Estonian State, Society and Language - Settle in Estonia programme by Settle in Estonia

Estonia:

State, Society and Language

HANDBOOKS

Private and Public Services

Estonia: State, Society and Language

My Rights and Responsibilities

Networking, Volunteering and Leisure Time

Working and Labour Market

Children and Family

Kindergarten and Schools

Higher Education and Research

Residence and Citizenship

Business and Entrepreneurship

2. Estonian State

2.1. Political system

Estonia in the EU

2.2. Legal system

2.3. Fundamental rights

2.4. Civil society

2.5. E-Estonia

2.6.

1. Estonia at the Glance 3.

3.1.

3.3. Culture and perceptions

3.4. Diversity and equality

3.5. Communication

3.6. Gifts

3.7. Holidays

3.8. Estonian sauna traditions

3.9. Religion

3.10. Ethnic nationalities and cultural minorities

3.11. The arts

3.12. Towns

4. Estonian Language

4.1. Short overview

4.2. History

4.3. Dialects

4.4. The use of Estonian

4.5. Keeping Estonian alive

4.6. Why learn Estonian?

4.7. Language learning opportunities

Language courses

Informal language practice

Online learning

4.8. Characteristics of Estonian

and Pronunciation

4.9. Learn some Estonian

Dear reader,

Thank you for participating in the “Settle in Estonia” programme. Our programme has been designed for foreigners who have decided to move to Estonia and our courses have been available to new arrivals since 2015. Whether your reason for choosing Estonia is based on your family connections, work, study or business interests, our programme is here to help you settle in and nd your feet in a new country.

The handbook you currently have in front of you is designed to act as a reference point you can use even after the course has nished. We hope it will be useful to you during your rst years in Estonia and will help you nd the correct and up-to-date information on the subject you are interested in. The handbook is updated on a regular basis to make sure the information contained in it is accurate. You can nd the details of the current issue on the back cover. When new versions become available, you can nd them on the website: issuu.com/settleinestonia

This handbook gives a short overview of Estonia – state, society and language. Moreover, this handbook also includes an overview of the Estonian language: its structure and orthography, and most important expressions. It also describes shortly the attitude of Estonians towards the Estonian language, and how important it is for them. This handbook also presents some reasons why and how to learn Estonian. This handbook is the rst of series in Settle in Estonia programme. You can nd the topics of other handbooks on the last pages of this handbook.

Tere tulemast Eestisse! Welcome to Estonia!

Head lugemist! Have a good read!

1. ESTONIA AT THE GLANCE

General

O icial name: Republic of Estonia (EE: )

Short form: Estonia (EE: )

Independence declared: 24 February 1918

Capital: Tallinn

Estonian coat of arms

Estonian ag

Geography

Area: 45 339 sq km

Coastline: 3794 km

Land border: 682 km (343.0 km with Latvia and 338.6 km with the Russian Federation)

Distance from Tallinn to Helsinki 85 km; to Riga 307 km; to St.Petersburg 395 km; to Stockholm 405 km.

Sea border: 768.6 km

Number of islands: 2355

People

Population: 1 365 884 (1 January 2023)

Population density: 31,4 inhabitants per square km

Larger cities: Tallinn (pop. 462,120), Tartu (97,435), Narva (53,625), Pärnu (51,874), Kohtla-Järve (32,296)

Main ethnic groups: Estonians 925,892, Russians 306,801, Ukrainians 55,675, Belarusians 11,562, Finns 8,518

O icial language: Estonian

Main religions: Orthodox Christians 16%, Lutherans 8% (2021)

Government

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Legislature: unicameral parliament – Riigikogu

Head of State: President (currently Alar Karis)

Head of Government: Prime Minister (currently Kaja Kallas)

Highest judiciary: Supreme Court

Membership in international organisations: United Nations (UN, since 17 October 1991), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO, 29 March 2004), European Union (EU 1 May 2004), et al.

Su rage: Universal for citizens who have attained 18 years of age for national elections. All permanent residents who are at least 16 years old can vote in local elections regardless of citizenship.

Administrative divisions

Local governments: 15 urban and 64 rural municipalities

Counties: 15 (Harjumaa, Hiiumaa, Ida-Virumaa, Jõgevamaa, Järvamaa, Läänemaa, Lääne-Virumaa, Põlvamaa, Pärnumaa, Raplamaa, Saaremaa, Tartumaa, Valgamaa, Viljandimaa, Võrumaa)

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Time zone: EET (UTC+2)

Internet national domain extension: .ee

International calling code: + 372

GDP per capita in current prices (2022): € 27,039

Average monthly gross salary (2nd quarter of 2023): € 1,873

Some facts about the Estonian nature:

About 10% of Estonia is a nature reserve

Forests cover about 50% of the territory of Estonia

Various bogs and wooded swamplands cover over one- fth of the country – beaten worldwide only by our northern neighbour, Finland

Estonian wooded meadows are amongst the world’s richest biomes – with one square metre being home to more than 70 species. This gure can exceed the diversity found in the tropics at times

Estonia has the highest number of meteorite craters per square kilometre in the world

Estonia has one of the lowest population densities in the world

The longest day in the summer lasts for over 19 hours, whilst the shortest winter day lasts only six hours

Estonia is at. Its highest peak is 318 metres above sea level and it’s also the highest in the Baltic states! The peak is called Suur Munamägi (Great Egg Mountain)

2. ESTONIAN STATE

2.1. POLITICAL SYSTEM

Rumal käsib rusikaga, tark sunnib sõnaga

A fool commands with a fist, a wise man with his words

Estonia is an independent and sovereign democratic republic wherein the supreme power of the state is vested in the people. The people exercise the supreme power of the state through the citizens with the right to vote by electing the Riigikogu (Parliament) or on a referendum.

Estonian political system consists of the following institutions: 1) the people; 2) the parliament; 3) the president; 4) the government. All issues concerning local life are decided and managed by local governments.

LEGISLATIVE POWER

Institution: Parliament (Riigikogu)

Highest representative (o icial title): President of the Riigikogu

EXECUTIVE POWER

Institution: Government of the Republic

Highest representative: (o icial title): Prime minister

JUDICIAL POWER

Institution: Supreme Court

Legislative power is vested in the Estonian parliament (EE: ). The Riigikogu consists of one hundred and one members. Members of the Riigikogu are elected in the course of free elections on the principle of proportionality. Elections are general, uniform and direct. Voting is condential. The main task of the Riigikogu is legislative drafting: proceeding and passing laws and resolutions.

HIGHER POWER

Executive power is vested in the government (EE: , but the government also participates in exercising legislative power. The government has the right to submit bills to the Riigikogu; it is in its competencies to prepare the draft of the state budget and submit it to the Riigikogu. The government executes domestic and foreign policies of the state and manages relations with other countries; directs and coordinates the activities of government agencies; administers the implementation of laws etc. The government consists of the Prime Minister and ministers (12 ministers as of 2023). The Prime Minister represents the government and heads its work.

The president is the head of state (EE: ) who represents executive power but stands apart from the government: he or she is not subjected to the government nor is the government subjected to him or her. The president represents Estonia in international relations; he or she also has some controlling and co-operational functions concerning the Riigikogu and the government. The president has been vested with the right to proclaim laws passed in the Riigikogu. In case he or she refuses to announce a law passed by the Riigikogu, the law is sent back to the Riigikogu for additional discussions and decisions.

All issues concerning local life are decided and managed by local governments (EE: ) that act independently in compliance with laws. The representative body of a local government is the council, the members of which are elected on free elections for three years. The functions of a local government include the organisation in the rural municipality or city of social assistance and services, welfare services for the elderly, youth work, housing and utilities, the supply of water and sewerage, the provision of public services and amenities, physical planning, public transportation within the rural municipality or city, and the maintenance of rural municipality roads and city streets etc.

