Category: Case Declination | Käändeid - Maakeel: Estonian Language

Talumaja Hiiumaal (farmhouse on Hiiumaa Island)

5/8/2016

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Basic vocabulary for house and garden:

Move the cursor over the image to see the words! Viige hiirekursori pildi peale sõnade nägemiseks!

The words are listed below in the nominative (nimetav), genitive (omastav) and partitive (osastav) cases.

Farmhouse
Door
Window
Roof
Chimney
Tree
Bush
Grass
Flower
Sky
Pole fence
Green grass
Blue sky
Yellow flower

Talumaja
Uks
Aken
Katus
Korsten
Puu
Põõsas
Muru
Lill
Taevas
Teivasaed
Roheline muru
Sinine taevas
Kollane lill

Talumaja
Ukse
Akna
Katuse
Korstna
Puu
Põõsa
Muru
Lille
Taeva
Teivasaia
Rohelise muru
Sinise taeva
Kollase lille

Talumaja
Ust
Akent
Katust
Korstnat
Puud
Põõsast
Muru
Lille
Taevast
Teivasaeda
Rohelist muru
Sinist taevast
Kollast lille

Photo source (pildi allikas): Wikimedia Commons and interactive vocabulary made with Thinglink.

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75 ways to say "80"

4/1/2016

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For those not yet familiar with the Estonian case system, don't panic. You don't actually have to memorize 75 forms of the word "eighty", or of any other word.

But it is true that there are 75 forms of the word "eighty"*. Here's how: there are 14 cases in Estonian. Each case has a singular and plural form, making 28 total. The numbers, in addition, have cardinal (one, two, three) and ordinal (first, second, third) forms, which makes two sets of 28.   That makes 56, but in some cases there are more than one possible form. For the word "eighty" (or for any similar number word), many plural cases have two forms, and the total is 75 forms.

On the bright side, there are fairly consistent rules to how cases are formed, so for most words you can form the all the other cases by learning only three forms (nominative, genitive, and partitive).

*Why did I choose the number eighty? Because it's the one I encountered recently that was giving me trouble. I was trying to figure out the adessive plural of the ordinal number; in other words, I wanted to say "in the eighties". No, English doesn't use the ordinal number for this, but Estonian does: it means "in the eightieth (years)."

By the way, the correct form for "in the eighties" is kaheksakümnendatel.

Põhiarvud - cardinal
Ainsus - singular forms

nimetav (nominative)
omastav (genitive)
osastav (partitive) 1
osastav (partitive) 2
sisseütlev (illative)
seesütlev (inessive)
seestütlev (elative)
alaleütlev (allative)
alalütlev (adessive)
alaltütlev (ablative)
saav (translative)
rajav (terminative)
olev (essive)
ilmaütlev (abessive)
kaasaütlev (comitative)

Põhiarvud - cardinal
Mitmus - plural forms

nimetav (nominative)
omastav (genitive)
osastav (partitive)
sisseütlev (illative) 1
sisseütlev (illative) 2
seesütlev (inessive) 1
seesütlev (inessive) 2
seestütlev (elative) 1
seestütlev (elative) 2
alaleütlev (allative) 1
alaleütlev (allative) 2
alalütlev (adessive) 1
alalütlev (adessive) 2
alaltütlev (ablative) 1
alaltütlev (ablative) 2
saav (translative) 1
saav (translative) 2
rajav (terminative) 1
rajav (terminative) 2
olev (essive) 1
olev (essive) 2
ilmaütlev (abessive)
kaasaütlev (comitative)

Järgarvud - ordinal
Ainsus - singular forms

nimetav (nominative)
omastav (genitive)
osastav (partitive)
sisseütlev (illative)
seesütlev (inessive)
seestütlev (elative)
alaleütlev (allative)
alalütlev (adessive)
alaltütlev (ablative)
saav (translative)
rajav (terminative)
olev (essive)
ilmaütlev (abessive)
kaasaütlev (comitative)

