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The 1000 most common Estonian words [Complete List]

We made this list of the thousand most common Estonian words by doing a statistical analysis of a large collection of articles written in Estonian.

In this Estonian frequency dictionary, you will see:

nouns such as “töö” (work), “lumi” (snow), “armastus” (love), and “sõber” (friend)
adjectives like “ilus” (beautiful), “õnnelik” (happy), “sõbralik” (friendly), and “hea” (good)
verbs like “õppima” (to learn), “mõistma” (to understand), “õpetama” (to teach), and “rääkima” (to talk)
pronouns, including “mina” (I), “sina” (you), and “keegi” (someone)

And many more Estonian vocabulary words.

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Show comments for some of the words

olema

[verb]

(to be)
ja

[conjunction]

(and)
see

[pronoun]

(this)

The Estonian language has no definite or indefinite articles. Hence the demonstrative pronoun see is frequently used instead.
et

[conjunction]

(that)
ei

[verb]

(not)
mina

[pronoun]

(I)

In Estonian, the first-person singular pronoun is mina, and the corresponding pronoun in Finnish is minä. These words are cognates, meaning they both descend from an etymological ancestor.
kui

[conjunction]

(if)
tema

[pronoun]

(he / she)

Estonian is a genderless language hence this pronoun is the same for both genders.
saama

[verb]

(to get)

This Estonian verb has several possible meanings: in its transitive form, it can mean “to receive”, but it can also mean “to become” when used with the translative grammatical case.
ka

[adverb]

(too)
mis

[pronoun]

(what)
ning

[conjunction]

(and)
oma

[adjective]

(own)
aasta

[noun]

(year)
aga

[conjunction]

(but)
Eesti

[proper noun]

(Estonia)
siis

[adverb]

(then)
kes

[pronoun]

(who)
tulema

[verb]

(to come)
tegema

[verb]

(to do)
pidama

[verb]

(to keep)
nii

[adverb]

(so)
üks

[numeral]

(one)
ise

[pronoun]

(oneself)
või

[conjunction]

(or)
võima

[verb]

(can)
kõik

[determiner]

(all)
teine

[adjective]

(second, other)
sina

[pronoun]

(you)
inimene

[noun]

(human)

The Estonian word inimene and the Finnish word ihminen are cognates because they have the same etymological origin.
minema

[verb]

(to go)
aeg

[noun]

(time)
juba

[adverb]

(already)
ütlema

[verb]

(to say)
kuid

[conjunction]

(but)
veel

[adverb]

(yet)
võtma

[verb]

(to take)
jääma

[verb]

(to stay)
uus

[adjective]

(new)
palju

[adverb]

(a lot)
väga

[adverb]

(very)
laps

[noun]

(child)
andma

[verb]

(to give)
kas

[particle]
Pärnu

[proper noun]

This word is the name of a city in Estonia.
sest

[conjunction]

(because)
suur

[adjective]

(large)
välja

[adverb]

(out)
töö

[noun]

(work)

The Estonian word “töö” and the Finnish word “työ” both mean “work.” They are cognates, so these terms have the same origin.
hakkama

[verb]
hea

[adjective]

(good)
kaks

[numeral]

(two)
kus

[adverb]

(where)
üle

[preposition]

(over)
ära

[adverb]

(away)
kord

[noun]

(time)
selline

[adjective]

(such)
nagu

[adverb]

(like)
esimene

[adjective]

(first)
riik

[noun]

(country)
päev

[noun]

(day)

The Estonian word “päev” (which means “day”) is fairly similar to the corresponding Finnish word (päivä).
iga

[determiner]

(each)
miski

[pronoun]

(something)
mõni

[adjective]

(some)
rääkima

[verb]

(to talk)
käima

[verb]
mitte

[adverb]

(not)
asi

[noun]

(thing)
nägema

[verb]

(to see)
teadma

[verb]

(to know)
leidma

[verb]

(to find)
eest

[adverb]

(from the front)
panema

[verb]

(to put)
vaatama

[verb]
pärast

[noun]

(after)
tahtma

[verb]
mees

[noun]

(man)
sõna

[noun]

(word)
küll

[adverb]
koht

[noun]

(place)
nüüd

[adverb]

(now)
peale

[preposition]

(except)
Tallinn

[proper noun]

Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia.
kuidas

[adverb]

(how)
rohkem

[adverb]

(more)
enam

[adverb]

(more)
sama

[pronoun]

(same)
võimalus

[noun]

(opportunity)
ikka

[adverb]

(still)
vastu

[preposition]

(against)
viimane

[adjective]

(final)
linn

[noun]

(city)

The Estonian word “linn,” which means “city,” is easy to remember because it is like the ending of the word Tallinn (the name of Estonia’s capital). This term is also similar to the Finnish word “linna”, which means “castle.”
tagasi

[adverb]

(back)
jõudma

[verb]

(to arrive)
samuti

[adverb]

(as well)
ju

[adverb]
kool

[noun]

(school)
kokku

[noun]

(together)
juht

[noun]

(leader)
keegi

[pronoun]

(someone)
läbi

[adverb]

(through)
Euroopa

[proper noun]
osa

[noun]

(part)
ainult

[adverb]

(only)
kõige

[adverb]
elu

[noun]

(life)
noor

[noun]

(young)
arvama

[verb]

(to think)
võimalik

[adjective]

(possible)
kolm

[numeral]

