Lenguia | 1000 Most Common Estonian Words with Audio

Why these 1,000 words matter

Estonian vocabulary is astonishingly top-heavy: the 100 most frequent words make up about half of everything you will ever hear or read, and the top 1,000 cover roughly 85% of everyday speech. Learn these first and most sentences around you turn from noise into language.

The list below is ranked by how often each word actually occurs in spoken Estonian — dictionary forms, with concise English translations, the part of speech, the CEFR level at which learners typically meet the word, and audio for every word in a female and a male voice. Show the top 250, 500 or all 1,000, and flip to A–Z when you want to look something up.

#	Word	Translation	Part of speech	Level
1	ja	and	conjunction	A1
2	on	is; are	verb	A1
3	ei	no; not	particle	A1
4	see	this; it	pronoun	A1
5	et	that (subordinator); so that	conjunction	A1
6	ma	I	pronoun	A1
7	ta	he; she	pronoun	A1
8	oli	was; were	verb	A1
9	kui	if; when; than	conjunction	A1
10	aga	but	conjunction	A1
11	sa	you (singular)	pronoun	A1
12	ka	also; too	adverb	A1
13	nüüd	now	adverb	A1
14	mis	what; which	pronoun	A1
15	ole	be (copula stem/imperative)	verb	A1
16	me	we	pronoun	A1
17	kõik	all; everything; everyone	pronoun	A1
18	siis	then; so	adverb	A1
19	nii	so; this way	adverb	A1
20	või	or	conjunction	A1
21	ju	after all; you know (emphasis)	particle	A1
22	kes	who	pronoun	A1
23	väga	very	adverb	A1
24	nagu	like; as	conjunction	A1
25	oma	one's own	pronoun	A1
26	juba	already	adverb	A1
27	veel	still; yet; more	adverb	A1
28	kus	where	adverb	A1
29	ainult	only	adverb	A1
30	kuidas	how	adverb	A1
31	palju	a lot; much; many	adverb	A1
32	jah	yes	particle	A1
33	sest	because	conjunction	A1
34	noh	well (discourse particle)	particle	A1
35	te	you (plural / formal)	pronoun	A1
36	nad	they	pronoun	A1
37	hea	good	adjective	A1
38	üks	one; a	number	A1
39	siin	here	adverb	A1
40	seal	there	adverb	A1
41	praegu	right now; at present	adverb	A1
42	küll	indeed; surely (emphasis)	particle	A1
43	pole	isn't; aren't (negated copula)	verb	A1
44	kõige	most (superlative marker)	adverb	A1
45	ilma	without	preposition	A1
46	tema	he; she (emphatic)	pronoun	A1
47	ise	oneself; myself; yourself	pronoun	A1
48	mina	I (emphatic)	pronoun	A1
49	ega	nor; and not	conjunction	A1
50	kohe	right away; immediately	adverb	A1
51	olema	to be	verb	A1
52	vahest	maybe; perhaps	adverb	A2
53	saama	to get; to be able to	verb	A1
54	tegema	to do; to make	verb	A1
55	minema	to go	verb	A1
56	tulema	to come	verb	A1
57	tahtma	to want	verb	A1
58	teadma	to know (a fact)	verb	A1
59	nägema	to see	verb	A1
60	andma	to give	verb	A1
61	inimene	person; human	noun	A1
62	aeg	time	noun	A1
63	päev	day	noun	A1
64	aasta	year	noun	A1
65	asi	thing; matter	noun	A1
66	elu	life	noun	A1
67	töö	work; job	noun	A1
68	kaks	two	number	A1
69	kolm	three	number	A1
70	suur	big; large	adjective	A1
71	väike	small; little	adjective	A1
72	uus	new	adjective	A1
73	mees	man	noun	A1
74	naine	woman; wife	noun	A1
75	laps	child	noun	A1
76	kodu	home	noun	A1
77	maja	house	noun	A1
78	sõna	word	noun	A1
79	raha	money	noun	A1
80	vesi	water	noun	A1
81	täna	today	adverb	A1
82	homme	tomorrow	adverb	A1
83	eile	yesterday	adverb	A1
84	siia	here (to here)	adverb	A1
85	sinna	there (to there)	adverb	A1
86	palun	please; here you are	interjection	A1
87	aitäh	thank you	interjection	A1
88	tänan	thanks; I thank (you)	interjection	A1
89	tere	hello; hi	interjection	A1
90	halb	bad	adjective	A1
91	pisut	a little; somewhat	adverb	A1
92	ütlema	to say; to tell	verb	A1
93	rääkima	to speak; to talk	verb	A1
94	küsima	to ask	verb	A1
95	panema	to put; to place	verb	A1
96	võtma	to take	verb	A1
97	sööma	to eat	verb	A1
98	jooma	to drink	verb	A1
99	elama	to live	verb	A1
100	töötama	to work	verb	A1
101	minu	my; mine	pronoun	A1
102	sinu	your; yours (singular)	pronoun	A1
103	meie	our; we (emphatic)	pronoun	A1
104	teie	your; you (plural, emphatic)	pronoun	A1
105	nende	their; theirs	pronoun	A1
106	sina	you (singular, emphatic)	pronoun	A1
107	too	that (over there)	pronoun	A1
108	iga	every; each	pronoun	A1
109	mõni	some; a few	pronoun	A1
110	teine	other; second	adjective	A1
111	sama	same	adjective	A1
112	alles	only just; still; not until	adverb	A2
113	vähe	little; few	adverb	A1
114	rohkem	more	adverb	A1
115	vähem	less; fewer	adverb	A1
116	peaaegu	almost; nearly	adverb	A2
117	siiski	still; nevertheless	adverb	A2
118	ikka	still; always; after all	adverb	A1
119	jälle	again	adverb	A1
120	alati	always	adverb	A1
121	mitte	not (negating particle)	particle	A1
122	ehk	perhaps; or	conjunction	A2
123	kord	time; once	noun	A1
124	öö	night	noun	A1
125	hommik	morning	noun	A1
126	õhtu	evening	noun	A1
127	nädal	week	noun	A1
128	kuu	month; moon	noun	A1
129	tund	hour	noun	A1
130	linn	city; town	noun	A1
131	maa	land; country; ground	noun	A1
132	tee	road; way; tea	noun	A1
133	koht	place; spot	noun	A1