Järgarvud - ordinal
Mitmus - plural forms

nimetav (nominative)
omastav (genitive)
osastav (partitive)
sisseütlev (illative) 1
sisseütlev (illative) 2
seesütlev (inessive) 1
seesütlev (inessive) 2
seestütlev (elative) 1
seestütlev (elative) 2
alaleütlev (allative) 1
alaleütlev (allative) 2
alalütlev (adessive) 1
alalütlev (adessive) 2
alaltütlev (ablative) 1
alaltütlev (ablative) 2
saav (translative) 1
saav (translative) 2
rajav (terminative) 1
rajav (terminative) 2
olev (essive) 1
olev (essive) 2
ilmaütlev (abessive)
kaasaütlev (comitative)

kaheksakümmend
kaheksakümne
kaheksatkümmend
kaheksatkümmet
kaheksakümnesse
kaheksakümnes
kaheksakümnest
kaheksakümnele
kaheksakümnel
kaheksakümnelt
kaheksakümneks
kaheksakümneni
kaheksakümnena
kaheksakümneta
kaheksakümnega

kaheksakümned
kaheksakümnete
kaheksakümneid
kaheksakümneisse
kaheksakümnetesse
kaheksakümneis
kaheksakümnetes
kaheksakümneist
kaheksakümnetest
kaheksakümneile
kaheksakümnetele
kaheksakümneil
kaheksakümnetel
kaheksakümneilt
kaheksakümnetelt
kaheksakümneiks
kaheksakümneteks
kaheksakümneini
kaheksakümneteni
kaheksakümneina
kaheksakümnetena
kaheksakümneteta
kaheksakümnetega

kaheksakümnes
kaheksakümnenda
kaheksakümnendat
kaheksakümnendasse
kaheksakümnendas
kaheksakümnendast
kaheksakümnendale
kaheksakümnendal
kaheksakümnendalt
kaheksakümnendaks
kaheksakümnendani
kaheksakümnendana
kaheksakümnendata
kaheksakümnendaga

kaheksakümnendad
kaheksakümnendate
kaheksakümnendaid
kaheksakümnendaisse
kaheksakümnendatesse
kaheksakümnendais
kaheksakümnendates
kaheksakümnendaist
kaheksakümnendatest
kaheksakümnendaile
kaheksakümnendatele
kaheksakümnendail
kaheksakümnendatel
kaheksakümnendailt
kaheksakümnendatelt
kaheksakümnendaiks
kaheksakümnendateks
kaheksakümnendaini
kaheksakümnendateni
kaheksakümnendaina
kaheksakümnendatena
kaheksakümnendateta
kaheksakümnendatega

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Käeosad (hands and their parts)

12/16/2015

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Vocabulary for describing hands:

Move the cursor over the image to see the words! Viige hiirekursori pildi peale sõnade nägemiseks!

The words are listed below in the nominative (nimetav), genitive (omastav) and partitive (osastav) singular cases.

Hand (singular)
Hand (plural)

Arm (singular)
Arm (plural)
Forearm
Upper arm
Elbow

Finger (singular)
Fingers (plural)
Thumb
Index finger
Middle finger
Ring finger
Little finger / pinky

Palm
Wrist
Knuckle
Fingernail

Käsi / Labakäsi
Käed / Labakäed

Käsi / Käsivars
Käed / Käsivarred
Küünarvars
Õlavars
Küünarnukk

Sõrm
Sõrmed
Pöial
Esimene sõrm
Keskmine sõrm
Nimetu sõrm
Väike sõrm

Peopesa
Ranne
Sõrmenukk
Küüs

Käe /Labakäe
Käte / Labakäte

Käe / Käsivarre
Käte / Käsivarte
Küünarvarre
Õlavarre
Küünarnuki

Sõrme
Sõrmede
Pöidla
Esimese sõrme
Keskmise sõrme
Nimetu sõrme
Väikese sõrme

Peopesa
Randme
Sõrmenuki
Küüne

Kätt / Labakätt
Käsi / Labakäsi

Kätt / Käsivart
Käsi / Käsivarsi
Küünarvart
Õlavart
Küünarnukki

Sõrme
Sõrmi / Sõrmesid
Pöialt
Esimest sõrme
Keskmist sõrme
Nimetut sõrme
Väikest sõrme

Peopesa
Rannet
Sõrmenukki
Küünt

Image source (pildi allikas): Wikimedia Commons and interactive vocabulary made with Thinglink.