(three)
tooma

[verb]

(to bring)
kroon

[noun]

(crown)

The Estonian word “kroon” (crown) was the name of Estonia’s currency before the country switched to the euro.
raha

[noun]

(money)
koos

[preposition]

(together)
siin

[adverb]

(here)
ette

[adverb]

(ahead)
kasutama

[verb]

(to use)
kohta

[noun]
enne

[preposition]

(before)
mingi

[determiner]
seal

[pronoun]

(there)
kuna

[conjunction]

(because)
kell

[noun]

(clock)
ega

[conjunction]

(nor)
just

[adverb]

(exactly)
mitu

[pronoun]

(several)
ehk

[conjunction]

(or)
praegu

[adverb]
naine

[noun]

(woman)
pool

[noun]

(side)
auto

[noun]

(car)
toimuma

[verb]

(to take place)
kogu

[noun]

(body)
pakkuma

[verb]

(to offer)
küsimus

[noun]

(question)

The Estonian word “küsimus” (question) has the same origin as the Finnish term “kysymys” (which can mean “question” or “issue”).
kirjutama

[verb]

(to write)
muu

[pronoun]

(other)
kaasa

[adverb]

(with)
Tartu

[proper noun]

Tartu is the name of a large city in Estonia.
mõtlema

[verb]

(to think)
kuu

[noun]

(moon, month)
kodu

[noun]

(home)
siiski

[adverb]
väike

[adjective]

(small)
nädal

[noun]

(week)

The Estonian word “nädal” (week) originates from the Proto-Slavic language. It has the same origin as the Czech word “neděle” (which means “Sunday”).
ootama

[verb]

(to wait)
kindlasti

[adverb]

(definitely)
järgmine

[adjective]

(next)
maja

[noun]

(house)
sõitma

[verb]

(to drive)
isegi

[adverb]

(even)
tundma

[verb]

(to feel)
aitama

[verb]

(to help)
hind

[noun]

(price)
suutma

[verb]

(to be able to)
kuni

[preposition]

(until)
soovima

[verb]

(to wish)
mõte

[noun]

(thought)

The word “mõte” (thought) comes from the verb “mõtlema” (to think), which also appears in this Estonian frequency dictionary.
täna

[adverb]

(today)

The Estonian adverb “täna” (today) is similar to the corresponding Finnish term, which is “tänään”.
lihtsalt

[adverb]

(simply)
alla

[preposition]

(down)
parem

[adjective]

(better)
erinev

[adjective]

(different)
käsi

[noun]

(hand)
vald

[noun]

(municipality)
juurde

[noun]
mäng

[noun]

(game)
näitama

[verb]

(to show)
hästi

[adverb]

(well)
probleem

[noun]

(problem)
protsent

[noun]

(percent)
jätma

[verb]

(to leave)
tee

[noun]

(way)
eriti

[adverb]

(especially)
miks

[pronoun]

(why)
liige

[noun]
euro

[noun]

(euro)
eelmine

[adjective]

(previous)
järgi

[preposition]

(according to)
lõpp

[noun]

(ending)
elama

[verb]

(to live)
edasi

[adverb]

(forward)
tulemus

[noun]

(result)
jooksul

[noun]

(during)
lugema

[verb]

(to read)
viis

[numeral]

(five)
ostma

[verb]

(to buy)
neli

[numeral]

(four)
miljon

[numeral]

(million)
parim

[adjective]

(best)
sisse

[postposition]

(in)
õpilane

[noun]

(student)
oluline

[adjective]

(important)
hoidma

[verb]

(to keep)
tund

[noun]

(hour)
algus

[noun]

(beginning)
lisama

[verb]

(to add)
kohe

[adverb]

(immediately)
tekkima

[verb]

(to arise)
vahel

[adverb]

(sometimes)
silm

[noun]

(eye)
valima

[verb]

(to choose)
isik

[noun]

(person)
pilt

[noun]

(picture)
alati

[adverb]

(always)
otsustama

[verb]

(to decide)
vana

[adjective]

(old)

The Estonian adjective “vana” means “old,” and it has the same origin as the Finnish adjective “vanha”.
päris

[adverb]

(quite)
oskama

[verb]

(to be able to)
pea

[noun]

(head)
küsima

[verb]

(to ask)
otsus

[noun]

(decision)
kinnitama

[verb]

(to confirm)
õpetaja

[noun]

(teacher)
rahvas

[noun]

(people)
lubama

[verb]

(to allow)
vähemalt

[adverb]

(at least)
alles

[adverb]

(still)
töötama

[verb]

(to work)
keel

[noun]

(language)
hetk

[noun]

(moment)
muutma

[verb]

(to change)
Liit

[proper noun]

(Union)
otsima

[verb]

(to search)
tänav

[noun]

(street)

When you visit Estonia, you might see the word “tänav” on street name signs. That word itself means “street.” For example, Pikk tänav is a street in the Old Town of Tallinn (Estonia’s capital).
pere

[noun]

(family)
maha

[adverb]

(down)
vajalik

[adjective]

(necessary)
muutuma

[verb]

(to change)
saatma

[verb]
all

[postposition]

(below)
muidugi

[adverb]

(of course)
laskma

[verb]

(to let)
ees

[postposition]

(in front of)
vesi

[noun]

(water)
õppima

[verb]

(to learn)
õige

[adjective]

(correct)
lugu

[noun]

(story)
tunduma

[verb]

(seem)
abi

[noun]

(help)
tegelikult

[adverb]

(actually)
Soome

[proper noun]

(Finland)

You might not have guessed, but “Soome” is the Estonian word for “Finland.” This term is related to “Suomi” (the word for Finland in Finnish).
üles

[adverb]

(up)
selge

[adjective]

(clear)
raske

[adjective]

(difficult)
maa

[noun]

(land)
pikk

[adjective]

(long)
tegevus

[noun]

(activity)
kolmas

[adjective]

(third)
jutt

[noun]

(talk)
müüma

[verb]

(to sell)
õhtu

[noun]

(evening)
aru

[noun]

(reason)
looma

[verb]

(to create)
juures

[noun]

(at)
ilma

[preposition]

(without)
lootma

[verb]

(to hope)
valmis

[adjective]

(ready)
meel

[noun]

(sense)
seadus

[noun]

(law)
ema

[noun]

(mother)
üsna

[adverb]

(quite)
eesti

[adjective]

(estonian)
suvi

[noun]

(summer)
sinna

[noun]

(there)
asuma

[verb]
vanem

[adjective]

(older)
kunagi

[adverb]

(ever)
kümme

[numeral]

(ten)
küla

[noun]

(village)
võitma

[verb]

(to win)
vastama

[verb]

(to answer)
valitsus

[noun]

(government)
huvi

[noun]

(interest)
praegune

[adjective]

(current)
tähendama

[verb]

(to mean)
võistlus

[noun]

(competition)
ilmselt

[adverb]

(probably)
kinni

[adverb]

(closed)
meeskond

[noun]

(team)
tänavu

[adverb]

(this year)
punkt

[noun]

(point)
poiss

[noun]

(boy)
eestlane

[noun]

(Estonian)
tõttu

[postposition]

(because of)
arv

[noun]

(number)
paluma

[verb]
alus

[noun]

(base)
vajama

[verb]

(to need)
poole

[noun]
politsei

[noun]

(police)
klass

[noun]

(class)
õigus

[noun]

(right)
algama

[verb]

(to begin)
nimi

[noun]

(name)
selgitama

[verb]

(to explain)
kuuluma

[verb]

(to belong)
püüdma

[verb]

(to catch)
kindel

[adjective]

(certain)
lõpetama

[verb]

(to stop, to end)
juhtuma

[verb]

(to happen)
valimine

[noun]

(election)
täis

[adjective]

(full)
meeldima

[verb]

(to like)
omanik

[noun]

(owner)
korter

[noun]

(apartment)
umbes

[adverb]

(about)
ent

[conjunction]

(but)
ümber

[preposition]

(around)
kandma

[verb]

(to wear)
märkima

[verb]

(to note, to mark)
tegu

[noun]

(action)
soov

[noun]

(desire)
kasvama

[verb]

(to grow)
seisma

[verb]

(to stand)
uskuma

[verb]

(to believe)
tasu

[noun]

(remuneration, fee)
eile

[adverb]

(yesterday)
sobima

[verb]

(to fit)
palk

[noun]

(salary)
lööma

[verb]

(to hit)
kuulma

[verb]

(to hear)
tunnistama

[verb]

(to admit)
koer

[noun]

(dog)
hommik

[noun]

(morning)
kohaselt

[postposition]

(according to)
tohtima

[verb]
avama

[verb]

(to open)
raamat

[noun]

(book)
nõudma

[verb]

(to demand)
tase

[noun]

(level)
kiri

[noun]

(letter)
jälle

[adverb]

(again)
minut

[noun]

(minute)
sõber

[noun]

(friend)

This Estonian word is very different from the corresponding words in Latvian and Lithuanian (which are respectively “draugs” and “draugas”).
ehitama

[verb]

(to build)
hoone

[noun]

(building)
mets

[noun]

(forest)
kuhu

[adverb]

(where)
toode

[noun]

(product)
aprill

[noun]

(april)
ajama

[verb]

(to drive)
tõusma

[verb]

(to rise, to increase)
terve

[adjective]

(healthy)
kohus

[noun]

(court)
sealt

[noun]

(from there)
lahti

[adverb]

(open)
astuma

[verb]

(to step)
isa

[noun]

(father)
kuus

[numeral]

(six)
ilus

[adjective]

(beautiful)
jagama

[verb]

(to share)
sööma

[verb]

(to eat)
jalg

[noun]

(leg)
kõrval

[noun]

(beside)
elanik

[noun]

(resident)
ruum

[noun]

(room)
idee

[noun]

(idea)
uks

[noun]

(door)
võit

[noun]

(victory)
olev

[adjective]
huvitav

[adjective]

(interesting)
taga

[adverb]

(behind)
vähe

[adverb]

(a little)
pääsema

[verb]

(to escape)
alates

[preposition]

(since)
lihtne

[adjective]

(simple)
kohtumine

[noun]

(encounter)
klubi

[noun]

(club)
keskmine

[adjective]

(middle)
mööda

[adverb]

(past)
kaotama

[verb]

(to lose)
tugev

[adjective]

(strong)
märts

[noun]

(march)
täitma

[verb]

(to fulfill)
mõistma

[verb]

(to understand)
kevad

[noun]

(spring)
täiesti

[adverb]

(completely)
vastus

[noun]

(answer)
vist

[adverb]
jne

[phrase]
ala

[noun]

