Estonian Feelings & Emotions
Emotions turn small talk into real conversation. Here are the Estonian words for happy, sad, angry, tired, proud and surprised, plus the verbs to think, to like, to feel and to fear — each with native audio. This theme also introduces meeldima (“to please / to like”).
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 Feelings & Emotions: words & phrases
45 words · tap the speaker to hear each one.
| Audio | Estonian | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| rõõmus | happy, glad | gen sg rõõmsa, part sg rõõmsat · vs õnnelik — rõõmus = glad/cheerful (a momentary, visible mood); õnnelik = happy in a deeper, fortunate sense. | |
| kurb | sad | gen sg kurva, part sg kurba | |
| vihane | angry | gen sg vihase, part sg vihast | |
| väsinud | tired | past participle of väsima (to get tired) | |
| õnnelik | happy, lucky | gen sg õnneliku, part sg õnnelikku · vs rõõmus — õnnelik = happy/lucky (lasting, fortunate); rõõmus = glad/cheerful right now. | |
| uhke | proud | gen sg uhke, part sg uhket | |
| üllatunud | surprised | gen sg üllatunu, part sg üllatunut | |
| mure | worry, sorrow | gen sg mure, part sg muret | |
| hirm | fear, fright | gen sg hirmu, part sg hirmu | |
| rõõm | joy | gen sg rõõmu, part sg rõõmu | |
| tunne | feeling | gen sg tunde, part sg tunnet | |
| arvamus | opinion | gen sg arvamuse, part sg arvamust | |
| arvama | to think, to believe | 1sg arvan, da-inf arvata · vs mõtlema — arvama = think = believe/have an opinion; mõtlema = think = the mental process itself. | |
| mõtlema | to think | 1sg mõtlen (vaidlema-type) · vs arvama — mõtlema = to think (the mental act); arvama = to think = hold an opinion/believe. | |
| meeldima | to like (to please) | 1sg meeldin; liker takes allative | |
| tundma | to feel, to know | 1sg tunnen · vs teadma — tundma = know/be familiar with a person or place (also feel); teadma = know a fact. | |
| kartma | to fear, be afraid | 1sg kardan | |
| naerma | to laugh | 1sg naeran | |
| nutma | to cry | 1sg nutan, da-inf nutta | |
| etcommon | that, so that | from Proto-Finnic että | |
| agacommon | but | synonym: kuid · vs kuid — same meaning (but); aga = everyday/spoken, kuid = more formal/written. | |
| sellepärast | therefore, that's why | also "because | |
| õnnetu | unhappy, unfortunate | gen sg õnnetu, part sg õnnetut | |
| murelik | worried, anxious | gen sg mureliku, part sg murelikku · vs närviline — murelik = worried (about a specific thing); närviline = nervous/edgy as a temperament. | |
| rahulik | calm, peaceful | gen sg rahuliku, part sg rahulikku · vs vaikne — rahulik = calm (inner state, unbothered); vaikne = quiet (little noise). | |
| närviline | nervous, anxious | gen sg närvilise, part sg närvilist · vs murelik — närviline = nervous/jittery (on edge); murelik = worried about something concrete. | |
| igav | boring; bored | gen sg igava, part sg igavat | |
| pettunud | disappointed | gen sg pettunu, part sg pettunut | |
| viha | anger, hatred | gen sg viha, part sg viha | |
| häbi | shame, embarrassment | gen sg häbi, part sg häbi | |
| armastus | love | gen sg armastuse, part sg armastust | |
| pettumus | disappointment | gen sg pettumuse, part sg pettumust | |
| igavus | boredom | gen sg igavuse, part sg igavust | |
| kahetsus | regret, remorse | gen sg kahetsuse, part sg kahetsust | |
| tuju | mood | gen sg tuju, part sg tuju | |
| kadedus | envy, jealousy | gen sg kadeduse, part sg kadedust | |
| põnevus | excitement, thrill | gen sg põnevuse, part sg põnevust | |
| põnevil | excited, thrilled | predicative only; on põnevil — is excited | |
| rõõmustama | to rejoice, be glad | 1sg rõõmustan; da-inf rõõmustada | |
| muretsema | to worry | 1sg muretsen; da-inf muretseda | |
| kahetsema | to regret | 1sg kahetsen; da-inf kahetseda | |
| kannatama | to suffer, endure | 1sg kannatan; da-inf kannatada | |
| häbenema | to be ashamed | 1sg häbenen; da-inf häbeneda | |
| lohutama | to comfort, console | 1sg lohutan; da-inf lohutada | |
| üksi | alone | üksi olema — to be alone |
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.
Eile õhtul olin väga väsinud ja kurb, sest mul oli kõik see töö, aga kui ma tulin randa, siis nägin, et mu kallis vanaema Õie ootas seal vaikuses ja andis mulle ühe ilusa laulu; nüüd olen väga õnnelik, sest mulle meeldivad ta laulud väga, ja kui ma saaksin, siis laulaksin talle ka ühe ilusa laulu tagasi.
Frequently asked questions
Rõõmus is happy/glad and kurb is sad. Väsinud means tired.
More Estonian vocabulary
Estonian Words for Talking About Experiences
Estonian words for experiences — often, sometimes, always, “have done”, “have been” — with native audio. A free vocabulary guide for the perfect tense.
Estonian Greetings
How to say hello, goodbye, please and thank you in Estonian — the essential greetings and polite words, each with native audio. Free, no account.
Estonian Numbers
Estonian numbers from zero to twenty and beyond — count like a local, with native audio on every number. A free beginner’s guide.
Estonian Family Words
The Estonian words for mother, father, sister, brother and the rest of the family — with native audio. A free vocabulary guide for beginners.
Start your Estonian quest today
Selgeks is free to start — no account needed. Learn your first ten Estonian words in the next five minutes.
No credit card. No pressure. Your progress saves on this device instantly.