The younger generation speaks fluent English.
However, mastering a English-Estonian phrasebook before traveling to Estonia wouldn't hurt. In the depths of the forests, villages and hamlets hide, living with a patriarchal way of life, and you need to somehow communicate with the local peasants.
There's no better way to gain the trust of Estonians than with a few useful phrases in Estonian, spoken at the right time and place; besides, it's a compliment to yourself: Finno-Ugric languages puzzle even professional linguists.
| English | Estonian |
| Hello (informal) | Tere |
| Hello (formal) | Tervist |
| Good day | Tere hommikust |
| Good evening | Tere õhtust |
| Goodbye | Nägemiseni |
| Good night | Head ööd |
| Thank you | Aitäh/Tänan |
| Please | Palun |
| Excuse me | Vabandage |
| Yes | Jah |
| No | Ei |
| I don't understand | Ma ei saa aru |
| What time is it? | Mis kell on? |
| I'm lost | Mina olen eksinud |
| I need your help | Mul on vaja teie abi |
| How much does it cost...? | Kui palju maksab...? |
| How much does a ticket cost? | Kui palju maksab pilet? |
| I want to book a room | Ma tahan tuba broneerida |
| I have booked a room with you | Ma broneerisin teil toa |
| What's the payment method? | Mis makseviis? |
| Credit card | Kaardiga |
| Cash | Sularaha |
| Where is the airport/bus stop? | Kas asub lennujaam/peatus? |
| Could you please show it on the map... | Può indicarmelo sulla cartina, per favore? |
| Do you have any free tables? | On teil vabu laudu? |
| The bill, please | Palun arve |
| Your signature dish? | Teie firmaroad? |
| No change required | Tagasi pole vaia |
Compiled by the team at tripmydream, this Estonian phrasebook with pronunciation for travelers offers you a basic minimum of everyday expressions necessary for constructive communication in daily life. Understanding the nuances of articulation and dialect features comes with practice, and a tourist phrasebook in the Estonian language is just a warm-up for your curious mind.