(area)
kiiresti

[adverb]

(quickly)
siia

[adverb]

(here)
jätkama

[verb]

(to continue)
täpselt

[adverb]

(exactly)
arst

[noun]

(doctor)
kaudu

[preposition]

(through)
kaduma

[verb]

(vanish)
hääl

[noun]

(voice)
proovima

[verb]

(to try)
veebruar

[noun]

(February)
tekitama

[verb]

(to cause)
paik

[noun]

(place)
maakond

[noun]

(county)
jaanuar

[noun]

(january)
loomulikult

[adverb]

(naturally)
tore

[adjective]

(great)
kasu

[noun]

(benefit)
endine

[adjective]

(former)
jätkuma

[verb]
istuma

[verb]

(to sit)
meeter

[noun]

(meter)
talv

[noun]

(winter)
sügis

[noun]

(autumn)
mai

[noun]

(May)
film

[noun]

(film)
kirik

[noun]

(church)
peal

[noun]

(on)
tänu

[preposition]
kahju

[noun]

(damage)
soe

[adjective]

(warm)
vahetama

[verb]

(to change)
siduma

[verb]

(to bind)
järel

[adverb]

(after)
vaba

[adjective]

(free)
haigla

[noun]

(hospital)
pood

[noun]

(shop)
ilm

[noun]

(weather)
viga

[noun]

(fault)
tüdruk

[noun]

(girl)
sees

[postposition]

(inside)
september

[noun]

(September)
leht

[noun]

(leaf)
juhtima

[verb]

(to lead)
suhe

[noun]

(relationship)
programm

[noun]

(program)
piir

[noun]

(border)
muusika

[noun]

(music)
jah

[adverb]

(yes)
Läti

[proper noun]

(Latvia)
hindama

[verb]

(to evaluate)
tingimus

[noun]

(condition)
kiire

[adjective]

(fast)
Rootsi

[proper noun]

(Sweden)
puu

[noun]

(tree)

Forests cover about half of the territory of Estonia, which explains why the word for “tree” appears in the 1000 most common Estonian words. In addition, this word is the same in Finnish. For more similar words, see this comparison of Finnish and Estonian.
meenutama

[verb]

(to remember)
ühiskond

[noun]

(society)

This Estonian noun is related to the adjective « ühine » which means “common”.
ringi

[noun]
maks

[noun]
vastavalt

[adverb]

(accordingly)
kõrge

[adjective]

(high)
tuba

[noun]

(room)
majandus

[noun]

(economy)
Jaan

[proper noun]

Jaan is a common Estonian male name.
süsteem

[noun]

(system)
võrra

[postposition]

(by)
juuni

[noun]

(June)
uuesti

[adverb]

(again)
Ukraina

[proper noun]
november

[noun]

(november)
kodanik

[noun]

(citizen)
järjest

[adverb]
kust

[adverb]

(where ... from)
amet

[noun]
jõud

[noun]

(strength)
tõmbama

[verb]

(to pull)
kaup

[noun]

(goods)
foto

[noun]

(photo)
laul

[noun]

(song)
jooksma

[verb]

(to run)
mure

[noun]

(concern)
toit

[noun]

(food)
rada

[noun]

(track)
vastane

[noun]

(opponent)
seas

[noun]
oktoober

[noun]

(October)
ühine

[adjective]

(common)
artikkel

[noun]

(article)
külm

[adjective]

(cold)

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is at about the same latitude as Juneau, the capital of Alaska (the U.S. state). So the Estonian adjective “külm” (which means “cold”) is a useful term to know.
selg

[noun]

(back)
mil

[adverb]
loom

[noun]

(animal)

The Estonian word “loom” (animal) is related to the verb “looma” (which means “to create”).
turg

[noun]

(market)
kultuur

[noun]

(culture)
Narva

[proper noun]

Narva is the name of a city in Estonia.
vene

[adjective]

(russian)
langema

[verb]

(to fall)
tuhat

[numeral]
Viljandi

[proper noun]

This word is the name of a town in Estonia.
Kalev

[proper noun]

The word Kalev comes from “Tallinna Kalev”, the name of an Estonian football club.
juuli

[noun]

(july)
Toomas

[proper noun]
osas

[noun]
vahe

[noun]

(difference)
suurus

[noun]

(size)
loodus

[noun]

(nature)
valdkond

[noun]

(field)
vastav

[adjective]

(corresponding)
tervis

[noun]

(health)
üritama

[verb]

(to try)
halb

[adjective]

(bad)
laud

[noun]

(board)
teadmine

[noun]

(knowledge)
abil

[noun]
reede

[noun]

(Friday)
tavaline

[adjective]

(usual)
buss

[noun]

(bus)
lahkuma

[verb]

(to leave)
samm

[noun]

(step)
vara

[noun]

(property)
kohtuma

[verb]

(to meet)
number

[noun]

(number)
arve

[noun]

(bill)
süda

[noun]

(heart)
kallis

[adjective]

(dear)
ainus

[adjective]

(only)
tuttav

[adjective]

(familiar)
värav

[noun]

(gate)
muuseum

[noun]

(museum)
elav

[adjective]

(lively)
pank

[noun]

(bank)
sündima

[verb]

(to be born)
detsember

[noun]

(december)
talu

[noun]

(farm)
kaua

[adverb]

(long)
august

[noun]

