Estonian isn’t the easiest language, but you don’t need fluency - just enough to not embarrass yourself. Here’s the bare minimum to get by.
Greetings & Basics
- Tere - Hello
- Aitäh - Thanks
- Palun - Please / You’re welcome
- Jah / Ei - Yes / No
Estonians appreciate effort. Even a badly pronounced “Tere” is better than defaulting to English immediately.
Getting Around
Kus on...?
/kus on/“Where is...?”
Essential for finding toilets, train stations, or your hostel. Follow it with the place name.
- Rongijaam - Train station
- Bussipeatus - Bus stop
- WC - Toilet (yes, they use the English abbreviation)
Food & Drink
Estonian food is heavy. Learn these unless you want to point at menus like a toddler.
- Menüü, palun - Menu, please
- Vein - Wine
- Õlu - Beer (Estonians drink a lot of it)
- Arve, palun - Bill, please
Emergency Phrases
Hopefully you won’t need these, but Estonia is safe anyway.
- Kutsu arst! - Call a doctor!
- Appi! - Help!
- Ma olen eksinud - I’m lost
Final Tip
Most Estonians under 40 speak English well. But if you’re in rural areas or dealing with older folks, these phrases will save you. If you're interested in other travel-friendly languages, check out Swedish Travel Phrases for the Adventurous Nomad.
