EstoniaSpeak Blog

Estonian grammar guides, learning strategies, and language resources β€” written for learners who want to actually understand Estonian, not just memorise it.

Getting Started

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Beginner Guide

Estonian for Beginners: Where to Start and What to Learn First

The right order β€” pronunciation, first words, essential grammar, and your first real conversation in Estonian.

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Timeline

How Long Does It Take to Learn Estonian?

Realistic timelines for A1 through C1 β€” by study intensity, and what affects your progress most.

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Honest Assessment

Is Estonian Hard to Learn?

An honest breakdown of what's actually hard β€” the 14 cases, gradation, vowel length β€” and what's easier than people think.

Grammar Guides

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Grammar

Estonian Cases Explained: All 14 From Nominative to Comitative

Every Estonian case with full tables, examples, and the genitive and partitive stems everything else is built on.

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Grammar Tips

Common Estonian Mistakes English Speakers Make

Partitive vs genitive objects, consonant gradation slips, the invariant "ei", and case errors β€” with fixes for each.

Pronunciation and Sound

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Pronunciation

Estonian Pronunciation Guide: Γ΅, Γ€, ΓΆ, ΓΌ and the Three Vowel Lengths

The distinctive Γ΅ vowel, front vowels, first-syllable stress, and the three length degrees that change word meaning.

Vocabulary and Phrases

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Phrases

Estonian Greetings & Essential Phrases β€” The Complete Guide

Tere, tere hommikust, nΓ€gemist β€” all the everyday Estonian greetings, formal vs informal, and essential daily phrases.

Estonian for Work

Many people learn Estonian to qualify for a specific job. Estonia sets a legal Estonian level for many regulated professions β€” here's what each role needs, the vocabulary to learn, and how to pass the exam.

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Start Here

Estonian for Work: What Language Level Each Job Requires

The pillar guide β€” which CEFR level each profession needs by law, essential workplace phrases, and where to start.

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Reference

Estonian Language Requirements by Job (2026)

A complete reference table of the Estonian level required for healthcare, safety, transport, education and public-sector jobs.

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Healthcare

Estonian for Nurses & Care Workers

The B2 requirement, the Terviseamet register, and the ward vocabulary and patient phrases you actually need.

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Vocabulary

Estonian Medical Vocabulary: 150+ Words

Body, symptoms, medications, the doctor's office and emergencies β€” a reference for healthcare workers and patients alike.

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Safety

Estonian for Security Guards (TurvatΓΆΓΆtaja)

The 2024 TurvaTS rules, a guard's real powers and limits, and the vocabulary and phrases for the job.

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Transport

Estonian for Taxi & Ride-Hail Drivers

Licensing, the B1 requirement, passenger phrases and the traffic facts every driver must know.

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Transport

Estonian for Bus & Truck Drivers

CPC / ametipΓ€devus, rest-time rules, vehicle and cargo vocabulary, and passenger phrases.

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Service

Estonian for Customer Service & Retail

Consumer-law basics, VAT, and the greeting, sales, payment and complaint phrases that win customers.

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Education

Estonian for Teachers

The C1 requirement, the 2026 change for assistant teachers, and classroom vocabulary and phrases.

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Exam

The Estonian Language Exam (Tasemeeksam)

Levels A2–C1, the four parts, the pass mark, and how to register and prepare with Harno.

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Citizenship

The B1 Citizenship Language Exam

What Estonian naturalisation requires: the B1 exam plus the constitution and citizenship-act test.

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Interview

The Estonian Job Interview

Common questions, strong answer phrases, CV and cover-letter basics, and how to state your language level.

Living & Working in Estonia

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Expat Guide

Learning Estonian for Work & Life in Estonia

Relocating to e-Estonia's tech economy? Why Estonian still matters even though English is widely spoken β€” and the A1–C1 path.

Comparisons and Context

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Language Comparison

Estonian vs Finnish: How Similar Are They, Really?

Shared roots, false friends, three vowel lengths vs two, the invariant negation, and the quotative mood Finnish lacks.

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App Reviews

Best Apps to Learn Estonian in 2026 β€” Honest Ranking

Speakly, Ling, Mango, uTalk and EstoniaSpeak compared β€” and why Duolingo isn't an option for Estonian at all.