According to Freedom House index 2023, Estonia is considered as a “free”, consolidated democracy, with a score of 94/100. Democratic institutions in Estonia are strong, and political and civil rights are widely respected. Estonia’s fundamental democratic institutions continue to work well, electoral processes function e iciently, and the rule of law is applied e ectively.

See more on freedomhouse.org/country/estonia

2.1.1. Estonia in the EU

Estonia o icially joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. A referendum was organised on 14 September 2003 about joining the EU – public opinion was positive, but lukewarm. Participation was 64%, and 67% of the participants were in favour of joining the EU. In the early 1990s all the leading political forces had unanimously decided on joining the European Union, and that is why there was not much discussion about it before the referendum. The Euro-sceptics mostly emphasised the diminishing of Estonia’s sovereignty once the country joined the EU. The majority of voters were still in favour, hoping the EU would guarantee Estonian economic and political security, and considering the expanding opportunities to study, work and travel within the borders of the EU. At the end of 2007, Estonia also joined the Schengen area, freeing Estonian citizens from border checks within the EU. The rst European Parliament elections in Estonia took place on 14 June 2004. As of 2023, there are seven members (representatives) of the European Parliament from Estonia.

In 2011, when Estonia joined the eurozone (i.e. it adopted the euro as a currency, instead of Estonian kronor), it was the 17th member state to join the eurozone. While accession to the EU gave a strong push to the Estonian economy, joining the euro helped the economy out of the global economic crisis of 2008-2010. Adoption of euro increased trust in the Estonian economy, helping to attract new investments to Estonia and create new jobs. Moreover, the euro made travelling easier and decreased currency exchange costs, and it also brought lower loan interest rates.

In 2022, according to Eurobarometer survey, altogether 42 per cent of the respondents in Estonia have said that for them the EU is a positive image, while 43% said the image was neutral, and 14% deemed it negative.

During the period of 2014-2020, Estonia received 5.89 billion euros from the European Union budget, and paid around 1.4 billion euro into the EU budget. Hence, Estonia has received 4.5 billion euros more from the EU than it has paid during this period.

2.2. LEGAL SYSTEM

The judicial (legal) power is separated from the other powers of the state and their sphere of in uence. Only the court administers justice: this means that a dispute is decided in its nal stage by a court. In some issues, justice is administered by o icials of the state or the local government. For example, an o icial has the right to decide on a misdemeanour procedure that can be punished with a monetary penalty.

The Estonian court system consists of the following:

1. County courts and administrative courts

2. District courts

3. The Supreme Court

All court cases are begun in a court of the rst instance, i.e. a county court or an administrative court. A district court is a court of the second instance, reviewing only the rulings of the courts of the rst instance. All court cases begin in a county court or an administrative court. The Supreme Court is also a court of constitutional supervision; this means the right to inspect the conformance of the laws approved by the Riigikogu to the constitution and to pronounce a law invalid if it is in discrepancy with the relevant clause of the constitution and with the sense of the constitution. A person has the right to have a defending party in a criminal or misdemeanour procedure and a representative in other court procedures.

The Chancellor of Justice (EE: ) is appointed by the Riigikogu for seven years. On 15 December 2021, the Riigikogu appointed Ülle Madise as the Chancellor of Justice for a second term.

The main task of the Chancellor of Justice is to ensure that:

Laws and regulations would be in compliance with other laws

Authorities and o icials would not violate people’s constitutional rights and freedoms, laws and other legislation of general application, as well as the principles of good administration

Read more on how to submit your application to the Chancellor of Justice in the handbook on rights and responsibilities.

2.3. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

The observance of human rights also includes the obligation to honour the human rights of other persons and groups of persons. The term’ fundamental rights’ is often used in conjunction with ‘human rights’; however, they essentially mean the same as human rights. Chapter 2 of the Constitution of Estonia stipulates fundamental rights, freedoms and duties. The fundamental rights and freedoms listed in the constitution are guaranteed in Estonia to all Estonian citizens as well as the foreign nationals and stateless persons in Estonia. Human rights are universal and both civil and human rights are guaranteed. There are in total 12 rights described in the constitution of Estonia, read more about them in riigiteataja.ee

Estonia also guarantees you the freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is the right to freely express one’s thoughts and disseminate information on these thoughts and, in a broader context, it is also press freedom and freedom of expression. However, freedom of speech and the right to the freedom of information can be restricted in the interests of national security and for the protection of the fundamental rights of other persons and general interests of the society. This covers state secrets, business secrets and impartiality of trials. Also, dissemination of false information and defamation and violation of honour and dignity of other persons, humiliation and insult are prohibited.

2.4. CIVIL SOCIETY

Hoia sõbrad lähedal ja vaenlased veel lähemal

Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer

Civil society is understood to be a sphere of society that is relatively independent of the state and the business sector in which individuals and groups cooperate to promote their interests and values and which balances the e ect of the business sector and public authorities in society. In addition to the non-pro t sector, also the press, political parties, religious associations, trade unions and other institutions constitute a part of civil society. Therefore, civil society does not only mean the so-called third sector. There are approximately 23,000 non-pro t or non-governmental organisations (NGO) in Estonia, including around 800 foundations and 600 religious associations. About half of the non-pro t associations are created for the shared management of apartments, garages or other buildings or plots of land that are not traditionally deemed part of civil society.

Around 50% of the Estonian population has participated in voluntary activities recently. Most popular elds have been promoting local life, environmental protection, education and science, and sports. The share of regular volunteers from all the participants of volunteer activities has been around 25%. Approximately 2/3 of the Estonian population tends to have an attitude of participatory democracy; this means that working together helps achieve more in social matters than working alone. Therefore, Estonians are generally open-minded in their value orientations and attitudes towards participatory democracy.

See more on volunteering, non-pro t organisations and di erent option for voluntary work in Estonia in the handbook on networking, volunteering and free time.

2.5. E-ESTONIA

Named “the most advanced digital society in the world” by Wired, Estonia has built an e icient, secure and transparent ecosystem where 99% of governmental services are online. It is no surprise then that Estonians have designed numerous digital solutions to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. E-Estonia is the Estonia where you can le your taxes, do banking, sign documents, vote in elections and get a prescription over the Internet.

The Estonian state o ers hundreds of e-services to citizens and thousands more to businesses. Some balance on the cutting-edge of innovation, while others are so commonplace that Estonians can’t imagine their lives without them. They save time, money and e ort; the digital signature feature of Estonian ID cards alone is estimated to save users ve days per year! Even if you don’t live in Estonia, you too can apply for Estonian e-residency and enjoy the business bene ts remotely!

Did you know?

One of the most popular facts about Estonia says that it was the rst country to implement online voting in local government elections of 2005, which is totally true!

It is all fast and secure. You can do it from anywhere using a state-issued Estonian ID-card (see more on Estonian ID-card in the handbook on services). This means no wasted paper and no queueing where you do not need to. As an entrepreneur, you can also register a business in as little as 18 minutes, and check relevant company, property and legal records online.

2.6. ESTONIAN POLICY OF INTEGRATION

Estonia has always been and still is an ethnically diverse country. Estonia was part of important business routes back in medieval times and an important strategic spot in many wars. This has left the region with an ethnically diverse society that is comprised of more than 210 di erent ethnic groups. However, living geographically next to each other and even working together does not always mean that people know a lot about others, who are outside their own ethnolinguistic groups. The objective of Estonia’s integration policy is to increase the cohesion of society and to involve people with di erent linguistic and cultural backgrounds in Estonian social and community life.

