Common Estonian Action Verbs
Once you can name things, verbs let you do something with them. This set collects common daily actions — to sleep, wake, buy, read, write, watch, listen, ask, learn, play — each with native audio. It’s also where you meet the present tense across all six persons.
Read them out loud
Estonian is phonetic — words are said the way they’re written. Tap the speaker on any word to hear a native voice, and remember that doubled letters (aa, öö, ss) are simply held longer. New to the sounds? Start with the alphabet & pronunciation guide.
Common Estonian Action Verbs: words & phrases
41 words · tap the speaker to hear each one.
| Audio | Estonian | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| magama | to sleep | da-inf. magada; pres. 1sg magan | |
| ärkama | to wake up | da-inf. ärgata · vs tõusma — ärkama = wake from sleep (eyes open); tõusma = physically get up / rise. | |
| tõusma | to rise, get up | da-inf. tõusta; length gradation · vs ärkama — tõusma = rise / get up out of bed; ärkama = wake from sleep. | |
| käima | to go (habitually), walk | da-inf. käia · vs minema — käima = go regularly / attend / visit; minema = go once, in one direction. | |
| ostma | to buy | da-inf. osta | |
| lugema | to read; to count | da-inf. lugeda; g–ø gradation | |
| kirjutama | to write | da-inf. kirjutada | |
| vaatama | to look (at), watch | da-inf. vaadata; t–d gradation | |
| kuulama | to listen (to) | da-inf. kuulata | |
| küsima | to ask | da-inf. küsida | |
| õppima | to learn, study | da-inf. õppida | |
| mängima | to play | da-inf. mängida | |
| jooksma | to run | da-inf. joosta; length gradation | |
| sõitma | to drive, ride, travel | da-inf. sõita; t–d gradation · vs juhtima (drive) — sõitma = ride/travel in a vehicle; juhtima = steer/operate it, lead. | |
| istuma | to sit | da-inf. istuda | |
| seisma | to stand | da-inf. seista | |
| andmacommon | to give | da-inf. anda | |
| võtmacommon | to take | da-inf. võtta; t–ø gradation | |
| panemacommon | to put, place | da-inf. panna | |
| aitama | to help | da-inf. aidata | |
| pesema | to wash | da-inf. pesta | |
| laulma | to sing | da-inf. laulda; 1sg pres. laulan; past laulis | |
| tantsima | to dance | da-inf. tantsida; 1sg pres. tantsin | |
| koristama | to tidy up, clean | da-inf. koristada; 1sg pres. koristan | |
| külastama | to visit | da-inf. külastada; 1sg pres. külastan | |
| valmistama | to prepare, make | da-inf. valmistada; 1sg pres. valmistan | |
| avama | to open | da-inf. avada; 1sg pres. avan | |
| sulgema | to close, shut | da-inf. sulgeda; 1sg pres. sulen | |
| keetma | to cook, boil | da-inf. keeta; 1sg pres. keedan; t–d gradation | |
| hakkama | to start, begin | da-inf. hakata; 1sg pres. hakkan; kk–k gradation | |
| lõpetama | to finish, end | da-inf. lõpetada; 1sg pres. lõpetan | |
| tooma | to bring | da-inf. tuua; 1sg pres. toon; past tõin (suppletive) | |
| müüma | to sell | da-inf. müüa; 1sg pres. müün | |
| saatma | to send | da-inf. saata; 1sg pres. saadan; t–d gradation | |
| leidma | to find | da-inf. leida; 1sg pres. leian; d–ø gradation | |
| kutsuma | to invite, call | da-inf. kutsuda; 1sg pres. kutsun | |
| pakkuma | to offer | da-inf. pakkuda; 1sg pres. pakun; kk–k gradation | |
| naasma | to return, come back | da-inf. naasta; 1sg pres. naasen; length gradation | |
| juhtima | to lead, manage | da-inf. juhtida; 1sg pres. juhin · vs sõitma — juhtima = steer/operate a vehicle, lead; sõitma = ride/travel in one. | |
| unustama | to forget | da-inf. unustada; 1sg pres. unustan | |
| puhkama | to rest, relax | da-inf. puhata; 1sg pres. puhkan |
Read a real Estonian sentence
Built only from words you’d know by this point in the Selgeks course — proof these words add up to real Estonian.
Ma ärkan vara ja tõusen voodist. Ma pesen ja söön leiba. Ma loen Õie kirja ning ma kirjutan. Ma laulan — Hall Mees kuuleb! Ta jookseb ja mina ka jooksen. Ma ujun ja ronin. Ma ärkan, tõusen, pesen, söön, laulan ja jooksen — me läheme! Hall Mees ei laula.
Frequently asked questions
Õppima is “to learn / study” and lugema is “to read”. Estonian verbs are listed in this -ma (infinitive) form.
More Estonian vocabulary
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Estonian Words for Everyday Objects
Estonian words for everyday belongings — money, bag, phone, car, keys, clothes and pets — with native audio. A free vocabulary guide.
Estonian Words for Places Around Town
Estonian words for the city — shop, market, school, hospital, bank, café, station and more — with native audio. A free vocabulary guide.
Estonian Time Adverbs & Sequence Words
Estonian time adverbs — already, soon, earlier, later, before, after, finally — with native audio. A free vocabulary guide for telling stories.
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