134	nimi	name	noun	A1
135	pere	family	noun	A1
136	sõber	friend	noun	A1
137	ema	mother	noun	A1
138	isa	father	noun	A1
139	auto	car	noun	A1
140	toit	food	noun	A1
141	pea	head	noun	A1
142	käsi	hand; arm	noun	A1
143	silm	eye	noun	A1
144	raamat	book	noun	A1
145	kool	school	noun	A1
146	pilt	picture; image	noun	A1
147	number	number	noun	A1
148	värv	colour	noun	A1
149	ilus	beautiful; pretty	adjective	A1
150	pikk	long; tall	adjective	A1
151	lühike	short	adjective	A1
152	vana	old	adjective	A1
153	noor	young	adjective	A1
154	kõrge	high; tall	adjective	A1
155	raske	hard; difficult; heavy	adjective	A1
156	lihtne	easy; simple	adjective	A1
157	kiire	fast; quick	adjective	A1
158	aeglane	slow	adjective	A2
159	soe	warm	adjective	A1
160	külm	cold	adjective	A1
161	kuum	hot	adjective	A1
162	valge	white; light	adjective	A1
163	must	black; dirty	adjective	A1
164	punane	red	adjective	A1
165	roheline	green	adjective	A1
166	sinine	blue	adjective	A1
167	neli	four	number	A1
168	viis	five	number	A1
169	kuus	six	number	A1
170	seitse	seven	number	A1
171	kaheksa	eight	number	A1
172	üheksa	nine	number	A1
173	kümme	ten	number	A1
174	sada	hundred	number	A1
175	tuhat	thousand	number	A1
176	esimene	first	number	A1
177	armastama	to love	verb	A1
178	meeldima	to please; to be liked	verb	A1
179	tundma	to know (a person); to feel	verb	A1
180	aitama	to help	verb	A1
181	ootama	to wait	verb	A1
182	leidma	to find	verb	A1
183	lugema	to read; to count	verb	A1
184	kirjutama	to write	verb	A1
185	kuulama	to listen	verb	A1
186	kuulma	to hear	verb	A1
187	mängima	to play	verb	A1
188	ostma	to buy	verb	A1
189	müüma	to sell	verb	A1
190	magama	to sleep	verb	A1
191	jääma	to stay; to remain	verb	A1
192	hakkama	to begin; to start	verb	A1
193	lõpetama	to finish; to end	verb	A1
194	avama	to open	verb	A1
195	sulgema	to close; to shut	verb	A2
196	õppima	to learn; to study	verb	A1
197	saatma	to send; to accompany	verb	A2
198	näitama	to show	verb	A1
199	sõitma	to ride; to drive; to travel	verb	A1
200	jalutama	to walk; to stroll	verb	A2
201	jooksma	to run	verb	A2
202	kõndima	to walk	verb	A2
203	istuma	to sit	verb	A1
204	seisma	to stand	verb	A2
205	tõusma	to rise; to get up	verb	A2
206	langema	to fall	verb	A2
207	kukkuma	to fall down; to drop	verb	A2
208	viima	to take (away); to carry	verb	A2
209	tooma	to bring	verb	A1
210	hoidma	to hold; to keep	verb	A2
211	kandma	to carry; to wear	verb	A2
212	pidama	must; to have to; to keep	verb	A1
213	võima	may; to be able to	verb	A1
214	oskama	to know how to; can	verb	A1
215	proovima	to try; to test	verb	A2
216	üritama	to attempt; to try	verb	A2
217	kasutama	to use	verb	A2
218	vajama	to need	verb	A2
219	arvama	to think; to reckon	verb	A1
220	mõtlema	to think	verb	A1
221	uskuma	to believe	verb	A2
222	lootma	to hope	verb	A2
223	kartma	to fear; to be afraid	verb	A2
224	meenutama	to recall; to remind	verb	B1
225	mäletama	to remember	verb	A2
226	unustama	to forget	verb	A2
227	taipama	to realise; to catch on	verb	B1
228	mõistma	to understand; to grasp	verb	A2
229	tähendama	to mean; to signify	verb	A2
230	seletama	to explain	verb	A2
231	vastama	to answer; to reply	verb	A2
232	küsimus	question	noun	A2
233	vastus	answer	noun	A2
234	keel	language; tongue	noun	A1
235	jutt	talk; story	noun	A2
236	lugu	story; matter; tune	noun	A2
237	uudis	news item	noun	A2
238	mure	worry; trouble	noun	A2
239	rõõm	joy; gladness	noun	A2
240	hirm	fear	noun	A2
241	viha	anger; hate	noun	A2
242	tunne	feeling; sense	noun	A2
243	mõte	thought; idea	noun	A2
244	idee	idea	noun	A2
245	plaan	plan	noun	A2
246	soov	wish; desire	noun	A2
247	lootus	hope	noun	B1
248	unistus	dream (aspiration)	noun	B1
249	uni	sleep	noun	A2
250	jalg	leg; foot	noun	A1
251	süda	heart	noun	A1
252	juuksed	hair	noun	A1
253	nägu	face	noun	A1
254	suu	mouth	noun	A1
255	kõrv	ear	noun	A1
256	nina	nose	noun	A1
257	keha	body	noun	A2
258	veri	blood	noun	A2
259	nahk	skin	noun	A2
260	hammas	tooth	noun	A2
261	trepp	stairs; staircase	noun	A2
262	tuba	room	noun	A1
263	uks	door	noun	A1
264	aken	window	noun	A1
265	laud	table; board	noun	A1
266	tool	chair	noun	A1
267	voodi	bed	noun	A1
268	sein	wall	noun	A2
269	põrand	floor	noun	A2
270	katus	roof	noun	A2
271	köök	kitchen	noun	A2
272	aed	garden; fence	noun	A2
273	korter	apartment; flat	noun	A2
274	tänav	street	noun	A2
275	pood	shop; store	noun	A1
276	turg	market	noun	A2
277	raudtee	railway	noun	B1
278	rong	train	noun	A2
279	buss	bus	noun	A1
280	lennuk	airplane	noun	A2
281	laev	ship	noun	A2
282	jalgratas	bicycle	noun	A2
283	põld	field	noun	A2
284	mets	forest	noun	A2
285	meri	sea	noun	A1
286	järv	lake	noun	A2
287	jõgi	river	noun	A2
288	mägi	mountain; hill	noun	A2
289	taevas	sky; heaven	noun	A2
290	päike	sun	noun	A1
291	täht	star; letter	noun	A2
292	tuul	wind	noun	A2
293	vihm	rain	noun	A1
294	lumi	snow	noun	A1
295	ilm	weather	noun	A1
296	puu	tree; wood	noun	A1
297	lill	flower	noun	A1
298	rohi	grass; medicine	noun	A2
