Estonian dictionaries use the following order to place Estonian words:
* The letters in parentheses () are found only in foreign words. The letters f, ÿs, z and ÿz are used to indicate pronunciation in newer borrowings.
Name |
How to pronounce |
equivalent |
|
a |
aa |
The tongue lies on the bottom of the mouth, but slightly retracted. The mouth is opened wide. |
Father,Vater, Aga Kahn |
b |
bee |
no puff of breath |
copy |
c |
tse |
used in foreign proper names and foreign quoted words when the foreign spelling is retained |
|
|
che |
used in words
of foreign origin to indicate their pronunciation: |
church |
d |
dee |
no puff of breath |
city |
e |
ee |
As in "bet", somewhat lowered from the position for "i" |
send, bet, Bett, ten |
f |
ef |
used in words of foreign origin to indicate their pronunciation |
|
g |
gee |
no puff of breath |
good |
h |
haa |
not vocalized at the start of words; it is a soft breath of air. "h" is not normally pronounced at the begging of the word, except in late borrowings. |
otherwise as Hand |
i |
ii |
As in "beat" — the front part of the tongue rises up toward the front of the hard palate, leaving a very narrow air canal. The lips are spread as wide as possible. |
see, beat, Hieb, it |
j |
jot |
yes |
|
k |
kaa |
no puff of breath, but harder than b,d,g |
go |
l |
el |
tongue against the gums |
|
m |
em |
as in the "m" in English |
|
n |
en |
the tip and front part of the tongue are against the front part of the hard palate. |
|
o |
oo |
The back of the tongue is raised, but not as high as for the "u". The lips form a round opening. |
off, Arbeit, hot |
p |
pee |
no puff of breath, but harder than b,d,g |
|
q |
kuu |
used in foreign proper names and foreign quoted words when the foreign spelling is retained |
|
r |
är |
always trilled; |
|
s |
es |
The tongue forms a slit with the alveols — like the English "s"; palatalized |
|
 |
sha |
used in words of foreign origin to indicate their pronunciation |
shop, Schule |
z |
zee |
used in words of foreign origin to indicate their pronunciation |
|
 |
zhe |
used in words of foreign origin to indicate their pronunciation |
pleasure, Etage |
t |
tee |
No puff of breath, but harder than b,d,g. May be palatalized — the tip of the tongue is pushed against the upper teeth. |
|
u |
uu |
Pronounced with a higher tongue position than the "u" in "boot". The lips are somewhat more protruded and there is a small round opening between them. |
moon, Buch |
v |
vee |
||
w |
topelt-vee; kaksisvee |
used in foreign proper names and foreign quoted words when the foreign spelling is retained |
‘v’ except in foreign words such as ‘Washington", "Wales". |
õ |
õõ |
The "o" sound should be formed and then the lips unrounded without changing the position of the tongue. |
/ |
ä |
ää |
As in "matter", but the mouth is opened more widely and the tongue lowered slightly more. |
cat, hat, matter |
ö |
öö |
Same tongue position as "e", but the lips are rounded and pulled forward. Between the lips there is a small oval opening |
Öl, girl |
ü |
üü |
Same tongue position as "i", but the lips are rounded and pulled forwarded. There is a small, round opening between the lips. |
für, |
x |
iks |
used in foreign proper names and foreign quoted words when the foreign spelling is retained |
|
y |
üpsilon; igrek |
used in foreign proper names and foreign quoted words when the foreign spelling is retained |
dipthongs:
These diphthongs occur: ai, ei, oi, ui, õi, öi, üi, ae, ie, oe, õe, äe. öe. ao, eo, io, õo, äo, ea, oa, õa, öa, au, eu, iu, ou, õu, äu
The first component of the dipthong is always short and the second component is either short (short dipthongs) or overlong (long dipthongs)
Long diphthongs may be marked (in Oinas) with a grave accent before the word: naine -- `naisi, koera -- `koera, kuisata --`kuisama
The diphthong üi is spelled üü: hüüan — pronounced "(h)üian"; hüüdma — pronounced "(h)üidma". In the middle of the word this diphthong may be pronounced as it is spelled, but in the final position it must be pronounced as a diphthong: süü — pronounced "süi"; püü — pronounced "püi"
offglides:
In the case of a diphthong plus a vowel, the vowel is preceded by a "y" or "w" offglide. If the diphthong ends in an "i", the offglide is a "y", if it is "u", the offglide is a "w": teie — pronounced "tei(y)e", käia — pronounced"`käi(y)a", kauaks — pronounced "kau(w)aks", laua — pronounced "lau(w)a". Note: müüa — pronounced "`müi(y)a", süüa — pronounced "`süi(y)a", müües — pronounced "`müi(y)es, süües — pronounced "`süi(y)es, püüe — pronounced "püi(y)e".
In combinations of long or overlong "i" or "u" plus a vowel, there is a "y" or "w" offglide as above: viia — pronounced `vii(y)a", siia — pronounced "`sii(y)a", liiale — pronounced "lii(y)ale, tuua — pronounced "`tuu(w)a", luuaga — pronounced "luu(w)aga".
length of vowels
All vowels in Estonian are short, long or overlong. The short vowel is written with one letter, the long and overlong with two letters. Often the overlong is marked with a grave accent before the word (as in Oinas)
length of consonants
Consonants, like vowels, are short, long and overlong, except for "v" and "j", which have only short and overlong degrees. Long and overlong are written with two letters. Exceptions: "p" "t" and "k" are long degree, and pp, tt and kk are overlong. Often the syllable containing the overlong consonant is written with a grave accent before it (as in Oinas).
Vowel transformationsIrregular verbs:
süüa present ---> söön
lugeda present ---> loen
tuua ---> toon
juua ---> joon
Some nouns with a different vowel in the genitive stem:
tuba, toa
ride, rea
viga, vea
Other transformations:
-nd --> -nn perekond/perekonna
-l --> -lg- alata/algan
-h- --> -hk- puhata/puhkan
-ne --> -se teine/teise
-ht- --> -h- leht/lehe
Sources:
