“Tere, mina olen Airi, meeldiv tutvuda!” With these words, “Hello, I am Airi, pleased to meet you,” I greet you in Estonian—eesti keel, as we proudly call it in Estonia.
As a native speaker of the Estonian language I feel unique, as I am one among a mere 1.1 million people speaking Estonian globally. It’s a distinction that could be yours too—why not embark on the journey of learning this enchanting, albeit rare, language?
Estonian is part of the Finno-Ugric language family, akin to Finnish, our neighbors’ tongue in Finland. These languages, along with 14 others, are believed to have evolved from a proto-language once spoken across central and northern Russia, extending westward to the Ural Mountains—long before it became known as Russia. The arrival of Slavic tribes led to the dispersion of Finno-Ugric speakers throughout Europe.
Today, approximately 24 million people converse in 16 distinct Finno-Ugric languages, with Finnish and Hungarian being the most widely recognized. These languages are characterized more by their structural similarities and unique features than by a shared vocabulary.
In contrast to the Indo-European languages, such as English, German, and French, the Finno-Ugric family eschews grammatical gender, lacks a future tense, and omits articles and the verb ‘to have.’
Estonia’s history is a tapestry of foreign dominion, where for centuries, Estonian identity was not defined by statehood but by the steadfast adherence to our native tongue and venerable traditions. We are survivors, having not only preserved our language but also reclaimed our sovereignty.
As a small nation, Estonians are adept linguists, fluent in English, Russian, German, and Finnish, ensuring visitors face no language barriers. Yet, nothing endears you to an Estonian more than the effort to speak our language, even if it’s just a few words or phrases.
Discover how Estonian diverges from English, learn about our unique alphabet and its pronunciation.
Should you seek personalized guidance in Estonian, I am at your service. I offer tutoring via Skype, Zoom, or your preferred digital platform. For inquiries, please contact me at info@estlingua.com.