Estonian Weather & Nature Words
Weather is small-talk gold, and nature words capture what Estonians love most about their country. Here are sun, rain, snow, wind and storm, plus sea, forest, lake, river and more, each with native audio. This theme also introduces the translative case (becoming / turning into).
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 Weather & Nature Words: words & phrases
44 words · tap the speaker to hear each one.
| Audio | Estonian | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ilm | weather | gen. ilma, part. ilma | |
| päike | sun | gen. päikese, part. päikest | |
| vihm | rain | gen. vihma, part. vihma | |
| lumi | snow | gen. lume, part. lund | |
| tuul | wind | gen. tuule, part. tuult | |
| pilv | cloud | gen. pilve, part. pilve | |
| taevas | sky, heaven | gen. taeva, part. taevast | |
| torm | storm | gen. tormi, part. tormi | |
| udu | fog, mist | gen. udu, part. udu (no gradation) | |
| jää | ice | gen. jää, part. jääd | |
| meri | sea | gen. mere, part. merd | |
| mets | forest | gen. metsa, part. metsa | |
| järv | lake | gen. järve, part. järve | |
| jõgi | river | gen. jõe, part. jõge | |
| mägi | mountain, hill | gen. mäe, part. mäge | |
| maa | land, earth, country | gen. maa, part. maad · vs riik — maa = country as land/homeland (informal); riik = country as a state (political). | |
| põld | field | gen. põllu, part. põldu | |
| puu | tree, wood | gen. puu, part. puud | |
| lill | flower | gen. lille, part. lille | |
| rohi | grass | gen. rohu, part. rohtu · vs hein — rohi = grass growing in the ground; hein = hay (cut, dried grass). | |
| loodus | nature | gen. looduse, part. loodust | |
| täht | star, letter | gen. tähe, part. tähte · vs kiri — täht = letter of the alphabet; kiri = a letter you write or send. | |
| kevad | spring | gen. kevade, part. kevadet | |
| suvi | summer | gen. suve, part. suve | |
| sügis | autumn, fall | gen. sügise, part. sügist | |
| talv | winter | gen. talve, part. talve | |
| sajab | it rains/snows (falls) | 3rd sg. pres. of sadama (to precipitate) | |
| paistab | it shines, appears | 3rd sg. pres. of paistma (to shine) | |
| äike | thunderstorm, thunder | gen. äikese, part. äikest | |
| rahe | hail | gen. rahe, part. rahet | |
| kaste | dew | gen. kaste, part. kastet | |
| vihmavari | umbrella | gen. vihmavarju, part. vihmavarju | |
| päikesepaiste | sunshine | gen. päikesepaiste, part. päikesepaistet | |
| soojus | warmth | gen. soojuse, part. soojust | |
| kuumus | heat | gen. kuumuse, part. kuumust | |
| niiske | damp, humid | gen. niiske, part. niisket · vs märg — niiske = damp, slightly moist/humid; märg = fully wet, soaked. | |
| vihmane | rainy | gen. vihmase, part. vihmast | |
| päikeseline | sunny | gen. päikeselise, part. päikeselist | |
| vikerkaar | rainbow | gen. vikerkaare, part. vikerkaart | |
| hooaeg | season | gen. hooaja, part. hooaega | |
| keskkond | environment | gen. keskkonna, part. keskkonda | |
| saar | island | gen. saare, part. saart | |
| org | valley | gen. oru, part. orgu | |
| õhk | air | gen. õhu, part. õhku |
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 sadas vihma ja oli väga külm, täna paistab päike ja õhtul on soe. Rakvere metsas on praegu kõige ilusam, sest sügis on soojem kui talv, ning varsti tuleb talv ja sajab lund. Tornis oli kivil üks vana tekst — ma lugesin seda vihmas!
Frequently asked questions
Ilm is “weather”. Add päike (sun), vihm (rain), lumi (snow) or tuul (wind) to describe the day.
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