What language is spoken in Estonia?

The official and primary language of Estonia is Estonian, a Finno-Ugric language closely related to Finnish. While Estonian is spoken as a mother tongue by roughly 67-70% of the population, Russian is the largest minority language, spoken by about 25-29% of the population, particularly in the capital, Tallinn, and the northeast region.

Do they speak English in Estonia?

Yes, a large percentage of Estonians, especially younger generations, speak English, with it being the most popular foreign language, though older people may be more fluent in Russian due to historical reasons. English is a mandatory subject in schools, making it common in business, tourism (especially in Tallinn), and general communication.
 

Is Estonian similar to Russian?

The official language of Estonia is Estonian, a Uralic language of the Finnic branch, which is related to Finnish. It is unrelated to the bordering Russian and Latvian languages, both of which are Indo-European (more specifically East Slavic and Baltic, respectively).

What language is Estonian most similar to?

Estonian belongs to the Baltic-Finnic branch of the Finno-Ugric languages, and it is most closely related to Finnish, Votic, Livonian, Ingrian, Karelian, and Veps.

Is Estonian one of the hardest languages in the world?

Estonian stands out as one of the most challenging languages in the world. With 14 grammatical cases, no grammatical gender, and a pronunciation rich in vowels, Estonian poses considerable difficulty for learners. Furthermore, Estonian shows the process of word changes depending on their grammatical context.

What Language Is Spoken In Estonia? - The Language Library

Are Estonians friendly to foreigners?

Generally, Estonians are polite and respectful. Typically, they prefer to respond only when you make the first move, and it may take time for them to build trust, which can make them appear a bit suspicious.

Do Estonians say I love you?

Saying “I love you” doesn't happen all that fast in Estonia: people take time to warm up to each other. Depending on the phase of your relationship, you can find some useful expressions in this list. Ma armastan sind – I love you. This is something you say to your long-term partner or family members.

What country did Estonia used to be?

Before gaining full independence in 1991, Estonia was a republic of the Soviet Union (USSR), having been forcibly annexed in 1940 and occupied by Nazi Germany briefly before the Soviets returned. For centuries prior, Estonia was ruled by various foreign powers, including Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and the Russian Empire, before its first period of independence in the early 20th century.

Are Spanish and Estonian similar?

The acquisition of Estonian by Spanish L1 learners is of particular interest due to the striking differences in the phonological systems of these two typologically different languages: Spanish is a Romance language while Estonian belongs to the Finnic branch of the Finno-Ugric language family.

Who are Estonians genetically closest to?

Autosomal DNA

Northeastern Estonians are particularly close to Finns, while southeastern Estonians are close to the Balts; other Estonians plot between these two extremes. Estonians have high steppe-like admixture, and less farmer-related and more hunter-gatherer-related admixture than Western and Central Europeans.

Is Estonia a rich or poor country?

The economy of Estonia is rated advanced by the World Bank, i.e. with high quality of life and advanced infrastructure relative to less industrialized nations.

Can Brits move to Estonia?

EU countries

You're free to live, work, and study wherever you desire. According to Brexit agreements, British citizens residing in Estonia before 1 January 2021 can continue to live and work there. However, no matter where you're from, you must obtain a residence permit should you plan to stay for over 90 days.

Is Estonia LGBT friendly?

Since 1 January 2016, same-sex couples may register their relationship as a cohabitation agreement, which gives them the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. A marriage equality bill was passed on 20 June 2023, which made same-sex couples able to marry and jointly adopt.

How do I say "hi" in Estonian?

Tere – Hello. This is the most common way of greeting someone in Estonian and can be used both formally and informally. Tervist – Hello. A less formal greeting, so it's better to use it when you've met the person before.

What is the White Night in Estonia?

Due to its northern location, Estonian summer evenings are known as white nights. The sun sets late and rises early, making nighttime dusky rather than dark. Midsummer or St. John's Day, known as Jaanipäev in Estonian, coincides with the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere – the summer solstice.

What is the friendliest Baltic country?

Estonia. That's right – the small Baltic nation known for its storybook forests, wild beaches and lakeside saunas has beaten Europe's heavy hitters to the top spot.

Is Estonia safe for Brits?

Estonia is a safe country with low crime rates.

As in any country, you should look after your belongings and be aware of pickpockets in busy urban areas.

What is the friendliest country in Europe?

Apparently, Estonia is the friendliest country in Europe | Study in Estonia.

Which job is high in demand in Estonia?

Top in demand occupations in Estonia. Estonia has a rapidly expanding job market with more than 1,00,000 job openings expected between 2026 and 2030. The country is experiencing strong demand for skilled professionals, especially in technology, engineering, management, and other high-skill sectors.

What is the famous food of Estonia?

Verivorst, or blood sausage, is a dark sausage that originated in Sweden and Latvia in the 19th century. It's a Christmas and winter treat, but if you visit a traditional Estonian restaurant, it might be on the menu in summer. It's considered Estonia's national dish.

What religion is Estonia?

The International Social Survey Programme 2015 found that 57.0% of the Estonian population declared to belong to a Christian denomination, divided between a 27.6% who were Eastern Orthodox, 26.0% Lutheran and 3.3% who belonged to smaller Christian denominations.

Are Estonia in NATO?

NATO is a military-political association of countries that consists of 32 member states. Estonia has been a member of NATO since 29 March 2004.