Learning a few basic Estonian phrases makes traveling to Estonia a much more rewarding experience.

Locals always appreciate it when visitors make an effort to speak their native language.

Estonian is a Finno-Ugric language, which means it looks and sounds quite different from English.

However, the pronunciation is highly phonetic and straightforward once you learn the alphabet.

This guide covers 50 essential Estonian greetings, polite expressions, and everyday phrases to help you start speaking.

Basic Estonian greetings

You’ll use these basic greetings constantly when entering shops, cafes, or meeting locals.

Tere is the most common way to say hello and can be used in almost any situation.

For a slightly more formal greeting, you can use tervist, which literally relates to wishing someone good health.

Younger generations often use the informal tsau (borrowed from the Italian “ciao”) when greeting friends.

Saying goodbye in Estonian

When you’re ready to leave, you have several ways to say goodbye depending on the context.

Head aega is the standard, polite way to say goodbye to anyone.

It literally translates to “good time” in English.

If you’re speaking with friends, simply repeating tsau works perfectly for saying goodbye as well.

Please, thank you, and being polite

Manners go a long way when you’re navigating a new language.

The word palun is incredibly versatile in Estonian.

You can use palun to mean “please”, “here you go”, or “you’re welcome” depending on the context.

To express gratitude, aitäh is the most common word you’ll hear everywhere in Estonia.

Asking how are you

Estonians tend to be very direct and honest in their communication.

When you ask an Estonian how they’re doing, they might actually give you a truthful answer rather than just a polite nod.

The most standard way to ask how someone is doing is kuidas läheb?.

Introductions and small talk

Making new friends in Estonia requires knowing how to introduce yourself.

It’s also very helpful to know how to explain that you’re still a beginner at the language.

Many Estonians speak excellent English, so asking kas sa räägid inglise keelt? will usually get you a positive response.

Essential travel and shopping phrases

When exploring Tallinn or taking a bus to Tartu, practical vocabulary is your best friend.

Knowing how to ask for the price, the bill, or the location of the nearest restroom will save you a lot of time.

These final phrases will ensure you can navigate shops, restaurants, and transport hubs with confidence.

The best way to practice Estonian phrases

Memorizing vocabulary lists is a great start, but nothing beats actual speaking practice.

To truly master these phrases, you need to hear them spoken by natives and practice using them in context.

I highly recommend signing up for Talk In Estonian to accelerate your progress.

Our platform is specifically built to help you master Estonian pronunciation, grammar, and essential vocabulary quickly.

You’ll get access to native audio, interactive exercises, and structured lessons designed purely for Estonian learners.