The migration trends of the end of the 20th century were that people mostly moved out from Estonia, to work and live in other countries. Migration balance was negative: there were more people who left Estonia than

those who arrived in Estonia. This trend was nally reversed in 2015, and in recent years the overall number of people living in Estonia has increased.

For two decades, the traditional target of integration policy was Russian-speaking population. The integration policies mostly revolved around learning Estonian language and history and, to a certain degree, getting a more nuanced understanding of the political scene. In recent years, due to the change in migration trends, the integration policies have strived to include new groups of people who are coming from very di erent ethnocultural backgrounds. It has meant that next to history and language, increasing emphasis is being put on the labour market and education policies, and also on security and social cohesion.

3. ESTONIAN CULTURE

Let us also introduce you to some of the cultural peculiarities of Estonia. Below you will nd a short overview of the most important cultural aspects in Estonia, food, arts, holidays, language, traditions and much more. Some of these aspects are also described in the other handbooks; for instance you can nd more information on leisure activities in the handbook on networking, volunteering and leisure time.

3.1. FOOD

Traditionally, an Estonian family eats home-cooked meals prepared using local ingredients. Estonians are proud of their agriculture and are convinced that local food is the best and healthiest. In fact, they are often willing to pay more for local produce than for imported goods. The staple foods of Estonian cuisine used to be potatoes, dairy, pork and bread. The bread baking has a long history - over seven thousand years! - and is considered one of the most important foods on the table.

Did you know?

Bread has been made in Estonia for over seven thousand years and is considered one of the most important foods on the table.

One of the rst space foods was produced in Estonia. This was made at Põltsamaa factory in 1962 as the products produced there had the suitable packaging for being taken along into space (metal tubes).

Food is essential to Estonians, and it took years for their cuisine to form and become what it is today. From smoked sh to homemade bread, everyone can nd something for their taste. Here are some of the traditional things consumed by Estonians.

Kvass is a traditional fermented beverage made from rye bread. Kvass is considered non-alcoholic but might have up to about 1% alcohol.

Chocolate is famous in Estonia. The oldest chocolate factory is Kalev and it is worth trying their products.

Sprats are typical in the Baltic Sea, which means that this sh can be found in almost every restaurant and shop. Make sure to try out sprat sandwich (EE: ) which is made of dark bread, sprat and boiled egg.

Mulgipuder is very simple to prepare as it is made of potatoes and groat. Many years ago, mulgipuder was eaten during the most important holidays and it was considered a fancy dish.

Kama is a mixture of roasted barley, rye, oat and pea our, and it is used as an ingredient to make delicious Estonian desserts. Locals also mix kama with buttermilk or ke r and eat it for breakfast, so if you want to try a classic Estonian breakfast, you know what to order!

Vastlakukkel is a sweet eaten during Shrove Tuesday and it is made from a wheat bun stu ed with delicious whipped cream.

3.2. ESTONIAN CLIMATE

Estonian weather is often made fun of and the local climate is considered a major drawback to living in Estonia. However, Estonians value the four seasons greatly and much time is spent outdoors, regardless of the weather. The climate in Estonia is temperate and milder than would be expected from such Northern latitudes (thanks to the warm maritime air). The weather is very variable, with strong winds, high precipitation and uctuations in temperature.

There are four seasons of virtually equal length. Estonia has a signi cant seasonal variation in daylight. In the winter, the days are short and dark; in the summer, the days are long. Estonians nd the weather to be one of the most popular discussion topics and observing the weather forecast is very common, regardless of the season.

Did you know?

Estonia has one of the cleanest air in the world and actively sells its pollution quota. For instance, in 2014, Estonia sold its CO2 pollution quota to Spain and received new CAF trams in exchange.

This is why you can see a special sticker on trams in Tallinn!

3.3. CULTURE AND PERCEPTIONS

It is known that Estonians tend to be reserved, serious, and hard-working people. While close relations with strangers develop slowly, once created, they are sincere and lasting. Estonians do not readily obey and respect people in positions of authority based merely on their rank and status. Instead, Estonians welcome managers that give them the opportunity to state their opinions and express disagreement and be included in the decision-making process.

Estonian population is sometimes characterized as rather individualistic. Estonians foster a de nite conviction about personal responsibility and everybody’s own achievement and contribution to be self-ful lled. Most Estonians believe that everyone should be allowed to do his/her own thing, reach new heights or even dig their own grave. Work situations are driven more by task-orientation than by relationship-orientation, which is to say that for Estonians, work relations serve a functional purpose. Achievement is re ected directly on the person responsible. Estonian social framework is much looser than it is in many other individualist countries. In Estonia, a person’s progress in life does not depend on how well connected the person is; transparency and honesty rather than harmony and loyalty are virtues in Estonia.

For this reason, Estonians tend to be direct communicators. They usually say what they mean and mean what they say, and there is limited time for small talk. Estonian society is driven by a certain amount of modesty and fairness. Estonians do not boast about their achievements. Instead, they enhance their character through hard work and diligence and show their competitiveness by letting the results speak for themselves. Estonians prefer to take turns out of fairness and consideration for the other person’s time. Passive silence and listening are very much part of the Estonian communication style. Although Estonians communicate in a direct manner, they do tend to shy away from con icts. For this reason, they are reluctant to raise issues and are quick to take constructive criticism personally.

Many companies in Estonia are run and sta ed by people of younger generations, who favour an informal, democratic, and consultative management style. Thus, decisions are ideally made by gaining support through participation. Estonia has a high preference for avoiding uncertainty. Estonians maintain rigid codes of belief and behaviour and are sometimes intolerant of unorthodox behaviours and ideas.

3.4. DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY

Estonian society generally respects diversity, regardless of what you may hear from the media. This means that many di erent people live in Estonia. They all enrich the Estonian society - they may look di erent, come from di erent cultures, be of di erent age, gender, origin, experience, ability or interests. All people are equally valuable. Gender equality is crucial. Women and men, boys and girls are equal in all walks of life. They have equal rights, obligations, responsibility and opportunities. They have an equal right to make decisions about their lives. For example, nobody needs to ask permission from anyone to go to see a doctor, go out on their own or work.

3.5. COMMUNICATION

Like in other Northern countries, Estonians at rst glance may seem reserved, calm and serious. Sometimes a bit too straightforward. In Estonia, people are mostly used to a rather direct conversation style, without too much small-talk. Taking a long time to get to the point is considered a waste of time. People are relatively informal when they communicate with their colleagues, often calling them by their rst name irrespective of their age or position.

On the rst encounter, foreigners may be surprised to nd that approaching Estonians with warm hugs and kisses might create a moment of confusion. While giving a hug is increasingly a habit among young generation, adults are more used to a verbal “Hello!”, a handshake, maybe a nod. Estonians are not showing emotions easily; also creating meaningful contacts on a personal level might take longer than in some other cultures.

Estonians value their privacy and personal space. People usually greet each other with a wave of the hand or a nod, i.e. without physical contact. A handshake is used in more formal settings (regardless of whether the other person is a man or a woman). Physical contact (e.g. a hug or a handshake) is common among young people and in informal communication.

Eye contact is appreciated in communication: it shows that you are interested in the other person and that they have your attention. Avoiding eye contact may be interpreted as insincerity or that the other person is not interested in the conversation. Always try to make eye contact, but ensure it is not too intense, or it may be interpreted as overbearing.

3.6. GIFTS

Estonians celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, marriage, graduation, and oftentimes also moving into a new home. If you have been invited to a party, take a gift for the host (unless it says on the invitation that you do not need to bring one). The gift should be something small – owers, chocolates, wine etc. You should not give gifts to o icials or other service providers (e.g. doctors) as expressions of gratitude – this could be deemed bribery and be subject to punishment.

3.7. HOLIDAYS

The most important holidays are listed below. It is good to remember them as these dates are public holidays and, therefore, constitute days o work

1 January – New Year (EE: )

24 February – Independence Day (EE: )

Good Friday (EE: )

Easter Sunday (EE: )

1 May – Spring Day (EE: )

24 June – Victory Day (EE: )

26 June – St. John´s Day / Midsummer Day (EE: )

20 August – Restoration of Independence Day (EE: )

24 December – Christmas Eve (EE: )

25 December – Christmas Day (EE: )

26 December – Boxing Day (EE: )

PAY ATTENTION!

If a public holiday falls on the weekend, a free day is not observed the following week.

The working day before New Year’s Day (1 January), Independence Day (24 February), Victory Day (23 June), and Christmas Eve (24 December) are shortened by three hours. During public holidays kindergartens, schools, and other establishments and businesses are closed. Grocery stores and supermarkets are open for a shorter period.

St. John’s Eve (EE: ) on 23 June and Christmas Eve (EE: ) on 24 December are the most important holidays in Estonia. Christmas, celebrated after the winter solstice, falls in the darkest period of the year and is primarily a family-centred holiday. Both the old and the young stand by a decorated, candle-lit Christmas-tree waiting for Father Christmas (Santa Claus) to deliver presents. Afterwards, they all sit down to a festive dinner, which usually consists of roast pork, black pudding with cowberry jam, and sauerkraut with roast potatoes.

On the evening of 23 June, Estonian cities become half empty. Everyone who can do so travels to the countryside to celebrate one of Estonia’s most signi cant holidays - St. John’s Eve. On that night darkness lasts for only a few hours. Hundreds of bon res are lit all over Estonia, people sing and dance around them, and when the ames have died down a bit, those who are brave enough leap through them to shake o the year’s evils. St. John’s (Midsummer’s) Day marks the longest day and the shortest night of the year, and the traditions relating to the celebration date back to pre-Christian pagan times.

3.8. ESTONIAN SAUNA TRADITIONS

The sauna is an ancient source of health for Estonians. Estonians are true sauna-lovers and there are many opportunities to enjoy the traditions for yourself while visiting the countryside. Today saunas form an inseparable part of almost every private home, summer cottage, and farm. You will not nd a single spa in Estonia that doesn’t have a proper sauna complex of its own.

One thing you de nitely shouldn’t miss doing in a traditional Estonian sauna, which is commonly referred to as ‘whisking’ (EE: ), is gently beating yourself (or having someone else beat you) with birch twigs, which accelerates perspiration and both massages and cleanses your skin. Just ask beforehand if this is allowed in a particular sauna – in public spas it is usually prohibited because of extra cleaning afterwards. Older and more traditional saunas are often found in tourist farms.

Did you know?

According to some sources that originate from the 13th century, the sauna custom in Estonia is around 800 years old. This is the rst time when the existence of sauna on this land was mentioned!

One of the most special sauna experiences is without doubt the smoke sauna. This is a ritual in itself – the sauna is heated for almost half a day, and the amount of time spent in it in total can amount to many hours. There is no emphasis on washing yourself clean since repeated exposure to steam and constant ‘whisking’ and cooling o cleanse you very e ectively in their own right. It is said that your mind too will come out of the smoke sauna as puri ed as your body. The Võru region’s smoke sauna tradition is listed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

Estonians have such respect for saunas that they have built them in some very unusual locations, including on buses, old re trucks, and barges –where in between enjoying the sauna itself and one another’s company the sauna-goers can jump into the lake or river straight from the sauna door.

Indian sauna tents are an experience all of their own, too, while many tourist farms have their own barrel saunas, in which you can immerse yourself in steaming water out in the open air surrounded by nature.

3.9. RELIGION

In many societies, religion has a signi cant role. In Estonia, however, less than a third of the population de ne themselves as religious people. The largest religious groups are Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox. There are also several smaller Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist groups. Although the number of believers is low, there is a freedom of religion in Estonia and everyone can adhere to their own practices.

When communicating with Estonians, it is good to know that the majority of the population is non-religious, but religion as such is not a taboo. Estonia has freedom of belief and speech. This means that Estonian does not have a state religion. People are free to choose their own faith and practice it peacefully. Religion is everyone’s personal matter and no one can be treated di erently because of his/her religion or beliefs. Everyone has the right to express and distribute their thoughts orally or in writing. It is not allowed, however, to instil hatred or to insult or humiliate others.

3.10. ETHNIC NATIONALITIES AND CULTURAL MINORITIES

Very di erent people live in Estonia. Many have their own culture, language or religion. Knowledge of the Estonian language is important, so that all people could interact with one another, could nd work and do well in their lives. It is important that people with di erent language and culture could adapt in Estonia and could learn to understand and respect other cultures. Estonia is one of the smallest countries in Europe in terms of population and in 2023 211 di erent nationalities and ethnic groups were represented in Estonia with the largest ethnic minorities being Russians (22,4%), Ukrainians (4%), Belarussians (0,8%), and Finns (0,6%).

Did you know?

Estonia is one of the few countries where the number of visiting tourists (annually) has exceeded the population. In 2019, more than 2,3 million tourists spent at least one night in Estonian tourist accommodation.

3.11. THE ARTS

Throughout these Settle in Estonia handbooks, you will encounter various quotes and references to our cultural gures, so it is worth telling you more about Estonian culture. In general, the scope of Estonian literature has steadily increased since the period of national awakening in the 19th century. Estonian literature was open to cultural and literary in uences of western Europe and developed a diversity of styles. As such, the writers of the 20th century represented three di erent epochs: Anton Hansen Tammsaare represented the former Republic of Estonia (1920–40), Jaan Kross wrote during the period of Soviet occupation and several novelists from today, for instance, Tõnu Õnnepalu or Andrus Kivirähk, represent modern Estonia after the 1990s.

Estonian visual art evolved in the middle of the 19th century with Johann Köler being among the leading painters. On the right, you can actually see one of his paintings (Faithful Guardian, 1878). Among more contemporary authors, it is worth mentioning Eduard Wiiralt, a symbol of bohemian art in the 1920s and 1930s or Jüri Arrak from the late-Soviet and post-Soviet period. Furthermore, Estonian art is closely connected to an early expression of Estonian nationalism in music dating from the mid-19th century.

Song and dance festivals were one of the main ways of such expression and the rst national song festival was held in 1869. In fact, they continue to be extremely popular in Estonia and even today the Song and Dance Celebration (held every ve years) remains an integral part of national identity. Notable Estonian composers and conductors include Rudolf Tobias, Gustav Ernesaks or Arvo Pärt.

The beginning of professional theatrical art in Estonia could be dated back to the creation of the Vanemuine Theatre in Tartu in 1870. Further to that, many theatres are located all across Estonia, including Viljandi, Rakvere, Pärnu or Tallinn. There is one national opera theatre, a youth theatre, and a puppet theatre. The festival Baltoscandal, which presents alternative theatre, started in Pärnu in 1990.

Johann Köler - Truu valvur

Arvo Pärt Composer

Silence must be longer. The music is about silence. The sounds are there to surround silence.

You will nd more information regarding theatres and leisure time in the handbook on networking, volunteering and leisure time. There you will be provided with a detailed information on what, where and when to visit in Estonia. Make sure to check it out!

3.12. TOWNS

Estonia has many towns and all of them have something unique to explore. Although it is common to travel between bigger towns (Tartu, Tallinn, Pärnu), you never know what fascinating you can nd when exploring a museum or a local store outside major cities. Thus, it is worth to travel around the country and explore its di erent parts. Islands are surely a popular destination and apart from Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, you may want to visit Muhu, Vormsi, Ruhnu, Kihnu and many di erent parts. In terms of cities, let us provide you with at least some of the destinations to consider.