299	loom	animal	noun	A1
300	lind	bird	noun	A1
301	koer	dog	noun	A1
302	kass	cat	noun	A1
303	kala	fish	noun	A1
304	hobune	horse	noun	A2
305	leib	bread (dark rye)	noun	A1
306	sai	white bread; bun	noun	A2
307	piim	milk	noun	A1
308	liha	meat	noun	A1
309	muna	egg	noun	A2
310	juust	cheese	noun	A2
311	jäätis	ice cream	noun	A2
312	suhkur	sugar	noun	A2
313	sool	salt	noun	A2
314	kohv	coffee	noun	A1
315	õun	apple	noun	A1
316	kartul	potato	noun	A2
317	supp	soup	noun	A2
318	söök	meal; food	noun	A2
319	nälg	hunger	noun	A2
320	janu	thirst	noun	B1
321	maitse	taste; flavour	noun	A2
322	hind	price	noun	A2
323	kallis	expensive; dear	adjective	A2
324	odav	cheap	adjective	A2
325	tasuta	free of charge	adjective	A2
326	rikas	rich; wealthy	adjective	A2
327	vaene	poor	adjective	A2
328	tugev	strong	adjective	A2
329	nõrk	weak	adjective	A2
330	terve	healthy; whole	adjective	A2
331	haige	sick; ill	adjective	A1
332	väsinud	tired	adjective	A2
333	õnnelik	happy	adjective	A2
334	kurb	sad	adjective	A2
335	vihane	angry	adjective	A2
336	rahulik	calm; peaceful	adjective	A2
337	oluline	important	adjective	A2
338	huvitav	interesting	adjective	A2
339	igav	boring	adjective	A2
340	lõbus	fun; cheerful	adjective	A2
341	naljakas	funny	adjective	A2
342	imelik	strange; weird	adjective	A2
343	kindel	sure; certain; firm	adjective	A2
344	võimalik	possible	adjective	A2
345	vajalik	necessary	adjective	A2
346	valmis	ready; done	adjective	A2
347	tühi	empty	adjective	A2
348	täis	full	adjective	A2
349	puhas	clean; pure	adjective	A2
350	määrdunud	dirty	adjective	B1
351	lahke	kind; friendly	adjective	A2
352	sõbralik	friendly	adjective	A2
353	tark	smart; clever; wise	adjective	A2
354	rumal	stupid; silly	adjective	A2
355	õige	right; correct	adjective	A1
356	vale	wrong; false; lie	adjective	A2
357	sarnane	similar	adjective	B1
358	erinev	different	adjective	A2
359	järgmine	next; following	adjective	A2
360	eelmine	previous; last	adjective	A2
361	viimane	last; final	adjective	A2
362	algus	beginning; start	noun	A2
363	lõpp	end	noun	A2
364	keskel	in the middle	preposition	A2
365	peal	on; on top of	preposition	A1
366	all	under; below	preposition	A1
367	kõrval	beside; next to	preposition	A2
368	taga	behind	preposition	A2
369	ees	in front of	preposition	A2
370	vahel	between; sometimes	preposition	A2
371	juures	at; by; near	preposition	A2
372	sees	inside	preposition	A2
373	ümber	around	preposition	A2
374	vastu	against; towards	preposition	A2
375	üle	over; across; more than	preposition	A2
376	läbi	through	preposition	A2
377	enne	before	preposition	A1
378	pärast	after; afterwards	preposition	A1
379	jaoks	for; for the sake of	preposition	A2
380	kohta	about; per	preposition	A2
381	mööda	along; past	preposition	B1
382	poole	towards; half	preposition	A2
383	jooksul	during; in the course of	preposition	B1
384	tõttu	because of; due to	preposition	B1
385	abil	with the help of	preposition	B1
386	kaudu	via; through	preposition	B1
387	kuni	until; up to	conjunction	A2
388	ehkki	although; even though	conjunction	B1
389	kuigi	although; even if	conjunction	A2
390	seega	thus; therefore	conjunction	B1
391	seepärast	therefore; for that reason	conjunction	B1
392	niisiis	so; therefore	conjunction	B1
393	kas	whether; (yes/no question marker)	particle	A1
394	miks	why	adverb	A1
395	millal	when	adverb	A1
396	kuhu	where to; whither	adverb	A2
397	kust	from where; whence	adverb	A2
398	kumb	which (of two)	pronoun	A2
399	milline	what kind of; which	pronoun	A2
400	keegi	someone; anyone	pronoun	A2
401	miski	something; anything	pronoun	A2
402	teineteist	each other; one another	pronoun	B1
403	kõikjal	everywhere	adverb	B1
404	kusagil	somewhere	adverb	A2
405	kunagi	ever; sometime; never	adverb	A2
406	harva	rarely; seldom	adverb	B1
407	tihti	often	adverb	A2
408	sageli	frequently; often	adverb	B1
409	vahetevahel	occasionally; now and then	adverb	B1
410	varsti	soon	adverb	A2
411	hiljem	later	adverb	A2
412	varem	earlier; before	adverb	A2
413	ammu	long ago; for a long time	adverb	B1
414	kaua	long (in time)	adverb	A2
415	kiiresti	quickly; fast	adverb	A2
416	aeglaselt	slowly	adverb	B1
417	koos	together	adverb	A2
418	eraldi	separately; apart	adverb	B1
419	üksi	alone	adverb	A2
420	uuesti	again; anew	adverb	A2
421	lõpuks	finally; in the end	adverb	A2
422	esiteks	firstly; first of all	adverb	B1
423	näiteks	for example	adverb	A2
424	muidugi	of course	adverb	A2
425	tegelikult	actually; in fact	adverb	A2
426	lihtsalt	simply; just	adverb	A2
427	täpselt	exactly; precisely	adverb	A2
428	vaevalt	hardly; barely	adverb	B1
429	umbes	about; approximately	adverb	A2
430	täiesti	completely; entirely	adverb	A2
431	väljas	outside; out	adverb	A2
432	sisse	in; into	adverb	A2
433	välja	out; outwards	adverb	A2
434	edasi	forward; onward; further	adverb	A2
435	tagasi	back; backwards	adverb	A2
436	ülal	above; up there	adverb	B1
437	alla	down; downwards	adverb	A2
