Start here: small wins for absolute beginners
Estonian looks different at first, but it’s beginner-friendly in key ways: no grammatical gender, no articles, and a clear sound–spelling match. Focus on core phrases, basic word order (Subject–Verb–Object), and sounds early, so everything else clicks.
Begin with a light daily routine: short app sessions, quick listening, and a mini review from a PDF cheat sheet. Consistency beats intensity, especially at A1–A2.
- Master greetings and introductions (Tere! Mina olen…).
- Learn to count, say the date, and order food or coffee.
- Practice vowel length (short, long, overlong) with minimal pairs.
- Build a tiny phrase bank in a pocket PDF or notes app.
Free online resources that actually work
Mix two types of tools: a structured course for step-by-step learning and flexible resources for vocabulary, listening, and quick reference. Keep everything in one place—your phone or a cloud folder—so studying feels effortless.
Most of these are free or have generous free tiers. Use one primary app plus supportive PDFs and videos.
- Duolingo app: daily bite-size practice for beginners; keep streaks short but consistent.
- Keeleklikk: a free online course designed for beginner adults; clear explanations and exercises.
- EKI Sõnaveeb: the Estonian Institute’s dictionary; check meanings, examples, and audio.
- YouTube: search for “Estonian A1 lessons” and “Estonian pronunciation practice.”
- University open materials: look for A1–A2 grammar PDFs and verb charts from Estonian universities.
- Libraries and cultural institutes: free PDF phrasebooks and beginner workbooks you can download or borrow.
A simple 30‑day plan (25–30 minutes/day)
Short, focused sessions compound faster than occasional marathons. Here’s a plug-and-play plan that blends an app, online videos, and PDF review. Adjust minutes to your schedule, but try not to miss days.
- Daily (10 min): Duolingo or another app for core drills.
- Daily (5 min): Listen and shadow one short clip with subtitles.
- Daily (5 min): Review a PDF phrase or case mini-chart.
- Daily (5 min): Make 3 flashcards from today’s words.
- Mon/Wed/Fri: Write 3–5 sentences about your day.
- Tue/Thu: Read a tiny text (menu, ad, simple blog) and highlight new words.
- Sat: 20-minute recap; speak out loud your weekly phrases.
- Sun: Light day; only listen and shadow.
- Every 7 days: Test yourself—introduce yourself and describe your routine.
- After 30 days: Repeat the plan with new topics (food, family, travel).
Pronunciation and grammar essentials for A1–A2
Estonian pronunciation is clean but length matters. Vowels and consonants can be short, long, or overlong, which can change meaning. Listen closely and copy native rhythm—slow, even, and clear.
Grammar highlights: Estonian uses cases instead of many prepositions. You’ll meet around 14 cases over time, but as a beginner you only need a few for everyday use. Good news: no gender, no articles, and regular verb patterns.
- Focus on vowel pairs: a/aa, e/ee, i/ii, o/oo, u/uu, ö/öö, ü/üü.
- Shadow 30 seconds of audio daily; record and compare.
- Learn essential cases first: nominative, genitive, partitive, inessive (-s), illative (-sse).
- Build mini-phrases: in the shop, to Tallinn, in Estonia, from school.
- Use a PDF cheat sheet of case endings for quick review.
- Keep sentences simple: Subject + Verb + Object (Ma joon kohvi).
Make practice social—and stay motivated
Language sticks when you use it with people. Even at A1, short chats build confidence. Combine online exchanges with low-pressure self-talk and quick messages to Estonian friends or communities.
Track your wins: words learned, minutes studied, and phrases you can say without notes. Small streaks beat big slumps.
- Join an online language exchange; prepare 5 prompts you can reuse.
- Post a weekly Estonian caption on social media.
- Label objects at home; say the word every time you touch it.
- Do micro-speaking: 60 seconds describing your breakfast.
- Use spaced-repetition flashcards (Anki, Quizlet) with audio if possible.
- Reward yourself after 7-day streaks to keep momentum.
FAQ
- Is Estonian hard for beginners?
- It’s different but not impossible. Estonian has no gender or articles, and pronunciation is consistent. The main challenges are word length and cases. With daily 20–30 minute sessions and clear PDFs to guide you, A1–A2 is very achievable.
- Can I learn Estonian free?
- Yes. Combine a free app like Duolingo, the Keeleklikk online course, EKI Sõnaveeb for vocabulary, and YouTube listening. Add free PDF phrasebooks and grammar charts from universities or libraries, and you can cover everything you need for A1–A2.
- How long to reach A1–A2 level?
- With steady daily practice, many learners reach A1 in 4–8 weeks and A2 in 3–6 months. Your pace depends on consistency, speaking practice, and review. Short, frequent sessions plus real listening and speaking speed things up.
- What’s the best app to start with?
- Use one main app for structure—Duolingo is a popular beginner choice—then support it with flashcards (Anki or similar) and a pronunciation playlist. Apps help you start; PDFs, listening, and real use make the language stick.
- Where can I find good PDFs for beginners?
- Search for “Estonian A1 PDF”, “Estonian phrasebook PDF”, and “Estonian case endings PDF.” Check university language departments, cultural institutes, and public libraries. Save a one-page case chart and a phrase list for quick daily review.