Estonian Family Words
Family words are among the warmest and most useful you’ll learn — perfect for introducing yourself or meeting an Estonian partner’s relatives. Here are mother, father, the grandparents, siblings, children and more, each with native audio.
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 Family Words: words & phrases
40 words · tap the speaker to hear each one.
| Audio | Estonian | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| emacommon | mother | gen. ema, part. ema (unchanged) | |
| isacommon | father | gen. isa, part. isa (unchanged) | |
| vanaema | grandmother | gen. vanaema, part. vanaema; from vana + ema | |
| vanaisa | grandfather | gen. vanaisa, part. vanaisa; from vana + isa | |
| õde | sister (also nurse) | gen. õe, part. õde (d-ø gradation) | |
| vend | brother | gen. venna, part. venda | |
| laps | child | gen. lapse, part. last | |
| poeg | son | gen. poja, part. poega | |
| tütar | daughter | gen. tütre, part. tütart | |
| nainecommon | woman, wife | gen. naise, part. naist · vs abikaasa — naine = woman, and commonly "wife"; abikaasa = the gender-neutral word for spouse. | |
| meescommon | man, husband | gen. mehe, part. meest · vs abikaasa — mees = man, and commonly "husband"; abikaasa = the gender-neutral word for spouse. | |
| sõbercommon | friend | gen. sõbra, part. sõpra · vs tuttav — sõber = a real (close) friend; tuttav = just an acquaintance you know slightly. | |
| pere | family | gen. pere, part. peret · vs perekond — pere = everyday word for family; perekond = more formal/official (e.g. on documents). | |
| perekond | family | gen. perekonna, part. perekonda; pere + -kond · vs pere — perekond = formal/official term (forms, surnames); pere = the everyday word for family. | |
| inimenecommon | human being, person | gen. inimese, part. inimest · vs rahvas — inimene = a single person/human; rahvas = people collectively, a folk or nation. | |
| tüdruk | girl | gen. tüdruku, part. tüdrukut | |
| poisscommon | boy | gen. poisi, part. poissi; from poeg | |
| abikaasa | spouse (husband/wife) | gen. abikaasa, part. abikaasat; gender-neutral | |
| tädi | aunt | gen. tädi, part. tädi (unchanged) | |
| onu | uncle | gen. onu, part. onu (unchanged) | |
| vanem | parent; elder | gen. vanema, part. vanemat; also comparative of vana · vs lapsevanem — vanem = parent (and also "elder"); lapsevanem specifies a child's parent (e.g. at school). | |
| beebi | baby | gen. beebi, part. beebit; from English | |
| sugulane | relative | gen. sugulase, part. sugulast | |
| noor | young | gen. noore, part. noort | |
| vana | old | gen. vana, part. vana (unchanged); also "an old person | |
| rahvas | people, folk | gen. rahva, part. rahvast · vs inimene — rahvas = people as a collective/nation; inimene = one individual person. | |
| härracommon | mister, sir, gentleman | gen. härra, part. härrat | |
| proua | madam, Mrs, lady | gen. proua, part. prouat | |
| tuttav | acquaintance; familiar | gen. tuttava, part. tuttavat · vs sõber — tuttav = acquaintance (know slightly); sõber = a genuine, close friend. | |
| sõbranna | female friend | gen. sõbranna, part. sõbrannat; sõber + -nna · vs sõber — sõbranna = specifically a female friend; sõber is gender-neutral / default. | |
| täiskasvanu | adult | gen. täiskasvanu, part. täiskasvanut | |
| kaksik | twin | gen. kaksiku, part. kaksikut; from kaks (two) | |
| peremees | host; head of household | gen. peremehe, part. peremeest; pere + mees | |
| naaber | neighbour | gen. naabri, part. naabrit | |
| lapselaps | grandchild | gen. lapselapse, part. lapselast; lapse + laps | |
| lapsevanem | parent | gen. lapsevanema, part. lapsevanemat; lapse + vanem · vs vanem — lapsevanem = a child's parent, used in school/official contexts; vanem is the general word for parent. | |
| perenaine | lady of the house, hostess | gen. perenaise, part. perenaist; pere + naine | |
| neiu | young woman, miss | gen. neiu, part. neiut | |
| vallaline | unmarried, single | gen. vallalise, part. vallalist | |
| lesk | widow, widower | gen. lese, part. leske |
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.
Minu vanaema on Õie. Ta on vana naine, aga ta on meie pere. Tema isa ja ema ei ole siin — meie oleme siin. Minu sõber on Tiiu ja meie vanaema nimi on Õie. Hall Mees pole meie pere!
Frequently asked questions
Ema is mother and isa is father. Grandmother is vanaema and grandfather is vanaisa (literally “old mother / old father”).
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