Note: the word käsi means both "hand" and "arm". If you want to refer to the hand specifically, you can say labakäsi; to refer to the arm specifically, you can say käsivars. The arm between the hand and elbow can be called küünarvars (forearm); the arm between the elbow and shoulder is õlavars (upper arm). "Elbow"is küünarnukk. The general word käsi works just fine for all parts of the hand and arm when you don't need to be that specific.
There is also an older synonym for käsi, käbar (plural käbarad), which is sometimes used in place of käsi, particularly in colloquial speech and older expressions. Like käsi, it means both "hand" and "arm".

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Kehaosad: Pea ja Nägu (Body Parts: Head and Face)

11/29/2015

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Basic vocabulary for head and face:

Move the cursor over the image to see the words! Viige hiirekursori pildi peale sõnade nägemiseks!

The words are listed below in the nominative (nimetav), genitive (omastav) and partitive (osastav) cases.

Head
Face
Nose
Mouth
Forehead
Chin
Neck
Chest

Eye (singular)
Eyes (plural)

Ear (singular)
Ears (plural)

Eyelash (singular)
Eyelashes (plural)

Eyebrow (singular)
Eyebrow (plural)

Cheek (singular)
Cheek (plural)

Hair (singular)
Hair (plural)

Pea
Nägu
Nina
Suu
Laup
Lõug
Kael
Rind

Silm
Silmad

Kõrv
Kõrvad

Ripse
Ripsmed

Kulm
Kulmud

Põsk
Põsed

Juus
Juuksed

Pea
Näo
Nina
Suu
Lauba
Lõua
Kaela
Rinna

Silma
Silme / Silmade

Kõrva
Kõrvade

Ripsme
Ripsmete

Kulmu
Kulmude

Põsk
Põskede

Juukse
Juuste

Pead
Nägu
Nina
Suud
Laupa
Lõuga
Kaela
Rinda

Silma
Silmi / Silmasid

Kõrva
Kõrvu / Kõrvasid

Ripset
Ripsmeid

Kulmu
Kulme / Kulmusid

Põske
Põski / Põskesid

Juust
Juukseid

Image source (pildi allikas): Wikimedia Commons and interactive vocabulary made with Thinglink

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Puuviljad (Fruits)

11/21/2015

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Basic vocabulary for fruits:

Move the cursor over the image to see the words! Viige hiirekursori pildi peale sõnade nägemiseks!

The words are listed below in the nominative (nimetav), genitive (omastav) and partitive (osastav) cases.

Strawberry
Apple
Pear
Banana
Orange
Mandarin
Grape
Grapefruit
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Honeydew
Pineapple
Mango

Maasikas
Õun
Pirn
Banaan
Apelsin
Mandariin
Viinamari
Greip
Arbuus
Muskusmelon
Mesimelon
Ananass
Mango

Maasika
Õuna
Pirni
Banaani
Apelsini
Mandariini
Viinamarja
Greibi
Arbuusi
Muskusmeloni
Mesimeloni
Ananassi
Mango

Maasikat
Õuna
Pirni
Banaani
Apelsini
Mandariini
Viinamarja
Greipi
Arbuusi
Muskusmelonit
Mesimelonit
Ananassi
Mangot

Image source (pildi allikas): Wikimedia Commons and interactive vocabulary made with Thinglink.

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Kaheksa ilmakaart, 1. osa: the eight directions, part 1

11/9/2015

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Most languages have words for the four cardinal directions (north, east, south west), and use these words in compounds to create the four inter-cardinal directions (northeast, northwest, southwest, southeast). Languages which have eight distinct and unrelated words for both sets of directions are few and far between. Estonian is one of those few that does.