438	ette	in front; ahead	adverb	A2
439	kokku	together; in total	adverb	A2
440	lahti	open; loose; undone	adverb	A2
441	kinni	closed; shut; stuck	adverb	A2
442	juhtuma	to happen; to occur	verb	A2
443	muutuma	to change (intransitive)	verb	B1
444	muutma	to change (transitive)	verb	B1
445	kasvama	to grow	verb	A2
446	arenema	to develop; to evolve	verb	B1
447	jätkama	to continue	verb	B1
448	peatuma	to stop; to halt	verb	B1
449	liikuma	to move	verb	A2
450	pöörama	to turn	verb	B1
451	naasma	to return; to come back	verb	B1
452	lahkuma	to leave; to depart	verb	B1
453	saabuma	to arrive	verb	B1
454	kohtuma	to meet	verb	A2
455	tutvuma	to get acquainted	verb	B1
456	toetama	to support	verb	B1
457	valima	to choose; to elect	verb	A2
458	otsustama	to decide	verb	A2
459	otsima	to look for; to search	verb	A2
460	kaotama	to lose	verb	A2
461	võitma	to win	verb	A2
462	maksma	to pay; to cost	verb	A2
463	teenima	to earn; to serve	verb	B1
464	kulutama	to spend; to use up	verb	B1
465	säästma	to save; to economise	verb	B1
466	ehitama	to build	verb	A2
467	valmistama	to prepare; to make	verb	B1
468	looma	to create	verb	B1
469	parandama	to fix; to correct; to improve	verb	B1
470	rikkuma	to break; to spoil; to ruin	verb	B1
471	lõhkuma	to break; to smash	verb	B1
472	puudutama	to touch	verb	B1
473	tõmbama	to pull; to draw	verb	B1
474	lükkama	to push	verb	B1
475	viskama	to throw	verb	A2
476	püüdma	to catch; to try	verb	B1
477	hoolitsema	to take care of	verb	B1
478	kaitsma	to protect; to defend	verb	B1
479	ründama	to attack	verb	B1
480	võitlema	to fight; to struggle	verb	B1
481	tapma	to kill	verb	B1
482	surema	to die	verb	A2
483	sündima	to be born	verb	A2
484	kasvatama	to raise; to grow (something)	verb	B1
485	õpetama	to teach	verb	A2
486	uurima	to research; to investigate	verb	B1
487	kontrollima	to check; to control	verb	B1
488	märkama	to notice	verb	B1
489	jälgima	to follow; to watch	verb	B1
490	avastama	to discover	verb	B1
491	töökoht	workplace; job	noun	B1
492	amet	profession; office	noun	B1
493	ülesanne	task; assignment	noun	A2
494	kohustus	obligation; duty	noun	B1
495	õigus	right; law; justice	noun	B1
496	võimalus	possibility; opportunity	noun	A2
497	probleem	problem	noun	A2
498	lahendus	solution	noun	B1
499	põhjus	reason; cause	noun	A2
500	tulemus	result; outcome	noun	B1
501	näide	example	noun	A2
502	nemad	they (emphatic)	pronoun	A2
503	osa	part; portion	noun	A2
504	pool	half; side	noun	A2
505	terviklik	whole; integral	adjective	B2
506	hulk	quantity; a number of	noun	B1
507	arv	number; count	noun	A2
508	summa	sum; amount	noun	B1
509	suurus	size	noun	B1
510	pikkus	length; height	noun	B1
511	kaal	weight	noun	B1
512	kiirus	speed	noun	B1
513	kaugus	distance	noun	B1
514	kõrgus	height; altitude	noun	B1
515	sügavus	depth	noun	B2
516	laius	width	noun	B1
517	raskus	difficulty; heaviness	noun	B1
518	lasteaed	kindergarten	noun	B1
519	ülikool	university	noun	A2
520	õpilane	pupil; student (school)	noun	A2
521	õpetaja	teacher	noun	A1
522	tudeng	student (university)	noun	B1
523	haridus	education	noun	B1
524	teadus	science	noun	B1
525	teadmine	knowledge	noun	B1
526	oskus	skill	noun	B1
527	kogemus	experience	noun	B1
528	eksam	exam	noun	A2
529	õppetund	lesson; class	noun	B1
530	harjutus	exercise; practice	noun	B1
531	viga	mistake; error	noun	A2
532	hinne	grade; mark	noun	B1
533	töötaja	worker; employee	noun	B1
534	ülemus	boss; superior	noun	B1
535	firma	firm; company	noun	B1
536	ettevõte	company; enterprise	noun	B2
537	kontor	office	noun	A2
538	palk	salary; wage	noun	B1
539	laen	loan	noun	B1
540	pank	bank	noun	A2
541	arve	bill; invoice; account	noun	B1
542	maks	tax	noun	B1
543	kasu	benefit; use; profit	noun	B1
544	kahju	harm; damage; a pity	noun	B1
545	majandus	economy	noun	B2
546	kasum	profit	noun	B2
547	kaup	goods; merchandise	noun	B1
548	toode	product	noun	B1
549	teenus	service	noun	B1
550	klient	customer; client	noun	B1
551	ühiskond	society	noun	B2
552	riik	state; country	noun	A2
553	valitsus	government	noun	B1
554	rahvas	people; nation	noun	B1
555	kodanik	citizen	noun	B2
556	seadus	law; statute	noun	B1
557	korraldus	order; arrangement	noun	B2
558	reegel	rule	noun	B1
559	kohus	court (of law)	noun	B2
560	politsei	police	noun	A2
561	sõda	war	noun	B1
562	rahu	peace; calm	noun	B1
563	vabadus	freedom; liberty	noun	B1
564	võim	power; authority	noun	B2
565	president	president	noun	A2
566	poliitika	politics; policy	noun	B2
567	valimised	elections	noun	B2
568	ajalugu	history	noun	A2
569	kultuur	culture	noun	B1
570	kunst	art	noun	A2
571	muusika	music	noun	A1
572	laul	song	noun	A2
573	film	film; movie	noun	A1
574	teater	theatre	noun	A2
575	maal	painting; countryside	noun	B1
576	mäng	game; play	noun	A2
577	sport	sport	noun	A2
578	võistlus	competition; contest	noun	B1
579	pidu	party; celebration	noun	A2
580	reis	trip; journey	noun	A2
581	puhkus	vacation; rest	noun	A2
582	saabas	boot	noun	B1
