Useful Phrases and Expressions
in Estonian
in Estonian
- Expressions of Greeting and Thanks
- Tere! Hello!
- Tervist! Good day! [Health to you!]
- Tere tulemast! Welcome!
- Palun! Please, You're Welcome.
- Tänan! Thanks.
- Tänan väga! Thanks very much.
- Aitäh! Thanks. {stress on second syll.}
- Tervist! Good day! [Health to you!]
- Expressions of Concern
- Kuidas käsi käib? How are you? {lit. How goes your hand?}
- Kuidas läheb? How's it going?
- Kuidas elad? How do you feel?
- Tänan, hästi. Fine, thanks.
- Kuidas ise elate? How do you feel yourself?
- Suur tänu, kõik on hästi. Thanks alot, everythings fine.
- Aitäh, pole viga. Thanks, no problem.
- Halvasti. Badly.
- Mida sa soovid? What do you want?
- Jah, palun. Ei, tänan. Yes, please. No, thanks.
- Kas jah või ei? Yes or no?
- Kuidas läheb? How's it going?
- Expressions of Politeness
- (-ge) denotes plural command.
- Kas ma segan? Am I disturbing you?
- Ei, mitte sugugi! No, not at all.
- Pole viga. No problem.
- Ei, sa ei sega. No, you're not bothering me.
- Astu sisse. Come on in. [sing.]
- Astuge sisse, palun. Come on in, please. [plural]
- Tule(ge) siia! Come here.
- Vabanda(ge)! Excuse me!
- Vabandust! Sorry!
- (Oota) üks silmapilk! (Wait) a moment!
- Räägi, ma kuulen. Talk, I'm listening.
- Ära räägi! Kas tõesti? You don't say! Really?
- Ei, mitte sugugi! No, not at all.
Expressions of Curiosity- Mis see on? What is this?
- Mis see tähendab? What does this mean?
- Kes seal on? Kes see on? Who is there? Who is this?
- See on härra/proua/preili... It is Mr./Mrs./Miss...
- Kas see on proua Palm? Is that Mrs. Palm.
- Jah, on küll. -- Ei ole. Yes, of couse. -- No, ist isn't.
- Kuidas te teate? How do you know?
- Mis sa arvad? What do you think?
- Kas sa saad aru? Do you understand?
- Saan aru. -- Ma ei saa aru. I understand. -- I don't understand.
- Kuidas, palun? Come again? (What did you say?)
- Palun korda! Please repeat.
- Mis see tähendab? What does this mean?
-- courtesy of Marcus Strange