Viljandi

Viljandi is a small town located in the south of Estonia. This town will be perfect for those who enjoy quiet walks through narrow alleys surrounded by old wooden houses. In fact, Viljandi can sometimes feel like a medieval city, especially if you end up near the ruins of the old castle and churches. Every year, at the end of July, Viljandi transforms into a vibrant town and welcomes thousands of people to the traditional Viljandi Folk Music Festival.

Rakvere

Rakvere is known for its enormous statue of aurochs – an extinct species of large cattle – which attracts many tourists from all over the world. This famous statue actually looks like a bull on Wall Street. However, it is not the only attraction in this city. You will also nd a 700-year-old fort in Rakvere and various concerts of famous Estonian musicians are held there.

Haapsalu

Haapsalu is a small resort town on the west coast of Estonia. This is the place where people have been running from big city life for ages, so if you enjoy walking around beautiful parks and on sandy beaches, Haapsalu is the place to go. Furthermore, the locals believe that the seawater and mud in the town have healing powers. In Haapsalu, you will also nd a wonderful medieval castle, so if you want to learn more about Estonian history, you must visit that castle and experience everything yourself.

Narva

Narva is the third-biggest city in Estonia, and the best city for those who want to learn more about Estonia during the Soviet times. Most of the buildings there were built during the Soviet regime, so you can travel back in time and walk around the streets that resemble the historical times. Another big attraction in Narva is the site of two fortresses. On one side of Narva River there is Narva Castle and on the other side stands a huge Ivangorod fortress (Russian territory). Today, those fortresses stand as historical heritage, but in the past, the Narva fortress was the only thing that protected the Estonians from the Russians.

Palmse

Palmse is a tiny town near Lahemaa National Park and attracts many visitors. In Palmse you will nd a wonderful manor house, which once belonged to the Pahlens family. A huge exhibition in the manor house will take you through the everyday lives of the Pahlens family and shows you the traditional Estonian culture. Palmse is also located next to Lahemaa National Park.

Otepää

Otepää is popular in winter when it gets ooded with people who enjoy skiing and other winter sports. The town itself is small and extremely cosy. It is surrounded by stunning nature and serves as a perfect place to get away from everyday problems and relax. During the summer, there are many sandy beaches around Otepää to visit too.

Keila

Keila is one of the oldest towns in Estonia. It was rst mentioned in the 10th century and a lot of historical monuments makes this city an outstanding place to visit. Further to that, you must also see the extraordinary Keila Waterfalls, which is de nitely one of the most amazing natural formations in Estonia.

Koluvere

Koluvere is a small town in the western part of Estonia, best known for a 900-year-old water castle. Koluvere is popular among tourists for its castle, which has seen many wars throughout the centuries and is now open to people who are interested in Estonian history.

Alatskivi

Alatskivi town is located in the eastern part of Estonia. It is a very popular tourist destination because of its wonderful Alatskivi Castle. The castle which represents the best of Estonian Gothic architecture. In addition, Lake Peipus, the fth biggest lake in Europe, is only a few minutes away!

Valga

Valga is located in the southern part of Estonia at the border between Latvia and Estonia. In fact, Valga is a twin town and formed of Valga and Valka (latter located on the Latvian side). The town used to be one twin-town Valga-Valka and was rst mentioned in 1286 under the German name Walk. Today, you will nd one of the biggest military theme parks in Baltics in addition to beautiful Pedeli recreation area and museums.

Did you know?

Estonia is the land of capital cities. While Tallinn is the o icial capital of Estonia, Tartu is considered the capital of culture, Pärnu the capital of summer, Otepää the capital of winter, Narva the capital of autumn, Kuressaare the capital of weddings, Jõgeva of frost and Türi of spring.

4. ESTONIAN LANGUAGE

4.1. SHORT OVERVIEW

Estonian is the o icial language of the Republic of Estonia and is being spoken as a mother tongue by approximately 1.1 million people. Approximately 887 000 of them live in Estonia. The rest are in Sweden, Canada, USA, Russia, Australia, Finland, Germany and other countries.

Estonian is one of the smallest languages in the world that ful ls all the functions that are necessary for an independent state to “perform” linguistically. Estonian is language of teaching both at school and university, it is a language of modern science, it is used in the army and in the theatre - it covers all walks of life.

Estonian is very di erent from languages spoken in the other Baltic states, i.e. Latvian and Lithuanian. The Estonian language is member of the Finnic language group, which is a branch of the Finno-Ugric group of languages, a subdivision of Uralic languages. The closest languages to Estonian are Finnish, Hungarian and some smaller languages from the Finnic branch like South Estonian, Votic, Livonian, Ingrian etc. While Estonians might understand Finnish quite well, the di erence between Estonian and Hungarian is much bigger. See for example the table below!

4.2. HISTORY

The ancestors of the Estonians arrived at the Baltic Sea 11 000 years ago from Central Europe.

Hea sõna võidab võõra väe

A good word conquers the enemy

The theories and timeframe about the formation of Finno-Ugric languages are debatable, but it is known that these languages were spoken in this area before the 13th century. See the approximate timeline here as follows!

13c. The crusades to Estonia began. Low German nobility and burghers settled on the territory of present-day Estonia and Latvia.

Fragments of sentences in Estonian are described in the Latin chronicle Heinrici Chronicon Livoniae (1224-1227).

Low German language started to in uence Estonian dialects. 14-16c. Estonians lived under serfdom.

The oldest continuous text, the Kullamaa Manuscript (1524), and the oldest book in Estonian (1535) were written at this time.

Besides Estonian dialects, German, Swedish, Danish, Russian, Polish, Finnish and Latvian were spoken.

16-18c. Many wars, sickness and famine devastated the land during these centuries. After the Livonian war (1558-1583) Estonia went under the rule of the Swedish Empire. The Estonian population declined. After the Great Northern War (1700–1721) Estonia became part of the Russian Empire.

Dialects changed due to migration.

For the rst time, services were held in Estonian (1600).

The oldest university in Estonia, the University of Tartu, was established (1632).

The rst Estonian grammars and dictionaries were created.

Schools for peasantry were opened. Two written languages were used: North Estonian and South Estonian. The rst complete Bible was published in North Estonian (1739).

19c. Serfdom was abolished (1816-1818). Estonians were free to move, so dialects changed again. The National Awakening began. The name eesti came into use. However, the century ended with a period of russication.

Baltic German Estophiles became interested in the Estonian language and culture.

A lectureship of the Estonian language was established at the University of Tartu (1803). The Estonian language developed into a cultural language.

Majority of the population spoke written Estonian. It was used in literature, science, legislation, scholarly research on Estonian were published, and Estonian journalism was born.

First Estonian grammar in the Estonian language was published by Karl August Hermann (1884).

20c. After the collapse of the Russian Empire, the Republic of Estonia was established (1918) .

Estonian became the o icial language.

The rst normative and regulative dictionary of the Estonian language came out.

Estonian became the language of teaching at the University of Tartu (1919).

1941. During World War II Germany occupied Estonia.

German became the o icial language of Estonia.

1944–1991. The Soviet Union occupied Estonia (1942). Many were arrested, executed or deported. Estonian refugees set up communities in Sweden, Germany, Canada, UK, USA. In the 1980s the Singing Revolution began.

Both Russian and Estonian were o icial languages.

Speaking and standardising the Estonian language was a form of national resistance to the Soviet ideology.

1991 – today. In 1991 the Republic of Estonia was restored.

Legislation about the Estonian language was introduced. State councils and departments for the development of Estonian language were established.