583	king	shoe	noun	A2
584	riided	clothes	noun	A2
585	särk	shirt	noun	A2
586	püksid	trousers; pants	noun	A2
587	kleit	dress	noun	A2
588	müts	hat; cap	noun	A2
589	mantel	coat	noun	B1
590	kott	bag	noun	A2
591	võti	key	noun	A2
592	kell	clock; bell; o'clock	noun	A1
593	telefon	telephone	noun	A1
594	arvuti	computer	noun	A1
595	ekraan	screen	noun	B1
596	internet	internet	noun	A2
597	kiri	letter; writing	noun	A2
598	sõnum	message	noun	B1
599	ajaleht	newspaper	noun	A2
600	teave	information	noun	B1
601	tervis	health	noun	A2
602	haigus	illness; disease	noun	B1
603	valu	pain; ache	noun	A2
604	ravim	medicine; drug	noun	B1
605	arst	doctor	noun	A1
606	haigla	hospital	noun	A2
607	ravi	treatment; therapy	noun	B1
608	kehaosa	body part	noun	B1
609	luu	bone	noun	B1
610	lihas	muscle	noun	B1
611	kops	lung	noun	B1
612	aju	brain	noun	B1
613	hing	soul; breath	noun	B1
614	vaim	spirit; mind; ghost	noun	B2
615	mõistus	reason; mind; sense	noun	B2
616	meel	mind; mood; sense	noun	B1
617	mälu	memory	noun	B1
618	tähelepanu	attention	noun	B1
619	huvi	interest	noun	A2
620	tahtmine	wish; will	noun	B1
621	armastus	love	noun	A2
622	sõprus	friendship	noun	B1
623	suhe	relationship; relation	noun	B1
624	usaldus	trust	noun	B2
625	austus	respect	noun	B2
626	abielu	marriage	noun	B1
627	armuke	lover	noun	B2
628	kohtumine	meeting; appointment	noun	B1
629	saladus	secret	noun	B1
630	tõde	truth	noun	B1
631	valetama	to lie; to tell a lie	verb	B1
632	lubama	to promise; to allow	verb	A2
633	keelama	to forbid; to ban	verb	B1
634	käskima	to order; to command	verb	B1
635	nõudma	to demand; to require	verb	B2
636	paluma	to ask; to request; to beg	verb	A2
637	soovima	to wish; to desire	verb	A2
638	kahtlema	to doubt	verb	B2
639	tunnistama	to admit; to confess	verb	B2
640	nõustuma	to agree; to consent	verb	B1
641	vaidlema	to argue; to dispute	verb	B2
642	kurtma	to complain	verb	B2
643	kiitma	to praise	verb	B2
644	kritiseerima	to criticise	verb	B2
645	solvama	to offend; to insult	verb	B2
646	vabandama	to apologise; to excuse	verb	A2
647	tänama	to thank	verb	A2
648	tervitama	to greet	verb	B1
649	kutsuma	to invite; to call	verb	A2
650	nutma	to cry; to weep	verb	A2
651	naerma	to laugh	verb	A2
652	naeratama	to smile	verb	B1
653	muretsema	to worry	verb	B1
654	rõõmustama	to rejoice; to gladden	verb	B2
655	vihkama	to hate	verb	B1
656	imestama	to be surprised; to wonder	verb	B2
657	üllatus	surprise	noun	B1
658	pettumus	disappointment	noun	B2
659	kannatus	patience; suffering	noun	B2
660	julgus	courage; bravery	noun	B2
661	julge	brave; bold	adjective	B1
662	arg	cowardly; timid	adjective	B2
663	uhke	proud	adjective	B1
664	tagasihoidlik	modest; humble	adjective	B2
665	aus	honest	adjective	B1
666	ebaaus	dishonest; unfair	adjective	B2
667	karm	harsh; strict; severe	adjective	B2
668	range	strict; rigorous	adjective	B2
669	õrn	gentle; tender; delicate	adjective	B2
670	pehme	soft	adjective	A2
671	kõva	hard; loud; firm	adjective	A2
672	sile	smooth	adjective	B1
673	terav	sharp	adjective	B1
674	nüri	blunt; dull	adjective	B2
675	märg	wet	adjective	A2
676	kuiv	dry	adjective	A2
677	sügav	deep	adjective	B1
678	madal	low; shallow	adjective	B1
679	lai	wide; broad	adjective	A2
680	kitsas	narrow; tight	adjective	B1
681	paks	thick; fat	adjective	A2
682	peenike	thin; fine	adjective	B1
683	ümmargune	round	adjective	B1
684	nurk	corner; angle	noun	B1
685	ring	circle; round	noun	B1
686	joon	line	noun	B1
687	punkt	point; dot	noun	B1
688	kuju	shape; figure; form	noun	B1
689	looduskeskkond	natural environment	noun	B2
690	loodus	nature	noun	B1
691	keskkond	environment	noun	B2
692	maailm	world	noun	A2
693	ruum	space; room	noun	B1
694	kivi	stone; rock	noun	A2
695	liiv	sand	noun	B1
696	muld	soil; earth	noun	B1
697	tuli	fire	noun	A2
698	jää	ice	noun	A2
699	aur	steam; vapour	noun	B1
700	õhk	air	noun	A2
701	valgus	light	noun	B1
702	pimedus	darkness	noun	B1
703	vari	shadow; shade	noun	B1
704	heli	sound	noun	B1
705	hääl	voice; sound	noun	A2
706	lõhn	smell; scent	noun	B1
707	energia	energy	noun	B1
708	jõud	force; strength	noun	B1
709	kraad	degree	noun	B1
710	temperatuur	temperature	noun	B1
711	kliima	climate	noun	B1
712	looduslik	natural	adjective	B2
713	kunstlik	artificial	adjective	B2
714	elus	alive; living	adjective	B1
715	surnud	dead	adjective	B1
716	metsloom	wild animal	noun	B1
717	putukas	insect	noun	B1
718	taim	plant	noun	B1
719	juur	root	noun	B1
720	leht	leaf; sheet; page	noun	A2
721	oks	branch; twig	noun	B1
722	vili	fruit; crop	noun	B1
723	seeme	seed	noun	B1
724	mari	berry	noun	B1
725	seen	mushroom	noun	B1
726	köögivili	vegetable	noun	B1
727	puuvili	fruit	noun	A2
728	saak	harvest; catch	noun	B1
729	põllumajandus	agriculture	noun	B2
730	talu	farm	noun	B1
731	küla	village	noun	A2
732	piirkond	region; area	noun	B2
733	ala	area; field; zone	noun	B1
734	piir	border; limit	noun	B1
735	suund	direction	noun	B1
736	kaugel	far; far away	adverb	A2
