Estonian Words for Wishes, Plans & Abilities
These verbs let you talk about what you want, can, must and hope to do — the language of goals and plans. Here are to want, to be able, to need, to try, to plan, to hope and to dream, each with native audio, alongside the conditional mood (“I would…”).
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 Wishes, Plans & Abilities: words & phrases
41 words · tap the speaker to hear each one.
| Audio | Estonian | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| tahtmacommon | to want | da-infinitive: tahta · vs soovima — tahtma = want (everyday, direct); soovima = wish/desire (politer, more formal). | |
| soovima | to wish, to desire | da-infinitive: soovida (õppima-type) · vs tahtma — soovima = wish/desire (polite, formal); tahtma = plain everyday want. | |
| saamacommon | to get; can, to be able to; to become | da-infinitive: saada · "can" vs võima/oskama/suutma — saama = be able to (have the chance/capacity); also to get and to become. For permission use võima/tohtima. | |
| võimacommon | can, to be able; to be allowed | da-infinitive: võida · vs saama/oskama/suutma — võima = may, be permitted/possible; oskama = have the skill; suutma = manage. | |
| oskama | to be able to (have a skill), to know how | da-infinitive: osata · vs saama/suutma/võima — oskama = know how to (a learned skill, e.g. speak Estonian). | |
| suutma | to be able to, to manage | da-infinitive: suuta (t-d gradation) · vs oskama/saama/võima — suutma = have the strength/capacity to manage it. | |
| pidamacommon | must, to have to; to keep, to hold | da-infinitive: pidada | |
| vajama | to need | da-infinitive: vajada (elama-type) | |
| proovima | to try, to attempt | da-infinitive: proovida | |
| plaanima | to plan | da-infinitive: plaanida · vs kavatsema — plaanima = plan/organise the details; kavatsema = intend to (mean to do it). | |
| kavatsema | to intend, to plan to | da-infinitive: kavatseda; 1sg kavatsen · vs plaanima — kavatsema = intend/mean to; plaanima = work out a concrete plan. | |
| lootma | to hope | da-infinitive: loota (t-d gradation) | |
| unistama | to dream, to daydream | da-infinitive: unistada (from uni) | |
| unistus | dream (a wish/hope) | gen sg unistuse, part sg unistust | |
| plaan | plan | gen sg plaani, part sg plaani | |
| soov | wish, desire | gen sg soovi, part sg soovi | |
| lootus | hope | gen sg lootuse, part sg lootust | |
| eesmärk | goal, aim, purpose | gen sg eesmärgi, part sg eesmärki (k-g gradation) | |
| võimalus | opportunity, chance, possibility | gen sg võimaluse, part sg võimalust | |
| tulevik | future | gen sg tuleviku, part sg tulevikku | |
| lubama | to allow; to promise | da-inf lubada; 1sg luban; past lubasin · vs tohtima — lubama = give permission (subject allows); tohtima = be allowed (subject has permission). | |
| tohtima | to be allowed to, may | da-inf tohtida; 1sg tohin; past tohtisin · vs lubama — tohtima = be allowed to/may; lubama = allow (or promise). | |
| otsustama | to decide | da-inf otsustada; 1sg otsustan; past otsustasin | |
| kaaluma | to consider, to weigh | da-inf kaaluda; 1sg kaalun; past kaalusin | |
| muutuma | to change (intrans.), to become | da-inf muutuda; 1sg muutun; past muutusin · vs muutma — muutuma = change by itself (intrans); muutma = change something else (trans). | |
| muutma | to change (trans.), to alter | da-inf muuta; 1sg muudan; past muutsin · vs muutuma — muutma = change something (transitive, takes an object); muutuma = change by itself (intransitive). | |
| uskuma | to believe, to trust | da-inf uskuda; 1sg usun; past uskusin; sk-s gradation | |
| sõltuma | to depend (on) | da-inf sõltuda; 1sg sõltun; past sõltusin; takes elative | |
| leppima | to reconcile, to come to terms with | da-inf leppida; 1sg lepin; past leppisin | |
| pettuma | to be disappointed | da-inf pettuda; 1sg pettun; past pettusin | |
| tingimus | condition, term | gen sg tingimuse, part sg tingimust | |
| lubadus | promise | gen sg lubaduse, part sg lubadust | |
| otsus | decision | gen sg otsuse, part sg otsust | |
| valik | choice, selection | gen sg valiku, part sg valikut | |
| olukord | situation | gen sg olukorra, part sg olukorda | |
| edu | success, progress | gen sg edu, part sg edu (no gradation) | |
| rahu | peace, calm | gen sg rahu, part sg rahu (no gradation) | |
| kindelcommon | certain, sure, firm | comp kindlam | |
| valmiscommon | ready, finished | declines: gen valmi, part valmit (ÕS type 2/õpik) | |
| ideaalne | ideal, perfect | comp ideaalsem | |
| kuigi | although, even though | introduces contrast clause |
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 ma istusin lossis ja mõtlesin: kui mul oleks Õie tagasi, siis ma istuksin temaga koos ja kuulaksin ta laulu. Ma elaksin koos oma perega soojas majas, ja lõpuks ma saaksin laulda kogu öö. Aga ma ütlesin Hall Mehele ühe sõna: ei.
Frequently asked questions
Tahan (“I want”, from tahtma) and saan / oskan (“I can / I know how”). Estonian has a few different verbs for “can”, depending on ability vs. permission.
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