Estonia joined the EU and NATO (2004), and the Estonian language became one of the working languages of these unions.

4.3. DIALECTS

Socially strati ed dialects have not developed yet in Estonian compared to the major European languages. Di erences arise in vocabulary use among professions and age groups. An English-based slang has emerged from virtual spheres.

Standard Estonian is based on two most used dialects, North Estonian and South Estonian, which are phonetically and grammatically di erent. North Estonian had dominated since the 18th century, when the rst complete Bible was written in North Estonian. By the beginning of the 20th-century the tendency is to homogenize Estonian language and make it increasingly normative, which also means that the use of dialects decreases.

Even though most dialects have a few speakers left, some features indicate where the speaker comes from. For example, a person from Saaremaa, the largest island of Estonia, replaces the phoneme “õ” with “ö” (mönus öhtu for mõnus õhtu, i.e. “nice evening”).

Did you know?

Võro dialect: In the 20th-century Võro dialect (EE: ), a South Estonian language from Võrumaa, made a comeback. The dialect is taken care of by its active speakers and Võro Instituut. They create literature and music; children of Võrumaa can study the language at school.

It is quite di erent from standard Estonian: Estonian / Võro / English punane / verev / red soe / lämmi / warm

Estonian Sign Language

O icial language (international code ESO)

About 4,500 users

Mostly in uenced by the Russian and Finnish sign languages

4.4. THE USE OF ESTONIAN

Estonian is the only o icial language in Estonia. According to the latest census of 2021 ).Estonian is spoken as a mother tongue by 67% and as a foreign language by 17% of inhabitants. This means that 84% of people living in Estonia speak or understand Estonian. Russian is the next most widely spoken language, with 29% speaking it as their mother tongue and 38% as a foreign language (67% in total). English is spoken by 47% of the population, only 0.3% of them native speakers. Estonian, Russian, and English are followed by Finnish (0.3% speak it as their mother tongue and 10% as a foreign language) and German (0.1% and 7%, respectively).

Estonian speakers and non-speakers are not distributed equally across the country. It is possible to distinguish four language environments in Estonia: 1) the capital Tallinn, which is characterised by extensive multilingualism; 2) Eastern Estonian cities which are characterised by the dominance of the Russian language; 3) cities with a small Russian-speaking minority (15–30%) and 4) cities and rural areas with a predominantly Estonian-speaking population.

Because of the number of Estonian speakers is limited, Estonians are afraid of losing their language and could sometimes be overprotective of their language. This is also partly because di erent other dominant languages have existed in parallel with the Estonian language. During Soviet time this was Russian and its in uence persists with the considerable Russian minority living in Estonia. But today, apart from Russian, there is a new dominant language emerging, which is English. This language is particularly popular among young Estonians who tend to use many English words mixed with Estonian. In fact, English impacts not just the usage of words, but also sentence construction etc.

Attitudes among the Estonian population (from a survey conducted in 2017)

74% always prefer Estonian when communicating. This gure is 93% among Estonians.

91% think that children must learn the Estonian language even if their home language is not Estonian.

41% notice the incorrect use of the Estonian language every day.

44% are ready to invest their time and energy to have a correct Estonian.

75% think that Estonian residents must learn other languages in addition to English.

4.5. KEEPING ESTONIAN ALIVE

To preserve and promote the Estonian language, the Institute of the Estonian Language has been created. This is a special place where everybody can ask advice about the Estonian language – for instance, what is the correct or best way to write or say something, how to use di erent words, but also good writing: commas, endings etc.

There is a language advice helpline – 631 3731 – which is open on weekdays at 9-12 and 13-17 or online kn.eki.ee

Furthermore, many public or non-pro t institutions, initiatives and traditions are keeping Estonian alive and well.

The national language strategy and policies are created by the Language Inspectorate and the Language O ice at the Ministry of Education and Science.

Some active non-pro t associations in this eld are the Estonian Mother Tongue Society, the Mother Tongue Teachers’ Society, the Estonian Terminology Association and the Estonian Association for Applied Linguistics.

Research on Estonian is done by various universities, like the University of Tartu and the Tallinn University, the Institute of the Estonian Language, the Institute of Cybernetics and at various research institutions all over the world.

Competitions:

E-dictation (EE: ) competition takes place on 14 March. The winner is chosen in several categories: overall winner, adult, student, philologist, people with another mother tongue, Estonians living abroad. In 2023, 10 890 e-dictations were registered. 432 of them were awless.

Summary competition TUUM, takes place in autumn. In 2022, for example, 189 works were received from 47 teams and 142 individual writers. The youngest participant was 12 years old, the oldest 54 years old.

The competition to create and collect new Estonian words “SÕNAUS”, which takes place less regularly, but was initiated in 2010 by the president Toomas Hendrik Ilves. As a result of this competition, several new words have been introduced to the Estonian language and are actively used, for instance, the word (infrastructure) has been replaced with the word .

Did you know?

In Estonia, the Mother Tongue Day is celebrated on 14 March.

4.6. WHY LEARN ESTONIAN?

In a country where most people speak at least two languages with ease, learning Estonian may not be strictly necessary. Still, it can certainly help you to understand the country at a deeper level.

Estonia has one of the highest literacy rates in the world at 99.8% and nearly everyone speaks a foreign language, most commonly English and Russian, but also Finnish, German or Swedish. This makes getting around Estonia easy, though an (thank you) is always appreciated.

To learn or not to learn the Estonian language, that is the question. Knowing the Estonian language de nitely opens up a whole new layer of possibilities – options in employment but also in social and cultural life. Hence, if you see yourself staying in Estonia for a more extended period of time, it is worth to use already now the di erent language learning possibilities o ered, also by the state and for free (see more below).

First, it is basically a superpower. As any English-speaker will testify, sometimes speaking a language that no one around you can understand is not only preferable but necessary. And this is where Estonian really shines. With around 1 million speakers and more cases than many other languages, speaking Estonian is as close to a superpower as you can get without tying a bed sheet around your shoulders. You can be quite sure that those people in the next row over will not be able to tell you’re talking about how silly their hair looks. That outside of Estonia, of course.

No less important is the fact that many people who have arrived in Estonia and started to learn Estonian have been positively surprised how quickly it opens the hearts of Estonian people when trying to speak their language.

And, of course, knowing a language allows you to understand the culture more deeply, starting from books and movies to popular songs.

Second, Estonian language may be required at work as the majority of employers use Estonian as their internal work language – this is the language spoken at meetings, used in written communication internally and with clients and also during social o -work activities. Hiring the rst foreigner who does not speak Estonian can often be a challenge for both parties –the organisation itself and the new employee too – as the language barrier may create misunderstandings in professional situations as well as in teambuilding. The English language is working language only in some of the more prominent international a iliates or IT companies.

Great is someone who shines without sparing itself.

Artur Alliksaar Poet

The reason for having to know the Estonian language also derives from the o icial requirements imposed by the state – Estonian government has issued a regulation that lists many positions where the local language is mandatory at either A2, B1, B2 or C1 level. The required level of the language depends on the extent of responsibility that the working-position requires.

For instance:

A2 is required from security guards and ticket controllers

B1 is required from data entry clerks, lecturers, rescue workers, service providers and caregivers

B2 is required from teachers and nurses

C1 is required from doctors, notaries and most o icials

Regulations on language requirements (EE) issued by the Estonian government

Where to get more information

Read more about the Estonian language pro ciency examinations on the website of HARNO at harno.ee/en/examinationstests-and-studies/examinations-tests-and-certi cates/ estonian-language-pro ciency

4.7. LANGUAGE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

There are several options for learning the language in Estonia. Let us explain and elaborate on some of them.