(august)
pidu

[noun]

(party)
poeg

[noun]

(son)
tihti

[adverb]

(often)
seitse

[numeral]

(seven)
dokument

[noun]

(document)
nägu

[noun]

(face)
tuul

[noun]

(wind)
kaheksa

[numeral]

(eight)
kasutaja

[noun]

(user)
tühi

[adjective]

(empty)
kaitsma

[verb]
helistama

[verb]

(to call)
märk

[noun]

(sign)
võim

[noun]

(power)
unustama

[verb]

(to forget)
arutama

[verb]

(to discuss)
oht

[noun]

(danger)
oskus

[noun]

(skill)
paistma

[verb]
sõda

[noun]

(war)
a

[noun]
ühendus

[noun]

(association)
poliitik

[noun]

(politician)
poliitika

[noun]

(politics)
puhas

[adjective]

(clean)
mäletama

[verb]

(to remember)
õnneks

[adverb]

(fortunately)
tavaliselt

[adverb]

(usually)
sisu

[noun]

(content)
magama

[verb]

(to sleep)
korrus

[noun]

(floor)
lumi

[noun]

(snow)

Given the Nordic climate in Estonian, it is not surprising that the word for “snow” is a common Estonian vocabulary word. This word is the same in Finnish.
otsa

[noun]
saabuma

[verb]

(to arrive)
tähtis

[adjective]

(important)
pöörama

[verb]

(to turn)
võitja

[noun]

(winner)
aadress

[noun]

(address)
näide

[noun]

(example)
haridus

[noun]

(education)
teater

[noun]

(theater)
kestma

[verb]

(to last)
lootus

[noun]

(hope)
rand

[noun]

(beach)
Jüri

[proper noun]
külg

[noun]

(side)
keskus

[noun]

(center)
ratas

[noun]

(wheel)
tekst

[noun]

(text)
avatud

[adjective]

(open)
sada

[numeral]

(hundred)
must

[adjective]

(black)
kvaliteet

[noun]

(quality)
vedama

[verb]

(to carry)
katma

[verb]

(to cover)
rõõm

[noun]

(joy)
arvuti

[noun]

(computer)
eriline

[adjective]

(special)
kasv

[noun]

(growth)
valge

[adjective]

(white)
muudatus

[noun]

(change)
ring

[noun]

(circle)
äkki

[adverb]

(suddenly)
saal

[noun]

(hall)

This Estonian vocabulary word is a borrowing of the German word “Saal”.
viies

[adjective]

(fifth)
isiklik

[adjective]

(personal)
suu

[noun]

(mouth)
meri

[noun]

(sea)

Estonia is situated next to the Baltic Sea, and its capital (Tallinn) is right by the sea. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Estonian word “meri” (which means “sea”) is often used.
õpetama

[verb]

(to teach)
aken

[noun]

(window)
kerge

[adjective]

(easy)
kiitma

[verb]

(to praise)
lükkama

[verb]

(to push)
sein

[noun]

(wall)
öö

[noun]

(night)

The Estonian word “öö” (which means “night”) is both common and easy to remember because of its simple and distinctive spelling. The corresponding Finnish word is spelled “yö” and has the same origin.
lava

[noun]

(stage)
edu

[noun]

(success)
rahul

[noun]
parandama

[verb]

(to repair)
huvitama

[verb]

(to interest)
määr

[noun]

(rate, norm)
nautima

[verb]

(to enjoy)
sajand

[noun]

(century)
miljard

[numeral]

(billion)
hobune

[noun]

(horse)
õnn

[noun]

(luck)
võõras

[adjective]

(foreign, strange)

The Estonian adjective “võõras” and the Finnish adjective “vieras” have the same origin.
liit

[noun]

(union)
värske

[adjective]

(fresh)
toimetama

[verb]

(deliver)
Leedu

[proper noun]

(Lithuania)
suund

[noun]

(direction)
hing

[noun]

(soul)
arutelu

[noun]

(discussion)
rida

[noun]

(row)
kippuma

[verb]
puudutama

[verb]

(to touch)
tubli

[adjective]

(good)
ilmuma

[verb]

(to appear)
millal

[adverb]

(when)
vale

[adjective]

(false)
luba

[noun]

(permit)
nahk

[noun]

(skin)
Moskva

[proper noun]
masin

[noun]

(machine)
homme

[adverb]

(tomorrow)
alkohol

[noun]

(alcohol)
Poola

[proper noun]
vanus

[noun]

(age)
hotell

[noun]

(hotel)
väljas

[adverb]

(outside)
tõeline

[adjective]

(real)
reis

[noun]

(trip)
kannatama

[verb]

(to suffer)
tükk

[noun]

(piece)
püsima

[verb]

(to stay)
ääres

[noun]
madal

[adjective]

(low)
üheksa

[numeral]

(nine)
neljas

[adjective]

(fourth)
algul

[adverb]

(at first)
surema

[verb]

(to die)
hirm

[noun]

(fear)
peamiselt

[adverb]

(mainly)
paber

[noun]

(paper)
kuulutama

[verb]

(to declare)
pilet

[noun]

(ticket)
laev

[noun]

(ship)
Andres

[proper noun]
kala

[noun]

(fish)
komme

[noun]

(custom)
kaart

[noun]

(map)
vend

[noun]

(brother)
mõju

[noun]

(effect)
laulma

[verb]

(to sing)
puutuma

[verb]

