Estonian might not be the easiest language to learn, but starting with the right vocabulary makes a world of difference. Here’s a list of 50 foundational words to get you speaking like a local - or at least help you order a coffee without pointing.
Basic Greetings and Polite Phrases
Tere
/ˈtere/“Hello”
The universal Estonian greeting, usable at any time of day.
Tervist
/ˈtervist/“Hi”
A more casual alternative to 'tere'.
Aitäh
/ˌɑi̯tˈtæhː/“Thank you”
Essential for politeness, whether you're thanking a shopkeeper or a friend.
Palun
/ˈpɑlun/“Please / You're welcome”
Doubles as both a polite request and a response to 'aitäh'.
Head aega
/ˈheɑ̯d̥ ˈɑe̯ɡ̊ɑ/“Goodbye”
A formal way to say goodbye, literally 'good time'.
Essential Pronouns
Mina
/ˈminɑ/“I”
The first-person singular pronoun.
Sina
/ˈsinɑ/“You (singular)”
Used when addressing one person informally.
Tema
/ˈtemɑ/“He/She”
Estonian doesn’t distinguish gender in pronouns.
Meie
/ˈmei̯e/“We”
The first-person plural pronoun.
Teie
/ˈtei̯e/“You (plural/formal)”
Used for addressing multiple people or a single person formally.
Common Verbs
Olema
/ˈolemɑ/“To be”
The most fundamental verb in any language.
Tegema
/ˈteɡ̊emɑ/“To do/make”
A versatile verb used in many contexts.
Mina olen
/ˈminɑ ˈolen/“I am”
A basic phrase for introducing yourself.
Saama
/ˈsɑːmɑ/“To get/receive”
Useful for asking if you can get something.
Everyday Nouns
Kodu
/ˈkotu/“Home”
Where the heart is, even in Estonia.
Töö
/ˈtøː/“Work”
A word you’ll need whether you love or hate it.
Sõber
/ˈsɤber/“Friend”
Because making friends is what language learning is all about.
Kohvik
/ˈkohvik/“Café”
A great place to practice your Estonian.
Raamat
/ˈrɑːmɑt/“Book”
Useful if you’re into reading or just pretending to be intellectual.
Food and Drink
Leib
/ˈlei̯b̥/“Bread”
A staple in Estonian cuisine, often dark rye.
Piim
/ˈpiːm/“Milk”
Essential for cereal or just drinking straight.
Kohv
/ˈkohv/“Coffee”
Because no day starts properly without it.
Vesi
/ˈvesi/“Water”
The universal drink, unless you prefer something stronger.
Õlu
/ˈɤlu/“Beer”
Estonians take their beer seriously - best to know the word.
Numbers 1-10
| Estonian | English | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Üks | One | /ˈyks/ |
| Kaks | Two | /ˈkɑks/ |
| Kolm | Three | /ˈkolm/ |
| Neli | Four | /ˈneli/ |
| Viis | Five | /ˈviːs/ |
| Kuus | Six | /ˈkuːs/ |
| Seitse | Seven | /ˈsei̯tse/ |
| Kaheksa | Eight | /ˈkɑheksɑ/ |
| Üheksa | Nine | /ˈyheksɑ/ |
| Kümme | Ten | /ˈkymːe/ |
Time and Days
Täna
/ˈtænɑ/“Today”
The day you’re currently living in.
Homme
/ˈhomːe/“Tomorrow”
The day after today - unless you’re procrastinating.
Eile
/ˈei̯le/“Yesterday”
The day before today, often filled with regrets.
Kell
/ˈkelː/“Clock/Time”
Useful for asking or telling the time.
Päev
/ˈpæe̯v/“Day”
A unit of time consisting of 24 hours.
Directions and Places
Siin
/ˈsiːn/“Here”
The place where you currently are.
Seal
/ˈseɑ̯l/“There”
The place where you’re pointing or referring to.
Pood
/ˈpoːd̥ʲ/“Shop”
Where you’ll spend most of your money.
Jaam
/ˈjɑːm/“Station”
Train, bus, or tram - knowing this word helps with transport.
Kodu
/ˈkotu/“Home”
Because sometimes you just need to ask for directions back.
Useful Adjectives
Hea
/ˈheɑ̯/“Good”
A simple way to describe something positively.
Halb
/ˈhɑlb̥/“Bad”
For when things don’t go as planned.
Suur
/ˈsuːr/“Big”
Useful for describing size - whether it’s a meal or a mountain.
Väike
/ˈvæi̯ke/“Small”
The opposite of 'suur'.
Ilus
/ˈilus/“Beautiful”
Estonia has plenty of beautiful sights - this word will come in handy.
This list is just the beginning. Once you’ve got these words down, check out our guide on essential Estonian phrases for travelers to take your skills further.