Kaja oskab iga keelt Echo speaks every language

4.7.1. Language courses

The state o ers free Estonian language courses on A1-A2, B1 levels as an integral part of the Settle in Estonia programme. More information about the programme, timetable and registration is available on settleinestonia.ee and on the o icial Facebook page of the programme.

Di erent providers o er a wide variety of language courses. In addition to free, state-funded language courses, you can also study in various language schools, that o er a wide range of courses with varying intensity and group sizes. Language schools can be easily found by doing some research online.

You can learn Estonian in either a regular group class or with an individual tutor, once in Estonia. There are several reputable and established private language schools in larger cities and towns. You may also be able to attend a language class at one of the universities as an open university student. This option is limited based on the timetable and levels of courses o ered, which correspond to the student body as a whole, and tend to increase in di iculty as the academic year advances.

The best way to start is simply with an internet search. Ask around the local foreigners’ or expat community through one of the active Facebook groups for recommendations, or even try advertising (or replying to an advert) for a language practice swap, which are frequently advertised in the universities. The foreigners’ communities are listed in more detail in the handbook on networking, volunteering and free time.

Another popular choice is to join the winter or summer schools arranged by Tallinn or Tartu universities. These intensive courses, which last from three to four weeks on average, are competitively priced, come with cultural activities and excursions and are taught in either English or Finnish.

In addition to courses, it is crucial to practice and listen to the language. For this, you can watch TV, listen to the radio, read books and newspapers or visit cultural events, language cafes, volunteering or other networks. Group hobby activities (like singing in a choir or joining a sports team) are also a great way to meet people and practice the language too.

Estonian language houses are located in Tallinn and Narva – they can help you nd the language learning options that best meet your needs (from language and culture clubs or weekly language practising events). It is worth keeping an eye on their social media for events in di erent locations and on the events page: integratsioon.ee/events

Estonian language houses

Tallinn

Rävala 5

+372 6599 022

Narva Linda 2

+372 6599 030

See more at integratsioon.ee

4.7.2. Informal language practice

If your Estonian language skills are at least A2 level, you are welcome to participate and practice the language in a series of virtual short conversations “Keelerulett” (Language roulette). The series is organised by Integration Foundation (EE: ). The language roulette brings people together virtually in the Zoom environment in the format of short virtual chats, where it is possible to chat in Estonian for a limited time on a given topic in a random group in a lively and free atmosphere. Integration Foundation also organises Language Friends Program that o ers the opportunity to practice Estonian language by communicating with volunteer Estonian language mentors via e-channels or phone. More information is available on the website integratsioon.ee.

Once you have a basic grasp of the language, there are several options for “language exchange” to practice your skills. As well as the choice of advertising in one of the universities or through a local Facebook group, in Tallinn, there is a popular “Foreigners Learning Estonian” group, who meet several times a week to practice, alongside a native speaker or two.

Multikey.app is a language practising application that helps to nd conversation partners.

4.7.3. Online learning

There are many options to learn some Estonian online or from language course books, audiobooks and CD-s. As most foreigners nd the pronunciation of the words most challenging, using a guide with audio content is essential – these are available through YouTube, private web-based language schools and online courses. Just try to pronounce (moon explorer) or (the edge of the ice) without help.

To get up to speed with the basics, try Lingvist’s Essential Estonian for free. The Estonian startup, which uses arti cial intelligence to make learning faster and more e icient, released a compact course of 100 essential Estonian phrases and words – merely a quick introduction. The phrases are not the most useful ones, but they are quite fun to learn at least!

For a comprehensive Estonian course, which is popular and well regarded, try a free online course Keeleklikk that teaches Estonian to A2 level, using either English or Russian as a base language. There is also related Keeletee which is a free online course for more advanced learners (B1).

WalkTalk is based on everyday situations. It is a bit clumsy to use but provides a quite good context for the beginning. This application helps you to nd necessary expressions and words based on a situation.

Free CoLanguage provides a pretty good overview of the basics as well and it is especially useful for grammar. While you have to sign up to access the whole content base, it provides a good overview of beginner's grammar.

WordDive provides a paid course, but it has an excellent interface and makes learning very easy. You will learn just words, though. As the context is quite essential when it comes to improving your vocabulary, you should probably pay for this app once you’ve exhausted other options.

You can learn playfully as well – Digital Dialects consist of Estonian language games and you can test your pronunciation skills in the Estonian Tryouts game. Simply listen to fun words like (question) and (edge of the ice) and try to repeat them! Share your results on social media using #visitestonia to let us know how you did.

There is a new Learner’s Sõnaveeb sonaveeb.ee/lite. The user can currently choose between two modes of information display: Learner’s Sõnaveeb (for language learners) or Sõnaveeb (for advanced users). The

Learner’s Sõnaveeb is intended primarily for learners at the A2–B1 prociency levels. It enables to search word meanings and translations, and shows 5,000 basic Estonian words; information is presented in a simple way: the de nitions are short, knowledge is organised using controlled vocabulary, and there is explicit information about the most frequent morphological forms, etc. Sõnaveeb is intended primarily for native speakers. It displays all the information on a word that comes from di erent sources.

Additional information

Full list of language schools at keeleamet.ee/keeleametitegevused-ja-eesmargid/keeleseaduse-ja-teiste-keeleoskustja-keelekasutust

Foreigners Learning Estonian Facebook group facebook.com/groups/ est

A&E Keeltekool aekeeltekool.ee

City Language School citykeeltekool.ee

Multilingua Language School multilingua.ee

Opus Lingua Language School opuslingua.eu

TEA Language School keeltekool.tea.ee

Tallinn (Estonia) Language Exchange mylanguageexchange.com

Independent study and materials integratsioon.ee/en/ independent-study-and-materials

Summer schools

Tallinn University Summer School summerschool.tlu.ee

University of Tartu International Summer University ut.ee

Foreigners’ persective

„I studied Estonian for 1-2 years. I took the courses. The companies I worked at always o ered such an opportunity. And with my friends –I did not exactly practise a conversation, but rather just single words or sentences, and they really liked that. Feedback has always been positive and that is very encouraging. That is one thing everyone in Estonia can do, if the goal is for others to learn the Estonian language. It is best when Estonians always say that it is so nice that you are trying. And it is a great feeling when you can talk to more people“

Säba from Iran

4.8. CHARACTERISTICS OF ESTONIAN

4.8.1. Orthography and Pronunciation

The Estonian alphabet is based on Roman script:

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, r, s, š, z, ž, t, u, v, w, õ, ä, ö, ü, x, y.

Easy to read out loud: words are usually pronounced as they are written.

Estonian is vocal: it includes 9 vowels: a, e, i, o, u, õ, ä, ö, ü.

Vowels may also form words without any consonants:

“ “ - No and “ “ - night.

Or form very long sequences:

“ “ - edge of the ice or “ “ – lunar researcher, or „ “ – manager

Estonian is a person of few words. When an Estonian says “aa“, it actually means “I understand“.

Letters with diacritics (õ, ä, ö, ü): “ö“ sounds like girl, “ä“ like cat in English.

Palatalisation: When consonants l, n, s, t, d are followed by an “i“ in the next syllable, then the consonant is pronounced with the added nuance of an “i“, but it is not indicated in writing.

The “h“ is silent: Estonians might not pronounce the “H“ at the beginning of words.

hall hobune “grey horse”, they say “all obune”.

Stress: Usually, the main stress falls on the rst syllable.

The “õ“: “õ“ letter was “invented“ in 1818 by Otto Wilhelm Masing to mark an intermediate vowel phoneme between ö and o. This letter is unique to Estonian language, maybe even unpronounceable for foreigners.

4.8.2. Structure

Many cases: Estonian has 14 cases altogether. The case endings have the same purpose as prepositions in English and other languages.