(to touch)
organisatsioon

[noun]

(organization)
telefon

[noun]

(telephone)
video

[noun]

(video)
tarvis

[adverb]

(needed)
seltskond

[noun]
tulev

[participle]
haigus

[noun]

(disease)
jõgi

[noun]

(river)

This Estonian word is very different from the corresponding words in Latvian and Lithuanian (which are respectively “upe and “upė”). See here for a language comparison of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian.
vähene

[adjective]

(little)
sadam

[noun]

(harbor)

Not every language has the term for “harbor” among its thousand most common words. But Estonian does. Probably because the capital of Estonia (Tallinn) is situated next to a harbor.
külastama

[verb]

(to visit)
plats

[noun]

(square)
mainima

[verb]

(to mention)
kätte

[noun]
muutus

[noun]

(change)
kasvatama

[verb]

(to grow)
järv

[noun]

(lake)

In Estonia, you can see several large lakes, including Lake Võrtsjärv (over a hundred square miles) and Lake Peipus (on the border between Estonia and Russia with an area of over a thousand square miles). It makes sense, therefore, to see the word “järv” (lake) appear in this Estonian frequency dictionary.
sekund

[noun]

(second)
aed

[noun]

(garden)
grupp

[noun]

(group)
vältima

[verb]

(to avoid)
haige

[adjective]

(sick)
kass

[noun]

(cat)
keskkond

[noun]

(environment)
kõne

[noun]

(speech)
Peeter

[proper noun]
tegelane

[noun]

(character)
vorm

[noun]

(a form)
õhk

[noun]

(air)
värv

[noun]

(paint)
kaitse

[noun]

(defence)
rong

[noun]

(train)

Estonia is about 17 thousand square miles, which is roughly the size of Switzerland. That makes it easy to travel by train. No surprise, therefore, that the word “rong” (train) is frequently used in Estonian.
roheline

[adjective]

(green)
varsti

[adverb]

(soon)
lühike

[adjective]

(short)
suunama

[verb]

(to direct)
pind

[noun]

(surface)
venelane

[noun]

(Russian)
liikumine

[noun]

(motion)
segama

[verb]

(to mix)
lähedal

[adjective]
üksi

[adverb]

(alone)
ohtlik

[adjective]

(dangerous)
kauplus

[noun]

(shop)
kaunis

[adjective]

(beautiful)
riie

[noun]

(cloth)
Ilves

[proper noun]
omama

[verb]

(to own)
tütar

[noun]

(daughter)
esindama

[verb]

(to represent)
esile

[noun]
näitleja

[noun]

(actor)
tuli

[noun]

(light)
keerama

[verb]

(to turn)
päike

[noun]

(sun)
lendama

[verb]

(to fly)
toime

[noun]

(effect)
kaamera

[noun]

(camera)
üldine

[adjective]

(general)
tõde

[noun]

(truth)
kasulik

[adjective]

(useful)
köök

[noun]

(kitchen)
jooma

[verb]

(to drink)
sõiduk

[noun]

(vehicle)

This Estonian noun is related to the verb « sõitma » which means “to drive”, which also appears in this Estonian vocabulary frequency list.
Rüütel

[proper noun]

This word is an Estonian surname.
käitumine

[noun]

(behavior)
meelest

[noun]
ravim

[noun]

(medicine)
hull

[adjective]

(crazy)
neiu

[noun]
vihm

[noun]

(rain)
õu

[noun]

(outside)
katus

[noun]

(roof)
armastus

[noun]

(love)
armastama

[verb]

(to love)
kunst

[noun]

(art)
tuletama

[verb]

(to derive)
arendama

[verb]

(to develop)
katse

[noun]

(experiment)
Hiina

[proper noun]

(China)
Tiit

[proper noun]

Tiit is a common Estonian male name.
kivi

[noun]

(stone)
müüja

[noun]

(seller)
surm

[noun]

(death)
mood

[noun]

(fashion)

The Estonian word “mood” means “fashion.” It comes from the German word “Mode,” which comes from the French word “mode.”
laager

[noun]

(camp)
jagu

[noun]

(section, part)
seletama

[verb]

(to explain)
ravi

[noun]

(treatment)
tegija

[noun]

(doer, maker)
Ameerika

[proper noun]

(America)
lennuk

[noun]

(aeroplane)
kuulutus

[noun]

(advertisement)
rühm

[noun]

(group)
jää

[noun]

(ice)

The Estonian word “jää” means “ice” (not “ice cream,” that word is “jäätis” in Estonian). During the winter in Estonia, the temperature is often below freezing, so it makes sense that this is a frequently-used word.
peagi

[adverb]

(soon)
tähistama

[verb]

(to celebrate, to mark)
punane

[adjective]

(red)
tõsi

[noun]

(truth)
inglise

[adjective]

(english)
õnnelik

[adjective]

(happy)
traditsioon

[noun]

(tradition)
ots

[noun]

(end)
järgnema

[verb]

(to follow)
põlema

[verb]

(to burn)
õppimine

[noun]

(learning)
tehnika

[noun]

(technology)
asutus

[noun]

(institution)
selts

[noun]

(society)
tellimus

[noun]

(order)
pall

[noun]

(ball)
vahetus

[noun]

(change)
auk

[noun]

(hole)
pensionär

[noun]

(pensioner)
heitma

[verb]

(to throw)
perekond

[noun]

