonian	Ma olen armunud	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈɑr.mu.nud]
I am ill in Estonian	Ma olen haige	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈhɑi.ge]
I am ready in Estonian	Ma olen valmis	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈvɑl.mis]
I am busy in Estonian	Ma olen hõivatud	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈhɤi.vɑ.tud]
I am lost in Estonian	Ma olen eksinud	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈek.si.nud]
I am a tourist in Estonian	Ma olen turist	[mɑ ˈo.len tuˈrist]
I am new here in Estonian	Ma olen siin uus	[mɑ ˈo.len siːn uːs]
I am confident in Estonian	Ma olen enesekindel	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈe.ne.se.kin.del]
I am proud in Estonian	Ma olen uhke	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈuh.ke]
I am a teacher in Estonian	Ma olen õpetaja	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈɤ.pə.tɑ.jɑ]
I am late in Estonian	Ma olen hiljaks jäänud	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈhil.jɑks ˈjæː.nud]
I am 30 years old in Estonian	Ma olen kolmkümmend aastat vana	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈkolm.kym.mend ˈɑːstɑt ˈvɑ.nɑ]
I am in a hurry in Estonian	Mul on kiire	[mul on ˈkiː.re]
I am happy in Estonian	Ma olen õnnelik	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈɤn.ne.lik]
I am surprised in Estonian	Ma olen üllatunud	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈyl.lɑ.tu.nud]
I am angry in Estonian	Ma olen vihane	[mɑ ˈo.len ˈvi.hɑ.ne]

Apologising in Estonian

Here’s how to apologise to a Estonian speaker:

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
I apologise	Ma vabandan	[mɑ ˈvɑ.bɑn.dɑn]
Sorry, that was not the intention	Vabandust, see polnud tahtlik	[ˈvɑ.bɑn.dust seː ˈpol.nud ˈtɑht.lik]
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose	Vabandust, ma ei teinud seda meelega	[ˈvɑ.bɑn.dust mɑ ei ˈtei.nud ˈse.dɑ ˈmeː.le.gɑ]
Sorry, that was very clumsy of me	Vabandust, see oli väga kohmakas minust	[ˈvɑ.bɑn.dust seː ˈo.li ˈvæ.ɡɑ ˈkoh.mɑ.kɑs ˈmi.nust]

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Useful signs and notices in Estonian

Useful signs and messages in Estonian that you will often see.

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Entrance in Estonian	Sissepääs	[ˈsisːeˌpæːs]
Toilet in Estonian	Tualett	[tu.ɑˈletː]
Exit in Estonian	Väljapääs	[ˈvælː.jɑˌpæːs]
Attention! in Estonian	Tähelepanu!	[ˈtæ.he.leˌpɑ.nu]
Police in Estonian	Politsei	[ˈpo.lit.sei]
Emergency services in Estonian	Kiirabi	[ˈkiː.rɑ.bi]
Fire brigade in Estonian	Tuumtõrje	[ˈtʊːmˌtɤr.je]
Passage forbidden. in Estonian	Läbipääs keelatud	[ˈlæ.biˌpæːs ˈkeː.lɑ.tud]
Caution! in Estonian	Ettevaatust!	[ˈetːeˌvɑː.tust]
This building is under video surveillance. in Estonian	See hoone on videovalve all.	[seː ˈhoː.ne on ˈvi.de.oˌvɑl.ve ɑl]

Numbers to 25 in Estonian

Counting in Estonian is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Estonian from 1 to 25.

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
One in Estonian	Üks	[yks]
Two in Estonian	Kaks	[kɑks]
Three in Estonian	Kolm	[kolm]
Four in Estonian	Neli	[ˈne.li]
Five in Estonian	Viis	[ˈviːs]
Six in Estonian	Kuus	[kuːs]
Seven in Estonian	Seitse	[ˈseit.se]
Eight in Estonian	Kaheksa	[ˈkɑ.hek.sɑ]
Nine in Estonian	Üheksa	[ˈy.hek.sɑ]
Ten in Estonian	Kümme	[ˈkymːe]
Eleven in Estonian	Üksteist	[ˈyk.steist]
Twelve in Estonian	Kaksteist	[ˈkɑk.steist]
Thirteen in Estonian	Kolmteist	[ˈkolm.teist]
Fourteen in Estonian	Neliteist	[ˈne.li.teist]
Fifteen in Estonian	Viisteist	[ˈviːs.teist]
Sixteen in Estonian	Kuusteist	[ˈkuːs.teist]
Seventeen in Estonian	Seitseteist	[ˈseit.se.teist]
Eighteen in Estonian	Kaheksateist	[ˈkɑ.hek.sɑ.teist]
Nineteen in Estonian	Üheksateist	[ˈy.hek.sɑ.teist]
Twenty in Estonian	Kakskümmend	[ˈkɑks.kymːent]
Twenty-one in Estonian	Kakskümmend üks	[ˈkɑks.kymːent yks]
Twenty-two in Estonian	Kakskümmend kaks	[ˈkɑks.kymːent kɑks]
Twenty-three in Estonian	Kakskümmend kolm	[ˈkɑks.kymːent kolm]
Twenty-four in Estonian	Kakskümmend neli	[ˈkɑks.kymːent ˈne.li]
Twenty-five in Estonian	Kakskümmend viis	[ˈkɑks.kymːent ˈviːs]

The colours in Estonian

The most common colours in Estonian with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Red in Estonian	Punane	[ˈpu.nɑ.ne]
Blue in Estonian	Sinine	[ˈsi.ni.ne]
Green in Estonian	Roheline	[ˈro.he.li.ne]
Yellow in Estonian	Kollane	[ˈkol.lɑ.ne]
Black in Estonian	Must	[must]
White in Estonian	Valge	[ˈvɑl.ge]
Orange in Estonian	Oranž	[oˈrɑnʃ]
Purple in Estonian	Lilla	[ˈlilːɑ]
Brown in Estonian	Pruun	[pruːn]
Gray in Estonian	Hall	[hɑlː]

Days of the week, months and seasons in Estonian

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Estonian and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Estonian.

Days of the Week in Estonian

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Monday	Esmaspäev	[ˈes.mɑs.pæːv]
Tuesday	Teisipäev	[ˈtei.si.pæːv]
Wednesday	Kolmapäev	[ˈkol.mɑ.pæːv]
Thursday	Neljapäev	[ˈnel.jɑ.pæːv]
Friday	Reede	[ˈreː.de]
Saturday	Laupäev	[ˈlɑu.pæːv]
Sunday	Pühapäev	[ˈpy.hɑ.pæːv]

Months in Estonian

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
January	Jaanuar	[ˈjɑː.nu.ɑr]
February	Veebruar	[ˈveː.bru.ɑr]
March	Märts	[mærts]
April	Aprill	[ɑˈprilː]
May	Mai	[ˈmɑi]
June	Juuni	[ˈjuː.ni]
July	Juuli	[ˈjuː.li]
August	August	[ˈɑu.ɡust]
September	September	[sepˈtem.ber]
October	Oktoober	[okˈtoː.ber]
November	November	[noˈvem.ber]
December	Detsember	[detˈsem.ber]

Seasons in Estonian

English	Estonian	Phonetic (IPA)
Spring	Kevad	[ˈke.vɑd]
Summer	Suvi	[ˈsu.vi]
Autumn	Sügis	[ˈsy.ɡis]
Winter	Talv	[tɑlv]

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More information about the Estonian Business Course.

Additional links

• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Motivated language learning
• It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time
• Learning languages quickly? – Is it possible?
• The different types of learners when learning languages

More information about the Estonian Course for Children.