Estonian Words for Everyday Objects
These are the things you carry, own and talk about every day — money, a bag, a wallet, glasses, a phone, a car, a bike, even the dog and cat. Each comes with native audio. This theme also teaches the very useful “I have” construction (mul on…).
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 Words for Everyday Objects: words & phrases
40 words · tap the speaker to hear each one.
| Audio | Estonian | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| rahacommon | money | gen raha, part raha (unchanged) | |
| kott | bag, sack | gen koti, part kotti | |
| rahakott | wallet, purse | raha + kott; declines like kott · vs käekott — rahakott = wallet (holds money); käekott = handbag carried by hand. | |
| prillid | glasses, spectacles | plural-only; gen prillide, part prille | |
| riided | clothes | plural of riie (cloth); sg gen riide, part riiet | |
| müts | cap, hat | gen mütsi, part mütsi | |
| king | shoe | gen kinga, part kinga; pl kingad | |
| auto | car, automobile | gen auto, part autot | |
| jalgratas | bicycle | gen jalgratta, part jalgratast | |
| pilet | ticket | gen pileti, part piletit | |
| mobiil | mobile phone | colloquial; declines like telefon type | |
| koer | dog | gen koera, part koera | |
| kass | cat | gen kassi, part kassi | |
| koht | place, spot | gen koha, part kohta | |
| tööcommon | work, job | gen töö, part tööd | |
| küsimus | question | gen küsimuse, part küsimust | |
| vastus | answer, response | gen vastuse, part vastust · vs lahendus — vastus = answer/reply to a question; lahendus = solution to a problem. | |
| asicommon | thing | gen asja, part asja | |
| lusikas | spoon | gen lusika, part lusikat | |
| kahvel | fork | gen kahvli, part kahvlit | |
| nuga | knife | gen noa, part nuga | |
| tass | cup | gen tassi, part tassi | |
| klaas | glass (drinking) | gen klaasi, part klaasi | |
| taldrik | plate, dish | gen taldriku, part taldrikut | |
| seep | soap | gen seebi, part seepi; consonant-grade b/p | |
| kamm | comb | gen kammi, part kammi | |
| vihik | notebook, exercise book | gen vihiku, part vihikut | |
| pliiats | pencil | gen pliiatsi, part pliiatsit | |
| paber | paper | gen paberi, part paberit | |
| vöö | belt | gen vöö, part vööd | |
| saabas | boot | gen saapa, part saabast; grade b/p | |
| käekott | handbag, purse | käsi + kott; gen käekoti, part käekotti · vs rahakott — käekott = handbag carried by hand; rahakott = wallet for money. | |
| käekell | wristwatch | käsi + kell; gen käekella, part käekella | |
| kaamera | camera | gen kaamera, part kaamerat | |
| tasku | gen tasku, part taskut | ||
| sularaha | cash | gen sularaha, part sularaha (unchanged) | |
| kingitus | gift, present | gen kingituse, part kingitust · vs kink — both mean gift; kingitus is the standard noun, kink is the shorter, casual form. | |
| omama | to own, possess | da-inf omada; 1sg oman; past omasin | |
| hoidma | to hold, keep | da-inf hoida; 1sg hoian; past hoidsin · vs pidama — hoidma = physically hold/keep; pidama = hold an event, or must/have to. | |
| kaotama | to lose | da-inf kaotada; 1sg kaotan; past kaotasin |
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.
Mul on kaart ja mul on raha! Tal on võti — see on tema võti. Kas sul on aeg? Jah — meil on palju aega. Tal on palju raha, aga meil on laul. Mul on kaart, mul on raha, meil on Õie laul — meil on kuus laulu!
Frequently asked questions
Estonian uses mul on (literally “at-me is”) — e.g. mul on auto (“I have a car”). There’s no separate verb “to have”.
More Estonian vocabulary
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.
Estonian Clothes & Shopping Words
Estonian words for clothes and shopping — shirt, trousers, shoes, to pay, price, cheap, expensive — with native audio. A free vocabulary guide.
Estonian Body Parts
The Estonian words for body parts — head, eye, hand, leg, heart and more — with native audio. A free vocabulary guide, handy at the doctor.
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