Estonian Commands & Useful Action Words
Commands and directions get things done — “wait”, “stop”, “call me”, “show me”. Here are practical action verbs plus the adverbs that go with them (quickly, carefully, here, there, forward, back), each with native audio. This theme teaches the imperative mood.
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.
Estonian Commands & Useful Action Words: words & phrases
28 words · tap the speaker to hear each one.
| Audio | Estonian | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ootama | to wait (for), await | pres. 3sg ootab; imperative oota | |
| helistama | to call (phone), to ring | pres. 3sg helistab · vs helisema — helistama = (you) phone / ring someone; helisema = (a bell/phone) rings by itself. | |
| peatuma | to stop, halt | pres. 3sg peatub · vs peatama — peatuma = (something) stops itself; peatama = (you) stop something else. | |
| kiiresti | quickly, fast | comparative kiiremini · vs ruttu — kiiresti = fast (neutral, of speed); ruttu = quickly / hurry up (urgency). | |
| ruttu | quickly, in a hurry | adverbial use of rutt (haste); tule ruttu! · vs kiiresti — ruttu = quickly, in a hurry (urgency); kiiresti = fast, at high speed (neutral). | |
| ettevaatlikult | carefully, cautiously | comparative ettevaatlikumalt · vs hoolikalt — ettevaatlikult = cautiously (avoiding danger); hoolikalt = carefully / thoroughly (with diligence). | |
| siiacommon | (to) here, hither | directional form; motion towards speaker | |
| sinnacommon | (to) there, thither | directional form; motion towards that place | |
| tagasicommon | back, backwards | also postposition "ago" with partitive · vs tagurpidi — tagasi = back (returning to a place); tagurpidi = backwards / back-to-front (orientation). | |
| edasicommon | forward, onward, ahead | not comparable; antonym tagasi | |
| laskma | to let, allow; to shoot | da-inf. lasta; pres. 3sg laseb; past lasi; imp. lase | |
| näitama | to show, demonstrate | pres. 3sg näitab; past näitas; imp. näita | |
| vastama | to answer, reply | da-inf. vastata; pres. 3sg vastab; past vastas; imp. vasta | |
| kordama | to repeat | pres. 3sg kordab; past kordas; imp. korda · vs korrutama — kordama = repeat / say again; korrutama = drum in / multiply (maths). | |
| selgitama | to explain | pres. 3sg selgitab; past selgitas; imp. selgita | |
| alustama | to start, begin | da-inf. alustada; pres. 3sg alustab; past alustas; imp. alusta · vs hakkama — alustama = start an activity (takes -ma/-st object); hakkama = begin to / set about (takes -ma infinitive). | |
| valima | to choose, select | da-inf. valida; pres. 3sg valib; past valis; imp. vali | |
| täitma | to fill, complete, fulfill | pres. 3sg täidab; past täitis; imp. täida | |
| liikuma | to move | pres. 3sg liigub; past liikus; imp. liigu · vs sõitma — liikuma = move / be in motion (general); sõitma = travel by vehicle. | |
| jätma | to leave (behind), let | pres. 3sg jätab; past jättis; imp. jäta · vs jääma / lahkuma — jätma = leave something behind; jääma = stay/remain; lahkuma = depart yourself. | |
| tõstma | to lift, raise | pres. 3sg tõstab; past tõstis; imp. tõsta | |
| lülitama | to switch (on/off) | pres. 3sg lülitab; past lülitas; imp. lülita | |
| trükkima | to print, type, press | pres. 3sg trükib; past trükkis; imp. trüki | |
| vaikselt | quietly, softly | from vaikne (quiet); antonym valjult | |
| valjult | loudly, aloud | from valju (loud); antonym vaikselt | |
| aeglaselt | slowly | from aeglane (slow); antonym kiiresti | |
| hoolikalt | carefully, thoroughly | from hoolikas (careful); syn. ettevaatlikult · vs ettevaatlikult — hoolikalt = thoroughly, with care/diligence; ettevaatlikult = cautiously, to avoid harm. | |
| lahticommon | open; loose, apart | not comparable; uks on lahti = the door is open |
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.
Vanaproua Käsmust rääkis mulle: "Tule siia kohe, kuula mind ja ära mine veel! Esmalt loe seda kirja, joo vett ja võta see killuke — sest ma tahaksin sinuga rääkida. Pääsu, laula täna meiega ja söö meiega, ning ära tule hilja: ole siin kella kolmeni!
Frequently asked questions
For an informal command you typically use the verb’s present-stem — e.g. oota! (“wait!”), tee seda! (“do it!”). This theme walks through forming them.
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