737	lähedal	near; close by	adverb	A2
738	kohalik	local	adjective	B1
739	välismaa	foreign country; abroad	noun	B1
740	välismaalane	foreigner	noun	B2
741	rahvusvaheline	international	adjective	B2
742	keeleoskus	language proficiency	noun	B2
743	tõlkima	to translate	verb	B1
744	selgitama	to clarify; to explain	verb	B2
745	kirjeldama	to describe	verb	B1
746	nimetama	to name; to call	verb	B1
747	mainima	to mention	verb	B2
748	teatama	to notify; to announce	verb	B2
749	väitma	to claim; to assert	verb	B2
750	arutama	to discuss	verb	B2
751	esitama	to present; to submit	verb	B2
752	soovitama	to recommend; to advise	verb	B1
753	hoiatama	to warn	verb	B2
754	meelitama	to entice; to flatter	verb	B2
755	veenma	to convince; to persuade	verb	B2
756	nõustama	to advise; to counsel	verb	B2
757	juhtima	to lead; to direct; to steer	verb	B1
758	korraldama	to organise; to arrange	verb	B1
759	planeerima	to plan	verb	B1
760	valmistuma	to prepare (oneself)	verb	B2
761	osalema	to participate; to take part	verb	B1
762	liituma	to join	verb	B2
763	kuuluma	to belong	verb	B1
764	omama	to own; to possess	verb	B1
765	saavutama	to achieve; to attain	verb	B2
766	õnnestuma	to succeed	verb	B2
767	ebaõnnestuma	to fail	verb	B2
768	katsetama	to test; to experiment	verb	B2
769	kordama	to repeat	verb	B1
770	harjutama	to practise	verb	B1
771	treenima	to train; to work out	verb	B1
772	võistlema	to compete	verb	B2
773	auhind	prize; award	noun	B1
774	meeskond	team	noun	B1
775	liige	member	noun	B1
776	juht	leader; driver; manager	noun	B1
777	grupp	group	noun	B1
778	organisatsioon	organisation	noun	B2
779	asutus	institution; agency	noun	B2
780	süsteem	system	noun	B2
781	võrgustik	network	noun	B2
782	struktuur	structure	noun	B2
783	protsess	process	noun	B2
784	meetod	method	noun	B2
785	eesmärk	goal; aim; objective	noun	B1
786	siht	aim; target	noun	B2
787	tähtsus	importance; significance	noun	B2
788	mõju	influence; effect; impact	noun	B2
789	tagajärg	consequence	noun	B2
790	muutus	change	noun	B1
791	areng	development	noun	B2
792	edu	success; progress	noun	B1
793	ebaedu	failure	noun	B2
794	olukord	situation	noun	B1
795	seisund	state; condition	noun	B2
796	juhtum	case; incident	noun	B2
797	sündmus	event	noun	B1
798	nähtus	phenomenon	noun	B2
799	asjaolu	circumstance	noun	B2
800	tingimus	condition; requirement	noun	B2
801	põhimõte	principle	noun	B2
802	väärtus	value; worth	noun	B2
803	tähendus	meaning	noun	B1
804	mõiste	concept; notion	noun	B2
805	seisukoht	viewpoint; standpoint	noun	B2
806	arvamus	opinion	noun	B1
807	hoiak	attitude; stance	noun	B2
808	uskumus	belief	noun	B2
809	kahtlus	doubt; suspicion	noun	B2
810	kindlus	certainty; fortress	noun	B2
811	otsus	decision	noun	B1
812	valik	choice; selection	noun	B1
813	mõjuvõim	influence; clout	noun	B2
814	vastutus	responsibility	noun	B2
815	kohustuslik	obligatory; compulsory	adjective	B2
816	süü	guilt; blame; fault	noun	B2
817	karistus	punishment; penalty	noun	B2
818	kuritegu	crime	noun	B2
819	kurjategija	criminal	noun	B2
820	tunnistaja	witness	noun	B2
821	tõend	proof; evidence	noun	B2
822	kokkulepe	agreement	noun	B2
823	leping	contract; treaty	noun	B2
824	nõue	requirement; demand; claim	noun	B2
825	luba	permission; permit; licence	noun	B1
826	keeld	ban; prohibition	noun	B2
827	korras	in order; okay	adjective	B1
828	segadus	confusion; mess	noun	B2
829	kriis	crisis	noun	B2
830	oht	danger; threat	noun	B1
831	ohutus	safety	noun	B2
832	risk	risk	noun	B2
833	kaitse	protection; defence	noun	B2
834	abi	help; aid	noun	A1
835	tugi	support	noun	B2
836	hool	care; concern	noun	B2
837	heaolu	welfare; well-being	noun	B2
838	vaesus	poverty	noun	B2
839	rikkus	wealth; riches	noun	B2
840	tööpuudus	unemployment	noun	B2
841	töötus	unemployment (state)	noun	B2
842	sissetulek	income	noun	B2
843	kulu	cost; expense	noun	B2
844	eelarve	budget	noun	B2
845	investeering	investment	noun	B2
846	kaubandus	trade; commerce	noun	B2
847	tööstus	industry	noun	B2
848	tehnoloogia	technology	noun	B2
849	seade	device; appliance	noun	B2
850	masin	machine	noun	B1
851	mootor	engine; motor	noun	B1
852	tööriist	tool	noun	B1
853	materjal	material	noun	B1
854	raud	iron	noun	B1
855	metall	metal	noun	B1
856	klaas	glass	noun	A2
857	plast	plastic	noun	B2
858	paber	paper	noun	A2
859	riie	cloth; fabric	noun	B2
860	puit	wood; timber	noun	B2
861	kuld	gold	noun	B1
862	hõbe	silver	noun	B1
863	kütus	fuel	noun	B1
864	elekter	electricity	noun	B1
865	gaas	gas	noun	B1
866	jäätmed	waste; garbage	noun	B2
867	prügi	trash; rubbish	noun	B1
868	reostus	pollution	noun	B2
869	saaste	contamination; pollutant	noun	B2
870	säästlik	sustainable; economical	adjective	B2
871	puhtus	cleanliness; purity	noun	B2
872	korrastama	to tidy up; to put in order	verb	B2
873	koristama	to clean; to tidy	verb	B1
874	pesema	to wash	verb	A2
875	küpsetama	to bake; to roast	verb	B1
876	keetma	to boil; to cook	verb	B1
877	praadima	to fry	verb	B2
