Translate Estonian to English
Estonian text appears in e-government documents, Tallinn-based startup correspondence, product listings from Estonian companies, EU documents, and personal messages. Estonian looks similar to Finnish but with enough differences to require its own translator. Paste your text above.
Common Estonian to English translations
| Estonian | English | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tere | Hello | TEH-reh | ||
| Tere hommikust | Good morning | TEH-reh HOM-mee-koost | ||
| Tänan | Thank you | TAH-nahn | ||
| Palun | Please | PAH-loon | ||
| Kui palju see maksab? | How much is this? | koo-ee PAL-yoo seh MAK-sahb | ||
| Kus on tualett? | Where is the bathroom? | koos on too-ah-LET | ||
| Ma ei saa aru | I do not understand | mah ay sah AH-roo | ||
| Kas te saate mind aidata? | Can you help me? | kahs teh SAH-teh mind AY-dah-tah | ||
| Ma sooviksin kohvi | I would like coffee | mah SOH-veek-sin KOH-vee | ||
| Arve, palun | The bill, please | AHR-veh PAH-loon | ||
| Meeldiv tutvuda | Nice to meet you | MEHL-deev TOOT-voo-dah | ||
| Head aega | Goodbye | head AY-gah | ||
| Mul on arsti vaja | I need a doctor | mool on AHRS-tee VAH-yah | ||
| Vabandust | Excuse me | VAH-bahn-doost |
Tips for Estonian to English translation
Estonian and Finnish look similar on paper but have enough differences in vocabulary and grammar to require separate translators. Using a Finnish translator for Estonian text will produce errors.
Estonian uses the Latin alphabet with the additions ä, ö, ü, and õ. The letter õ represents a unique vowel sound not found in most other European languages, produced with the tongue position of “o” but with unrounded lips.
Estonian spoken language (kõnekeel) differs from written standard (kirjakeel), similar to the Finnish situation. Casual text messages may use abbreviated forms that the translator handles less accurately.
Estonian has borrowed vocabulary from German (due to centuries of Baltic German influence), Russian (from the Soviet period), and increasingly from English. Some German loanwords are deeply embedded: köök (kitchen) from German Küche, arst (doctor) from German Arzt.
About the Estonian language
Estonian is a Finnic language spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia. It is closely related to Finnish and more distantly to Hungarian, all part of the Uralic language family. Estonian has been written since the 16th century, with the modern standard established in the early 20th century during the first period of Estonian independence.
Estonia is one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world. The concept of e-residency, digital ID cards, internet voting, and blockchain-backed government services all originated in Estonia. Skype was developed in Tallinn, and the country has produced more unicorn startups per capita than almost any other nation. Estonian language skills are increasingly valued in the EU tech sector.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Unlimited use.
Yes. All Estonian special characters including õ, ä, ö, ü are processed correctly.
Yes. Click the speaker icon.
No. Estonian and Finnish are related but separate languages requiring separate translators.
Good for everyday texts. Professional review for official documents.
Estonian borrowed many words from German during centuries of Baltic German influence.
Visit our English to Estonian page.
No. Real-time processing.
Written standard Estonian works best. Casual abbreviations may be less accurate.
Over 60 pairs including Finnish, Latvian, Russian, German, and more.
Looking for the reverse? Try English to Estonian translation.
