Estonian Work & Job Words
Work vocabulary helps you introduce yourself and talk about your day. Here are common professions — teacher, seller, cook, engineer, programmer, builder — plus colleague, boss, salary, office and meeting, each with native audio. It’s also where the two infinitives (-da vs -ma) come together.
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 Work & Job Words: words & phrases
39 words · tap the speaker to hear each one.
| Audio | Estonian | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| amet | occupation, profession | gen ameti, part ametit | |
| õpetaja | teacher | gen õpetaja, part õpetajat | |
| müüja | seller, salesperson | gen müüja, part müüjat | |
| kokk | cook, chef | gen koka, part kokka | |
| juht | leader, manager, driver | gen juhi, part juhti · vs juhataja — juht = leader/driver, broad; juhataja = head/manager of a unit or institution. | |
| insener | engineer | gen inseneri, part inseneri | |
| programmeerija | programmer | from programmeerima; informal short form progeja | |
| muusik | musician | gen muusiku, part muusikut | |
| politseinik | police officer | gen politseiniku, part politseinikku | |
| talunik | farmer | gen taluniku, part talunikku | |
| ehitaja | builder, construction worker | from ehitama; gen ehitaja, part ehitajat | |
| töötaja | worker, employee | gen töötaja, part töötajat | |
| kolleeg | colleague | gen kolleegi, part kolleegi; syn. töökaaslane · = töökaaslane — interchangeable for colleague; kolleeg slightly more formal/professional. | |
| ülemus | boss, superior | gen ülemuse, part ülemust | |
| palk | salary, wage | gen palga, part palka | |
| firma | firm, company | gen firma, part firmat | |
| kontor | office | gen kontori, part kontorit · vs büroo — near-synonyms for office; kontor = everyday workplace; büroo = formal agency/bureau. | |
| koosolek | meeting | gathering to discuss/decide; gen koosoleku, part koosolekut · vs nõupidamine — both meeting; koosolek = regular/formal session; nõupidamine = consultation to confer. | |
| advokaat | lawyer, attorney | gen advokaadi, part advokaati | |
| raamatupidaja | accountant, bookkeeper | gen raamatupidaja, part raamatupidajat | |
| sekretär | secretary | gen sekretäri, part sekretäri | |
| tuletõrjuja | firefighter | gen tuletõrjuja, part tuletõrjujat | |
| juuksur | hairdresser, barber | gen juuksuri, part juuksurit | |
| tõlk | interpreter, translator | gen tõlgi, part tõlki; k-g gradation · vs tõlkija — tõlk = interpreter (spoken); tõlkija = translator (written text). | |
| kirjanik | writer, author | gen kirjaniku, part kirjanikku | |
| ajakirjanik | journalist, reporter | gen ajakirjaniku, part ajakirjanikku | |
| meditsiiniõde | nurse | gen meditsiiniõe, part meditsiiniõde | |
| leping | contract, agreement | gen lepingu, part lepingut | |
| intervjuu | interview | gen intervjuu, part intervjuud | |
| kandidaat | candidate, applicant | gen kandidaadi, part kandidaati | |
| avaldus | application, statement | gen avalduse, part avaldust · vs taotlus — both formal application; avaldus = statement/declaration; taotlus = request/petition for something. | |
| elulugu | CV, résumé, biography | gen eluloo, part elulugu; lit. "life story | |
| allkiri | signature | gen allkirja, part allkirja | |
| karjäär | career | gen karjääri, part karjääri | |
| haridus | education, schooling | gen hariduse, part haridust | |
| majandus | economy, economics | gen majanduse, part majandust | |
| tööstus | industry | gen tööstuse, part tööstust | |
| palgapäev | payday | gen palgapäeva, part palgapäeva; compound of palk + päev | |
| koolitus | training, course | gen koolituse, part koolitust |
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.
Mu hea sõber Aino on raamatukogus töötaja, ja ma tean, et tema kodu on linna kõige vanem maja. Eile õhtul rääkisin talle, et ma ei ole kunagi vabrikust põgenenud, sest mul ei olnud selleks aega — aga ma tahtsin sinna minna ja sealt üht vana teksti leida. Mulle meeldib laulda, ning kui ma saaksin, sõidaksin homme sõbraga linna ja tahaksin seal juua sooja kohvi.
Frequently asked questions
Töö is work/job and amet is a profession/occupation.
More Estonian vocabulary
Estonian Commands & Useful Action Words
Estonian commands and action words — wait, stop, call, show, explain, quickly, carefully — with native audio. A free vocabulary guide.
Estonian Feelings & Emotions
Estonian words for feelings and emotions — happy, sad, angry, tired, afraid, proud — with native audio. A free vocabulary guide for real conversation.
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.
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.