Start smart: what A1–A2 Estonian looks like
At A1, your goal is survival Estonian: greetings, numbers, simple questions, directions, and basic shopping phrases. By A2, you’ll handle short everyday conversations, talk about routines, and understand slow, clear speech. You don’t need advanced grammar to get there—just consistent, focused practice.
Estonian is a Finno-Ugric language, so many words won’t resemble English. The upside: pronunciation is regular, stress is almost always on the first syllable, and you can communicate early with set phrases. Build a small, high-frequency vocabulary and master pronunciation from day one.
- Focus first on greetings, introductions, and polite phrases.
- Learn numbers, days, times, and common question words.
- Practice short, patterned sentences: “I am…”, “I want…”, “I like…”.
- Add essential travel and shopping phrases as you progress.
The best free tools (apps, sites, PDFs)
You can learn entirely online with quality free resources. Start with a structured course, then add a dictionary, audio, and spaced-repetition flashcards. Mix an app for quick review with longer study on your laptop.
Grab printable PDF cheat sheets for offline review. Many open resources let you export materials as PDF, so you can study anywhere, even without Wi‑Fi.
- Keeleklikk (keeleklikk.ee): A free, beginner-friendly A1–A2 Estonian course with videos, exercises, and listening.
- Keeletee (keeletee.ee): Follow-up modules for A2–B1; useful even at late beginner stage.
- EKI Sõnaveeb (sonaveeb.ee): Official learner dictionary with audio, examples, and morphology.
- Forvo + Tatoeba: Hear native audio and mine simple sentences for listening practice.
- Anki: Free flashcard app; search for shared Estonian decks or build your own with audio.
- Memrise community courses and Clozemaster: Extra practice for words and phrases (free tiers available).
- YouTube: Search “Estonian for beginners” for short lessons, dialogues, and pronunciation drills.
- Wikibooks/Wikivoyage: Export phrasebooks or lessons to PDF for a compact, printable guide.
Pronunciation and grammar quick wins
Pronunciation matters early. Estonian has short, long, and overlong sounds; length changes meaning. Keep stress on the first syllable, listen closely to vowel harmony and pure vowels (no diphthong slurring), and shadow native audio for rhythm.
Grammar tip: don’t fear cases. You’ll meet them gradually via set phrases. Learn chunks like “ilma piimata” (without milk) rather than memorizing all endings at once. Build confidence with patterns; accuracy will follow.
- Practice minimal pairs to hear vowel and consonant length.
- Shadow short sentences daily (30–60 seconds is enough).
- Learn sentence patterns: “Kas sul on…?”, “Kui palju see maksab?”.
- Start with present tense and imperative; add past later.
- Collect high-frequency postpositions and case phrases as fixed chunks.
Build a routine that sticks
Tiny daily wins beat occasional marathons. Aim for 15–25 minutes on weekdays and a longer session on weekends. Use an app for quick review, then switch to listening and speaking practice. Track new words, and recycle them in short sentences.
Keep it interactive: read aloud, record yourself, and do quick speaking drills. If you can, find a language partner once a week for 15 minutes of simple conversation.
- Daily: 5–10 minutes Anki + 5 minutes shadowing + 5 minutes reading aloud.
- 3x weekly: Keeleklikk lesson or exercise set.
- 2x weekly: Listen to a slow dialogue; write a 3–4 sentence summary.
- Weekly: 10–15 minute chat with a partner or tutor (even beginner-level).
- Weekly admin: Export notes to a tidy PDF or doc you can review offline.
Your 30-day beginner roadmap
Here’s a simple, free plan to move from zero to solid A1 foundations in one month. Adjust the pace to your schedule and repeat weeks if needed.
- Week 1: Alphabet, stress, core greetings, numbers 0–100, “I am/you are,” question words. Start Anki with 15–20 cards.
- Week 2: Introductions, family, days/time, prices. Do 3–4 Keeleklikk lessons. Shadow 2 short dialogues.
- Week 3: Food and shopping phrases, directions, polite requests. Practice sentence patterns with cases in set expressions.
- Week 4: Daily routine, hobbies, weather, transport. Record yourself speaking 1–2 minutes.
- Every week: 2 listening sessions + 1 partner chat (use simple prompts).
- End of month: Export your notes/phrases to a compact PDF; review for 3 days.
- Checkpoint: Can you handle a short café or shop role-play without notes? If yes, move into A2 topics.
FAQ
- Is Estonian hard for English-speaking beginners?
- It’s different, not impossible. Words won’t look familiar, and there are cases, but pronunciation is regular and patterns repeat. With daily practice and chunk-based learning, you can reach A1–A2 in a few months of steady, free study.
- Does Duolingo have Estonian?
- As of now, Duolingo doesn’t offer an Estonian course. Use free alternatives: Keeleklikk for structured lessons, EKI Sõnaveeb for meanings and audio, Anki for spaced repetition, Clozemaster/Memrise community decks for drills, and YouTube for listening.
- What’s the best free app for absolute beginner practice?
- Start with Anki for vocabulary and sentence patterns, then add a drill app like Clozemaster or community Memrise decks. Pair apps with a structured site (Keeleklikk). This combo covers words, grammar in context, and listening—ideal for a beginner.
- Where can I get free Estonian PDFs?
- Export lessons or phrasebooks from Wikibooks/Wikivoyage to PDF, save grammar summaries from course sites, and compile your own weekly notes into a printable PDF. Keeping a compact offline pack helps you review on the go.
- How long to reach A2 if I study online for free?
- With 30–45 minutes a day, many learners reach strong A1 in 6–8 weeks and A2 in 4–6 months. Consistency, active speaking, and regular listening matter more than tool choice—stick to your routine and recycle material often.