Many of the other languages that do have eight distinct words for the directions are related to Estonian: Finnish, Ingrian, Karelian, Livonian, Ludic, Veps, and Votic. In addition to the Finnic languages, Breton and Sanskrit also have eight unrelated words for the eight directions. (Interestingly, the Breton word for "south", kreisteiz, also means "noon," just as the Estonian word for south lõuna does.)

Indonesian and Malaysian have a specific word for southeast, tenggara, but use the words for east (timur) and west (barat) in the words for southwest, northwest, and northeast (barat daya, barat laut, and timur laut).

Most other languages of the world simply combine the words for the four cardinal directions to create the other four directions between them, like English does.
English: northeast, southeast, southwest, northwest.
Spanish: noreste, sureste, suroeste, noroeste.
French: nord-est, sud-est, sud-ouest, nord-ouest.
German: Nordosten, Südosten, Südwesten, Nordwesten.
Swedish: nordost, sydost, sydväst, nordväst.
Russian: северо-восток, юго-восток, юго-запад, северо-запад.
Chinese: 东北，东南，西南，西北.
Estonian: kirre, kagu, edel, loe.
Finnish: koillinen, kaakko, lounas, luode.

compass directions: Estonian and Finnish / ilmakaared: eesti ja soome.
Image source (pildi allikas): Jimpaz via Wikimedia Commons.

The eight directions in Estonian are: põhi (north), kirre (northeast), ida (east), kagu (southeast), lõuna, (south), edel (southwest), lääs (west), and loe (northwest).

Several of these words (notably kirre, lääs, and loe) have significant changes in other case forms, so I will list the relevant forms below.

North:
nimetav ainsus (nominative singular): põhi
omastav ainsus (genitive singular): põhja
osastav ainsus (partitive singular):   põhja
osastav mitmus (partitive plural):   põhju / põhjasid

Northeast:
nimetav ainsus (nominative singular):  kirre
omastav ainsus (genitive singular): kirde
osastav ainsus (partitive singular):   kirret
osastav mitmus (partitive plural):   kirdeid

East:
nimetav ainsus (nominative singular):  ida
omastav ainsus (genitive singular): ida
osastav ainsus (partitive singular): ida
osastav mitmus (partitive plural):   idasid

Southeast:
nimetav ainsus (nominative singular):  kagu
omastav ainsus (genitive singular): kagu
osastav ainsus (partitive singular):   kagu
osastav mitmus (partitive plural):   kagusid

South:
nimetav ainsus (nominative singular):  lõuna
omastav ainsus (genitive singular): lõuna
osastav ainsus (partitive singular): lõunat
osastav mitmus (partitive plural):   lõunaid

Southwest:
nimetav ainsus (nominative singular):  edel
omastav ainsus (genitive singular): edela
osastav ainsus (partitive singular): edelat
osastav mitmus (partitive plural):   edelaid

West:
nimetav ainsus (nominative singular): lääs
omastav ainsus (genitive singular): lääne
osastav ainsus (partitive singular):   läänt
osastav mitmus (partitive plural):   lääsi

Northwest:
nimetav ainsus (nominative singular):  loe
omastav ainsus (genitive singular): loode
osastav ainsus (partitive singular):   loet
osastav mitmus (partitive plural):   loodeid

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Talumaja Hiiumaal (farmhouse on Hiiumaa Island)

75 ways to say "80"

Käeosad (hands and their parts)

Kehaosad: Pea ja Nägu (Body Parts: Head and Face)

Puuviljad (Fruits)

Kaheksa ilmakaart, 1. osa: the eight directions, part 1

Keeleblogi

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Arhiiv

Talumaja Hiiumaal (farmhouse on Hiiumaa Island)

75 ways to say "80"﻿

Käeosad (hands and their parts)

Kehaosad: Pea ja Nägu (Body Parts: Head and Face)

Puuviljad (Fruits)

Kaheksa ilmakaart, 1. osa: the eight directions, part 1

Keeleblogi

Viimased ja populaarsemad​teemad

Recent and popular topics

Kategooriad

Arhiiv

75 ways to say "80"

Viimased ja populaarsemad
teemad