19 Resources to Learn Estonian for Free

About the Estonian Language

The Estonian language, known as Eesti keel, is a fascinating Finno-Ugric language spoken primarily in Estonia, a country located in Northern Europe. It is the official language of Estonia and holds significant cultural and historical importance in the region.

Estonian is spoken by approximately 1.3 million people, including native speakers in Estonia and Estonian-speaking communities in other countries such as Finland, Russia, and Canada. It is also closely related to Finnish and distantly related to Hungarian.

The origins of Estonian can be traced back to the Uralic language family, which includes other languages spoken in Northern Europe and Western Siberia. Estonian evolved from a common Finno-Ugric language and has its own distinct dialects, including the Võro and Seto dialects spoken in specific regions of Estonia.

Estonian is predominantly spoken in Estonia, where it serves as the primary language of communication, education, and administration. It is also widely used in media, literature, and the arts. Estonian is known for its rich oral tradition, including folklore, songs, and poetry.

One interesting aspect of Estonian is its distinctive phonetics and grammar. It has a wide range of vowels and diphthongs, and a complex system of grammatical cases. Estonian also employs a unique pitch accent system, where the pitch of a word can change its meaning.

Estonian uses the Latin alphabet, like many European languages, with additional characters such as ä, ö, and ü. This writing system enables the representation of the Estonian language and facilitates communication through written texts.

Exploring the Estonian language offers insights into the rich cultural heritage, traditions, and history of Estonia. It provides a deeper understanding of the linguistic diversity and the important role that Estonian plays in the cultural fabric of the country and its people.