(family)
eel

[noun]
sulgema

[verb]

(to close)
reklaam

[noun]

(advertisement)

This Estonian vocabulary word is a borrowing of the French word “réclame”.
maitse

[noun]

(taste)
objekt

[noun]

(object)
Itaalia

[proper noun]
vabadus

[noun]

(freedom)
Andrus

[proper noun]
keha

[noun]

(body)
sild

[noun]

(bridge)
kõva

[adjective]

(hard)
sõnum

[noun]

(message)
kiirus

[noun]

(speed)
teel

[noun]
mugav

[adjective]

(comfortable)
hukkuma

[verb]
naaber

[noun]

(neighbour)
valgus

[noun]

(light)

The Estonian word “valgus” (light) and the Hungarian word “világ” (world) have the same origin. Estonian, Finnish, and Hungarian are in the same linguist family (they are Uralic languages).
nõu

[noun]

(advice)
hammas

[noun]

(tooth)
saar

[noun]

(island)

The frequent use of the Estonian word “saar” (island) reflects the fact that Estonia has many islands, the largest of which is Saaremaa. That island measures about one thousand square miles, almost exactly the size of Rhode Island (the smallest state in the U.S.).
kraad

[noun]

(degree)
taim

[noun]

(plant)
käsitlema

[verb]

(to handle)
vabalt

[adverb]

(freely)
lemmik

[noun]

(favourite)
usaldama

[verb]

(to trust)
nurk

[noun]

(corner)
pime

[adjective]

(blind)
rajama

[verb]

(to establish)
päästma

[verb]

(to save)
käituma

[verb]

(to behave)
füüsiline

[adjective]

(physical)
tüüp

[noun]

(type)
rahu

[noun]

(peace)
Urmas

[proper noun]

This word is a common Estonian male name.
hääletama

[verb]

(to vote)
arenema

[verb]

(to develop)
tark

[adjective]

(smart)
aina

[adverb]

(always)
muretsema

[verb]

(to worry)
taoline

[adjective]
kaal

[noun]
kaasas

[adverb]

(with)
kaugel

[adverb]

(far away)
tootma

[verb]

(to produce)
Indrek

[proper noun]
sport

[noun]

(sports)
üksik

[adjective]

(sole)
lubadus

[noun]

(promise)
kolima

[verb]

(to move)
puhkus

[noun]

(vacation)
Priit

[proper noun]
omandama

[verb]

(to acquire)
Margus

[proper noun]
õde

[noun]

(sister)
tegelik

[adjective]

(actual)
lõuna

[noun]

(south)
tonn

[noun]

(ton)
ühendama

[verb]
tants

[noun]

(dance)
põhi

[noun]

(north)
tõestama

[verb]

(to prove)
soomlane

[noun]

(Finn)
kõrv

[noun]

(ear)
kurb

[adjective]

(sad)
käik

[noun]

(move)
hoog

[noun]
lai

[adjective]

(wide)
eri

[adjective]
Juhan

[proper noun]
Norra

[proper noun]
aine

[noun]

(substance)
haarama

[verb]

(to grab)
püsti

[adverb]

(upright)
laulja

[noun]

(singer)
voor

[noun]

(round)
kena

[adjective]

(nice)
kah

[adverb]

(too)
näima

[verb]
aus

[adjective]

(honest)
rehv

[noun]

(tire)
kütus

[noun]

(fuel)
tänama

[verb]

(to thank)
Riia

[proper noun]
sõdur

[noun]

(soldier)
ese

[noun]

(item)
võitlema

[verb]

(to fight)
Tõnu

[proper noun]

This word is a male name which is common in Estonia.
kuld

[noun]

(gold)
Iraak

[proper noun]
erinevus

[noun]

(difference)
juus

[noun]

(hair)
jälg

[noun]

(trace)
Jaanus

[proper noun]
õlg

[noun]

(shoulder)
kuiv

[adjective]

(dry)
põrand

[noun]

(floor)
usk

[noun]

(faith)
restoran

[noun]

(restaurant)
uhke

[adjective]

(proud)
võime

[noun]

(ability)
jumal

[noun]

(god)
ohver

[noun]

(victim)
täht

[noun]

(star)
paat

[noun]

(boat)
pisike

[adjective]

(tiny)
Rein

[proper noun]
voodi

[noun]

(bed)
mägi

[noun]

(mountain)
au

[noun]

(honor)
kast

[noun]

(box)
põlvkond

[noun]

(generation)
ametlik

[adjective]

(official)
saun

[noun]

(sauna)
ahi

[noun]

(oven)
korjama

[verb]
intervjuu

[noun]

(interview)
ost

[noun]

(purchase)
tasku

[noun]

(pocket)
sünd

[noun]

(birth)
seminar

[noun]

(seminar)
põhjustama

[verb]

(to cause)
lind

[noun]

(bird)
Jaak

[proper noun]
sakslane

[noun]

(german)
hool

[noun]

(care)
laht

[noun]

(bay)
tehas

[noun]

(factory)
allikas

[noun]
taastama

[verb]
leib

[noun]

(bread)
kallas

[noun]

(shore)
relv

[noun]

(weapon)
informatsioon

[noun]

(information)
odav

[adjective]

(cheap)
plaat

[noun]

(plate)
pakk

[noun]

(package)
Mati

[proper noun]
Taani

[proper noun]

