Language/Standard-estonian/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-introductions

Standard Estonian → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Greetings and introductions

In the beautiful world of language, greetings and introductions serve as the warm handshake that opens the door to communication. They are the first stepping stones in your journey to learning Standard Estonian. This lesson focuses on the essential vocabulary and phrases you'll need to navigate the social landscapes of Estonia. Whether you're meeting someone for the first time or catching up with a friend, knowing how to greet and introduce yourself is key to building connections.

In this lesson, we will explore:

Common Greetings

We'll start with common greetings that you can use in various situations. Learning how to say "hello," "goodbye," and "how are you?" can significantly enhance your conversational skills.

Introducing Yourself

Next, we'll dive into the art of self-introduction. You'll learn how to share your name, where you're from, and a little bit about yourself. This will help you feel more confident when meeting new people.

Common Greetings

Greetings are the simplest yet most effective way to connect with someone. Here are some useful phrases to get you started:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Tere!	/ˈtɛ.re/	Hello!
Tere päevast!	/ˈtɛ.re ˈpæ.jæ.væst/	Good afternoon!
Tere hommikust!	/ˈtɛ.re ˈhɔ.mik.ʊst/	Good morning!
Head aega!	/hɛd ˈæ.ɪ.gæ/	Goodbye!
Nägemist!	/ˈnæ.ɡɛ.mɪst/	See you!
Kuidas sul läheb?	/ˈku.i.dɑs sʊl ˈlæ.ɪ.ɪb/	How are you?
Hästi, aitäh!	/ˈhæ.sti ˈɑi.tæh/	Fine, thank you!
Mis sul nimeks on?	/ˈmɪs sʊl ˈni.mɛks ʊn/	What is your name?
Tere tulemast!	/ˈtɛ.re ˈtu.le.mæst/	Welcome!
Tere õhtust!	/ˈtɛ.re ˈʊh.tʊst/	Good evening!

These greetings can be used in different contexts, whether formal or informal. For example, "Tere!" is a friendly greeting you can use with anyone, while "Tere päevast!" is more suitable for a formal setting, like a business meeting.

Introducing Yourself

Now that you've got the greetings down, it's time to learn how to introduce yourself. This is often the first step in any conversation. Here are some phrases you can use:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English
Mina olen [your name].	/ˈmi.nɑ ˈo.len/	I am [your name].
Ma tulen [your country]’st.	/mɑ ˈtu.len/	I come from [your country].
Ma olen [your profession].	/mɑ ˈo.len/	I am [your profession].
Mul on [number] last.	/mʊl ʊn/	I have [number] children.
Ma armastan [your hobby].	/mɑ ˈɑr.mɑ.stɑn/	I love [your hobby].
Minu lemmik värv on [color].	/ˈmi.nʊ ˈlɛm.mik ˈværʊv/	My favorite color is [color].
Mul on [number] aastat.	/mʊl ʊn/	I am [number] years old.
Ma olen Eestis elanud [number] aastat.	/mɑ ˈo.len ˈeɪ.stis ˈɛ.lɑ.nʊd/	I have lived in Estonia for [number] years.
Minu sõber on [friend's name].	/ˈmi.nʊ ˈsɪ.bɛr/	My friend is [friend's name].
Ma õppin [your subject].	/mɑ ˈʊp.pɪn/	I study [your subject].

Using these structures, you can easily introduce yourself and share a little about who you are. For instance, if your name is Anna, you would say "Mina olen Anna." If you're from the United States, you would say, "Ma tulen Ameerikast."

Practice Exercises

To reinforce what you've learned, here are some exercises to put your new vocabulary into practice.

Exercise 1: Match the Greetings

Match the Estonian greetings with their English translations.

Estonian Greeting	English Translation
Tere!
Nägemist!
Tere hommikust!
Tere õhtust!
Head aega!

• Answers:

1. Hello!

2. See you!

3. Good morning!

4. Good evening!

5. Goodbye!

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct words.

1. Mina olen ________.

2. Ma tulen ________’st.

3. Kuidas sul ________?

4. Mul on ________ last.

• Answers:

1. [Your name]

2. [Your country]

3. läheb

4. [Number]

Exercise 3: Create Your Introduction

Write a short paragraph introducing yourself in Estonian, using the phrases you've learned.

• Example Structure:

"Mina olen [name]. Ma tulen [country]’st. Ma olen [profession]."

Exercise 4: Listening Exercise

Find a partner and practice greeting each other using the phrases from the lesson. Take turns introducing yourselves.

Exercise 5: Role Play

In pairs, create a role-play scenario where one person is a tourist visiting Estonia, and the other is a local. Practice using greetings and introductions in your conversation.

Exercise 6: Translate to Estonian

Translate the following sentences into Estonian.

1. I am John.

2. I come from Canada.

3. How are you?

4. Goodbye!

• Answers:

1. Mina olen John.

2. Ma tulen Kanadast.

3. Kuidas sul läheb?

4. Head aega!

Exercise 7: Quick Quiz

Answer the following questions to test your memory.

1. What is "Good afternoon" in Estonian?

2. How do you say "Nice to meet you" in Estonian?

3. How would you introduce yourself?

• Answers:

1. Tere päevast!

2. Meeldiv tutvuda.

3. [Your introduction]

Exercise 8: Listen and Repeat

Listen to a recording of the greetings and introductions. Repeat each phrase after hearing it to practice your pronunciation.

Exercise 9: Group Discussion

In small groups, discuss your hobbies and interests using the vocabulary from this lesson.

Exercise 10: Write a Dialogue

Write a short dialogue between two people meeting for the first time using greetings and introductions.

• Example:

A: Tere! Mina olen Anna.

B: Tere, Anna! Mina olen Mark. Kuidas sul läheb?

A: Hästi, aitäh!

By practicing these exercises, you will solidify your understanding of greetings and introductions in Estonian. Remember, practice makes perfect, and don't hesitate to use these phrases in real-life situations when you get the chance!

Table of Contents - Standard Estonian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Estonian

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Cases
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Free Time

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Declension
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Food and Drinks
• Eating Out

  ---

Estonian Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

At Home and Work

• Home and Furniture
• Work and Professions

  ---

Estonian History

• Historical Overview
• Estonian Language History

  ---

Negation and Questions

• Negation
• Question Words and Formation

Other Lessons

• Languages
• Drinks
• Education
• Family
• Clothes
• Work and employment
• Fruits
• Transportation and travel
• Health
• Idiomatic Expressions