Language/Standard-estonian/Culture/Famous-Estonians

Standard Estonian → Culture → Famous Estonians

As Estonians, we are proud of our rich culture and traditions. This includes our art, literature, sports, and politics. In this lesson, you will learn about some of the most famous Estonians in these fields.

After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Estonian sports and leisure & Estonian nature and landmarks.

Artists

Estonia has a thriving art scene with many talented artists. Here are some of the most famous:

• Eduard Wiiralt - an artist known for his graphic works and erotic imagery
• Konrad Mägi - a landscape painter famous for his use of color and light
• Adamson-Eric - a versatile artist famous for his paintings, ceramics, and designs

Let's take a closer look at one of these artists and their work:

Eduard Wiiralt

Eduard Wiiralt (1985-1954) was an Estonian artist known for his erotic imagery, graphic works, and etchings. He was born in Tallinn and studied at the State Art School in Tallinn and the Royal Academy of Art in Dresden, Germany.

In his works, Wiiralt often depicted mythological scenes and erotic themes. His works were highly praised for their intricate details and skillful technique.

One of Wiiralt's most famous works is called "The Sauna," which is an etching of a group of women in a sauna. The work is highly detailed, with intricate patterns and textures.

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Saun	[saun]	Sauna
Naised	[ˈnaised]	Women
Seksikas	[seksiːkas]	Sexy

Writers

Estonia has a rich literary history, with many celebrated writers. Here are some of the most famous:

• Anton Hansen Tammsaare - a writer best known for his novel "Truth and Justice"
• Jaan Kross - a writer who wrote historical novels and was nominated for a Nobel Prize in Literature
• A.H. Tammsaare - a writer who is considered to be one of the greatest Estonian authors

Let's take a closer look at one of these writers and their work:

Anton Hansen Tammsaare

Anton Hansen Tammsaare (1878-1940) was an Estonian writer best known for his novel "Truth and Justice." He was born in Järva-Jaani, Estonia, and studied law at the University of Tartu.

"Truth and Justice" is a classic novel that depicts the struggles of an Estonian farming family during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The novel is considered to be one of the greatest works of Estonian literature and has been translated into many languages.

Here is an excerpt from "Truth and Justice" in Standard Estonian:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Nad läksid kõik ühte reas metsa poole, Juss ees.	[nɑd l’æksid k’ɤik ‘yxtɛ ‘rɑs ‘metsɑ ‘poːle, jus ‘ees]	They all went in a single line towards the forest, with Juss leading.

Sportsmen

Estonia has produced many talented athletes, especially in winter sports such as cross-country skiing, ice hockey, and ski jumping. Here are some of the most famous:

• Allar Levandi - a cross-country skier who won a silver medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics
• Andrus Veerpalu - a cross-country skier who won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics
• Kristen Viikmäe - an ice hockey player who played for the NHL

Let's take a closer look at one of these sportsmen and their achievements:

Andrus Veerpalu

Andrus Veerpalu (born February 8, 1971) is a former Estonian cross-country skier who won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002. He is widely regarded as one of the best cross-country skiers of his generation.

In addition to his Olympic medals, Veerpalu also won four gold medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and two overall World Cup titles. He retired from skiing in 2014.

Politicians

Estonia has a parliamentary republic, with the President as the head of state and the Prime Minister as the head of government. Here are some of the most famous politicians:

• Lennart Meri - the second President of Estonia after the country regained its independence
• Toomas Hendrik Ilves - the fourth President of Estonia
• Andrus Ansip - a former Prime Minister of Estonia

Let's take a closer look at one of these politicians and their achievements:

Lennart Meri

Lennart Meri (1929-2006) was an Estonian writer, film director, diplomat, and politician. He was the second President of Estonia after the country regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Meri was a strong supporter of Estonia's integration into the European Union and NATO. He was also known for his efforts to promote Estonian culture and raise awareness about Estonia's history and traditions.

Here is a quote from Lennart Meri in Standard Estonian:

Standard Estonian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Me seisame praegu kiviajalistiikide jagudel, mis on joonistatud Euroopale uue kaardi peale. Meil on võimalus kujundada Euroopa minevikku ja tulevikku.	[me s’eisɑme ‘prɑegu ‘kiviɑjɑ ‘listiːkide ‘jɑgudel, mis on ‘joniːstɑtud ‘euroopɑle ‘uwe ‘kaːrdi ‘peɑle. meil on ‘vɤimalus ‘kujundɑdɑ ‘euroopɑ ‘minevik’u ja ‘tule’wikku]	We are standing on the crossroads of prehistoric paths that have been drawn on a new map of Europe. We have the opportunity to shape the past and future of Europe.

Learning about famous Estonians can help you better understand our culture and traditions. Practice reading and listening to their works and achievements to improve your Estonian language skills.

Other Lessons

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• Estonian music and arts
• Estonian education and research
• Estonian language and dialects
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