878	segama	to mix; to disturb	verb	B2
879	lõikama	to cut	verb	B1
880	täitma	to fill; to fulfil	verb	B2
881	tühjendama	to empty	verb	B2
882	katma	to cover	verb	B2
883	peitma	to hide	verb	B1
884	ilmuma	to appear; to emerge	verb	B2
885	kaduma	to disappear; to vanish	verb	B1
886	tekkima	to arise; to come into being	verb	B2
887	püsima	to persist; to stay	verb	B2
888	kestma	to last; to endure	verb	B2
889	lõppema	to end; to run out	verb	B1
890	algama	to begin; to start	verb	B1
891	sõltuma	to depend	verb	B2
892	mõjutama	to influence; to affect	verb	B2
893	põhjustama	to cause	verb	B2
894	takistama	to hinder; to prevent	verb	B2
895	võimaldama	to enable; to make possible	verb	B2
896	tähistama	to celebrate; to mark	verb	B2
897	esindama	to represent	verb	B2
898	viitama	to refer; to point to	verb	B2
899	sisaldama	to contain	verb	B2
900	koosnema	to consist of	verb	B2
901	hõlmama	to encompass; to include	verb	B2
902	eristama	to distinguish; to differentiate	verb	B2
903	võrdlema	to compare	verb	B2
904	hindama	to assess; to value; to appreciate	verb	B1
905	arvestama	to take into account; to consider	verb	B2
906	määrama	to determine; to appoint	verb	B2
907	kinnitama	to confirm; to fasten	verb	B2
908	tõestama	to prove	verb	B2
909	eeldama	to assume; to presuppose	verb	B2
910	oletama	to suppose; to conjecture	verb	B2
911	kavatsema	to intend	verb	B2
912	püüdlema	to strive; to aspire	verb	B2
913	keelduma	to refuse; to decline	verb	B2
914	loobuma	to give up; to abandon	verb	B2
915	vältima	to avoid	verb	B2
916	kannatama	to suffer; to endure	verb	B2
917	ohverdama	to sacrifice	verb	B2
918	säilitama	to preserve; to retain	verb	B2
919	taastama	to restore; to recover	verb	B2
920	asendama	to replace; to substitute	verb	B2
921	täiendama	to complement; to supplement	verb	B2
922	laiendama	to expand; to extend	verb	B2
923	vähendama	to reduce; to diminish	verb	B2
924	suurendama	to increase; to enlarge	verb	B2
925	tõstma	to lift; to raise	verb	B1
926	langetama	to lower; to bring down	verb	B2
927	jagama	to share; to divide	verb	B1
928	koguma	to collect; to gather	verb	B1
929	levima	to spread	verb	B2
930	kordumine	recurrence; repetition	noun	B2
931	harjumus	habit; custom	noun	B1
932	komme	custom; tradition	noun	B2
933	traditsioon	tradition	noun	B2
934	usk	faith; belief; religion	noun	B1
935	jumal	god	noun	B1
936	kirik	church	noun	A2
937	religioon	religion	noun	B1
938	filosoofia	philosophy	noun	B2
939	teadvus	consciousness; awareness	noun	B2
940	iseloom	character; personality	noun	B2
941	omadus	quality; property; trait	noun	B2
942	võime	ability; capacity	noun	B2
943	anne	talent; gift	noun	B2
944	harjumuspärane	habitual; usual	adjective	B2
945	tavaline	ordinary; usual	adjective	B1
946	eriline	special; particular	adjective	B1
947	haruldane	rare	adjective	B2
948	levinud	widespread; common	adjective	B2
949	keeruline	complicated; complex	adjective	B1
950	lihtsustatud	simplified	adjective	B2
951	selge	clear	adjective	A2
952	ähmane	vague; blurry	adjective	B2
953	täpne	precise; accurate; punctual	adjective	B1
954	ebatäpne	inaccurate; imprecise	adjective	B2
955	kasulik	useful; beneficial	adjective	B1
956	kahjulik	harmful	adjective	B2
957	ohtlik	dangerous	adjective	B1
958	turvaline	safe; secure	adjective	B2
959	mugav	comfortable; convenient	adjective	B1
960	ebamugav	uncomfortable; awkward	adjective	B2
961	sobiv	suitable; appropriate	adjective	B2
962	sobimatu	unsuitable; inappropriate	adjective	B2
963	piisav	sufficient; enough	adjective	B2
964	ebapiisav	insufficient	adjective	B2
965	peamine	main; principal	adjective	B1
966	määrav	decisive; crucial	adjective	B2
967	teisejärguline	secondary; minor	adjective	B2
968	üldine	general; overall	adjective	B2
969	konkreetne	concrete; specific	adjective	B2
970	abstraktne	abstract	adjective	B2
971	arutelu	discussion; debate	noun	B2
972	mõttekäik	line of reasoning	noun	B2
973	järeldus	conclusion; inference	noun	B2
974	seletus	explanation	noun	B1
975	põhjendus	justification; rationale	noun	B2
976	tõlgendus	interpretation	noun	B2
977	eksitus	error; delusion	noun	B2
978	täpsustus	clarification; specification	noun	B2
979	ülevaade	overview	noun	B2
980	kokkuvõte	summary	noun	B2
981	sisu	content; substance	noun	B2
982	vorm	form; shape	noun	B1
983	mulje	impression	noun	B2
984	kujutlus	imagination; notion	noun	B2
985	kujutlusvõime	imagination	noun	B2
986	unenägu	dream (while sleeping)	noun	B1
987	mälestus	memory; recollection	noun	B2
988	minevik	the past	noun	B1
989	olevik	the present	noun	B2
990	tulevik	the future	noun	B1
991	ajastu	era; epoch	noun	B2
992	sajand	century	noun	B1
993	aastakümme	decade	noun	B2
994	hetk	moment; instant	noun	A2
995	periood	period	noun	B2
996	etapp	stage; phase	noun	B2
997	saatus	fate; destiny	noun	B2
998	juhus	chance; coincidence	noun	B2
999	tegelikkus	reality	noun	B2
1000	olemus	essence; nature (of a thing)	noun	B2