Enne mõtle, siis ütle

Think before you say

3-quantity system: Estonian has a unique 3-quantity system, which has three di erent quantities both in vowels and consonants, where 2nd and 3rd quantities are only distinguished in pronunciation. For example:

koli (1st) – kooli (2nd) – kooli (3rd). “Trash“ – genitive of “school“ – partitive of “school“.

On the bright side: the Estonian language has no gender and no articles. There is no he or she. The pronoun “tema“ can be used for both man and woman.

No future tense: From tenses, the present, past simple, present perfect and past perfect are used.

For instance, look at these sentences in English

1. “I go to the woods”

2. “I will go to the woods”

3. “I am going to the woods”

They are all di erent and their tense also di ers. However, in Estonian, all this can be said in just one sentence = “Ma lähen metsa“

Word order: A sentence can be rearranged, but it stays grammatically correct. The usual word order in an Estonian sentence: subject – verb – object

4.8.3. Vocabulary

Estonian vocabulary consists of native and loan words or stems. Estonian stems are similar to other Finno-Ugric languages or just originally Estonian. From foreign languages, Estonian vocabulary has been in uenced the most by German, less so by Russian and Swedish. It is interesting to notice that while some loan words have retained their meaning, many words tend to mean a completely di erent thing. This often causes excitement among foreigners; and several examples are provided below.

Some loans from these languages:

German

EE: hunt (wolf)

DE: Hund (dog)

EE: peegel

DE: Spiegel (mirror)

Swedish Russian Finnish

EE: pagar

SE: bagare (baker)

EE: munder

DE: мундир (uniform)

EE: hallitus (mould)

FI: hallitus (government)

EE: kalju (cli )

FI: kalju (bald)

The vocabulary is increased by the frequent word derivations, or new words and compounds are created from existing already vocabulary. Besides national language planners, word-making competitions are held where the whole Estonian population can create new words. In 2002 (for “globalisation”) and (for “integration”) were invented.

4.9. LEARN SOME ESTONIAN

SOME USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

Tere! – Hello

Tere hommikust/päevast/õhtust! – Good morning/afternoon/evening

Nägemiseni! / Head aega! – Good bye!

Tšau – informal way to say both “hi” and “bye”

Aitäh! / Tänan! – Thank you!

Palun – Please! Here you are! You are welcome!

Head isu! – Bon appetite!

Terviseks! – Cheers!

Jah – Yes

Ei – No

Võib-olla – Maybe

Vabandage! – Excuse me!

Vabandust! – Sorry!

FOOD AND DRINKS

Kohv – co ee

Tee – tea

Vesi – water

Pitsa – pizza

Praad – roast

Salat – salad

Kook – cake

Jäätis – ice cream

DOCUMENTS

id-kaart – ID card

isikut tõendav dokument - personal identi cation document

juhiluba – driver’s license

lugejapilet – library card

pass – passport

LIST OF REFERENCES

O icial guides and gateways:

Destination Estonia – Relocation Guide: Compilation of practical info for new arrivals in Estonia

workinestonia.com/coming-to-estonia/relocation-guide/ E-Estonia Portal: eesti.ee – gateway to all government information and public e-services.

Settle in Estonia: settleinestonia.ee – Your guide to settling in Estonia

Roadmap for coming to Estonia: euraxess.ee/estonia/information-assistance/entryconditions-and-residence-permits-estonia/roadmap-visas-entry

Visit Estonia: visitestonia.com - gateway to travel and sights in Estonia

Study in Estonia: studyinestonia.ee gateway to higher education in Estonia

Research in Estonia: researchinestonia.eu — information and news about research activities in Estonia

Found in Estonia: foundinestonia.ee — bi-weekly podcast sharing stories of people who have moved to Estonia

Ministries and other institutions:

Ministry of Education and Research: hm.ee/en – education, research and Estonian language.

Ministry of Social A airs: sm.ee/en – health care, labour, social services.

Ministry of Culture: kul.ee/en — information about the state’s culture, sports, arts and heritage conservation activities.

Ministry of Justice: just.ee/en – legal and criminal policy of the state.

Ministry of the Interior: siseministeerium.ee/en – citizenship, migration, identi cation documents and internal security.

Ministry of Foreign A airs: vm.ee/en – security, business diplomacy and human rights.

Estonian Ministry of Economic A airs and Communications: mkm.ee — economy, entrepreneurship, business-academic cooperation.

The Integration Foundation: integratsioon.ee/en – information about adaptation in Estonia, adaptation programme Settle in Estonia, Estonian language courses, citizenship and Estonian Language houses etc.

Estonian Institute: estinst.ee/en/ – information about Estonian society and culture.

EURES: eures.ee/en – pan-European network for job-seekers.

Unemployment Fund: tootukassa.ee/eng – o icial website of Eesti Töötukassa, which administers the social insurance provisions related to unemployment, and organises labour market services.

Pension Centre: pensionikeskus.ee- information about the Estonian pension system.

Police and Border Guard Board: politsei.ee/en – legal basis for staying in Estonia, identity documents, citizenship.

Police and Border Guard Board Migration Advisors: politsei.ee/en/migration-consultants – free legal advice by PBGB personal advisors about di erent legal grounds to live in Estonia and the necessary documentation

Emergency contacts: 112 - 24/7 emergency telephone number for ambulance, police and rescue workers.

1247 – State helpline for trustworthy governmental information, state measures on coronavirus, psychological rst aid to all in need.

116 006 – Victim support helpline assistance to people who have fallen victim to an o ence, negligence, or mistreatment or experienced physical, psychological, economic, or sexual violence.

1220 – The Medical Counselling Advice Line o ers medical advice (calling from abroad, dial +372 630 4107). 24/7 in Estonian and Russian, between 15.00-17.00 in English

KEYWORDS

state society politics

civil rights

e-society culture

perceptions traditions

geography

language

learning

courses

expressions

informal language

vocabulary

characteristics

Estonian State, Society and Language - Settle in Estonia programme

Estonia:

State, Society and Language

HANDBOOKS

1. ESTONIA AT THE GLANCE

Geography

2. ESTONIAN STATE

2.1. POLITICAL SYSTEM

2.1.1. Estonia in the EU

2.2. LEGAL SYSTEM

2.3. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

2.4. CIVIL SOCIETY

2.5. E-ESTONIA

Did you know?

2.6. ESTONIAN POLICY OF INTEGRATION

3. ESTONIAN CULTURE

3.1. FOOD

Did you know?

3.2. ESTONIAN CLIMATE

Did you know?

3.3. CULTURE AND PERCEPTIONS

3.4. DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY

3.5. COMMUNICATION

3.6. GIFTS

3.7. HOLIDAYS

3.8. ESTONIAN SAUNA TRADITIONS

Did you know?

3.9. RELIGION

3.10. ETHNIC NATIONALITIES AND CULTURAL MINORITIES

Did you know?

3.11. THE ARTS

3.12. TOWNS

Haapsalu

Narva

Palmse

Otepää

Did you know?

4. ESTONIAN LANGUAGE

4.1. SHORT OVERVIEW

4.2. HISTORY

4.3. DIALECTS

Did you know?

4.4. THE USE OF ESTONIAN

4.5. KEEPING ESTONIAN ALIVE

Did you know?

4.6. WHY LEARN ESTONIAN?

Where to get more information

4.7. LANGUAGE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

4.7.1. Language courses

4.7.3. Online learning

Additional information

Summer schools

Foreigners’ persective

4.8. CHARACTERISTICS OF ESTONIAN

4.9. LEARN SOME ESTONIAN

SOME USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

FOOD AND DRINKS

LIST OF REFERENCES

KEYWORDS

FURTHER READING