(Denmark)
arutlema

[verb]

(to discuss)
kott

[noun]

(bag)
jooks

[noun]

(a run)
kaugele

[adverb]
Kristjan

[proper noun]
kaupa

[noun]
hall

[adjective]

(grey)
tahe

[noun]

(will)
sadama

[verb]

(to rain)
määrus

[noun]

(regulation)
Martin

[proper noun]
nali

[noun]

(joke)
naerma

[verb]

(to laugh)
esindus

[noun]

(representation)
häirima

[verb]

(to disturb)

This Estonian vocabulary word is a borrowing of the Finnish word “häiritä”.
lahtine

[adjective]

(open)
teadlane

[noun]

(scientist)
piirang

[noun]

(limitation)
Ott

[proper noun]
kutse

[noun]

(invitation)
kuum

[adjective]

(hot)
esmalt

[adverb]
lause

[noun]

(sentence)
vägi

[noun]

(force)
liin

[noun]

(line)
põhiline

[adjective]
kirjanik

[noun]

(writer)
isiklikult

[adverb]

(personally)
jõulud

[noun]

(Christmas)
väljendama

[verb]

(to express)
Karl

[proper noun]
kaugus

[noun]

(distance)
põld

[noun]

(field)
Tarmo

[proper noun]
koor

[noun]

(peel)
klaas

[noun]

(glass)
suruma

[verb]

(to press)
tulek

[noun]

(arrival)
näitaja

[noun]

(indicator)
Aivar

[proper noun]
statistika

[noun]

(statistics)
kontor

[noun]

(office)
kinkima

[verb]

(to give)
rikas

[adjective]

(rich)
paiku

[noun]
tihe

[adjective]

(dense)
juurest

[noun]
kanal

[noun]

(channel)
rind

[noun]

(breast)
moodi

[noun]
Kihnu

[proper noun]
ime

[noun]

(miracle)
tunnustama

[verb]
olu

[noun]
seos

[noun]

(connection)
Mai

[proper noun]
õpe

[noun]

(study)
tere

[interjection]

(hello)
armas

[adjective]

(cute)
pehme

[adjective]

(soft)
Tiina

[proper noun]
hüppama

[verb]

(to jump)
varastama

[verb]

(to steal)
kohvik

[noun]

(cafe)
paha

[adjective]

(bad)
komplekt

[noun]

(set)
sügav

[adjective]

(deep)
viitsima

[verb]
lend

[noun]

(flight)
tapma

[verb]

(to kill)
Hispaania

[proper noun]
loll

[adjective]

(stupid)
võrk

[noun]

(net)
eksima

[verb]

(get lost)
jook

[noun]

(drink)
Marko

[proper noun]
eraldama

[verb]

(to separate)
tervik

[noun]
põlv

[noun]

(knee)
kõndima

[verb]

(to walk)
kulgema

[verb]

(to proceed)
Kadri

[proper noun]
võti

[noun]

(key)
liik

[noun]

(species)
Saar

[proper noun]
otsing

[noun]

(search)
muusik

[noun]

(musician)
hunt

[noun]

(wolf)
vaim

[noun]

(spirit)
nina

[noun]

(nose)
lahing

[noun]

(battle)
maine

[noun]

(reputation)
harjutama

[verb]

(to practice)
nõrk

[adjective]

(weak)
Kallas

[proper noun]
kõht

[noun]

(stomach)
teadus

[noun]

(science)
selgitus

[noun]

(explanation)
Meelis

[proper noun]
kuues

[adjective]

(sixth)
peatama

[verb]

(to stop)
kohv

[noun]

(coffee)
murdma

[verb]

(to break)
teos

[noun]
reisija

[noun]

(passenger)
otsimine

[noun]
saatus

[noun]

(fate)
lipp

[noun]

(flag)
vangla

[noun]

(prison)
side

[noun]

(bond)
löök

[noun]
kitsas

[adjective]

(narrow)
tehnoloogia

[noun]

(technology)
Jeesus

[proper noun]
paras

[adjective]
veri

[noun]

(blood)
võlg

[noun]

(debt)
harva

[adverb]

(seldom)
piim

[noun]

(milk)
seitsmes

[adjective]

(seventh)
las

[verb]
saladus

[noun]

(secret)

The Estonian word “saladus” might look a bit like the English word “salad,” but that is just a coincidence. This word means “secret” in Estonian.
ründama

[verb]

(to attack)
mööbel

[noun]

(furniture)

The Estonian word “mööbel” means “furniture.” This term comes from the German word “Möbel,” which comes from the French word “meuble”.
Afganistan

[proper noun]
juur

[noun]

(root)
looming

[noun]

(creation)
pikkus

[noun]

(length)
ristmik

[noun]

(intersection)
mõtlemine

[noun]

(thinking)
mõis

[noun]

(manor)
ase

[noun]
mõõt

[noun]

(measure)
söök

[noun]

(meal)
julge

[adjective]

(brave)
pistma

[verb]

(to put)
suht

[adverb]
koondama

[verb]

(to concentrate)
taevas

[noun]

(sky)
elamine

[noun]

(residence)
Raivo

[proper noun]
püha

[adjective]

(holy)
sõbralik

[adjective]

(friendly)
ennustama

[verb]

(to predict)
medal

[noun]

(medal)
turvaline

[adjective]

(safe)
liiv

[noun]

(sand)
lill

[noun]