Showing the top 1000 of 1000 words, by frequency · audio: female voice

Put the list to work

Frequently asked questions

Why learn Estonian words by frequency?

Word frequency is brutally top-heavy: a small core of words does almost all the work in everyday speech. Learning in frequency order front-loads exactly those words, so every hour of study unlocks the largest possible share of real conversations, shows and books — instead of textbook chapter vocabulary you might not meet for months.

How many Estonian words do I need to understand conversations?

The 100 most common Estonian words already cover roughly half of everyday speech, the top 1,000 around 85%, and about 2,500–3,000 words push you past 95%. That last stretch is the long tail — but this list is the highest-value first mile: master it and most sentences you hear will be built from words you know.

What do the CEFR levels next to the words mean?

Each word carries the CEFR level (A1–B2) at which learners typically study it. Most of the top 1,000 is A1–A2 — high frequency and beginner vocabulary largely overlap — with the tail reaching into B1–B2. If the B1 and B2 words in the list feel unfamiliar, that is a normal place for an A2 learner to be.

How was the audio made?

Every word was recorded individually with two studio-grade neural text-to-speech voices — one female, one male — so you can hear each word in isolation and compare pronunciations. Use the voice toggle above the table to switch; the clips are short, natural and free to replay as often as you like.

Is this a list of dictionary forms or word forms?

Estonian verbs are listed in the -ma infinitive, the dictionary citation form (olema 'to be', tegema 'to do', minema 'to go'); nouns appear in the nominative singular. Estonian inflects for fourteen cases, so you'll meet these lemmas in many endings in real text.

How should I study this list?

Don't memorize it top to bottom in one go. Work in slices (the Top 250 view is a good first target), listen to every word as you review it, and meet the same words in context as fast as possible — graded stories and podcasts at your level are where frequency vocabulary actually sticks. Spaced-repetition flashcards work well for the concrete nouns and verbs in the tail.

Don't just read the list — learn it

Lenguia turns vocabulary like this into a daily Estonian plan: graded stories and podcasts built from high-frequency words, spaced-repetition flashcards, grammar, writing and speaking practice — all at exactly your level.

Start learning Estonian

How many of these words do you already know?

Take the free Estonian placement test — grammar, reading, vocabulary, listening, writing and speaking, graded A1 to C1 — and find out exactly where to start in this list.

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