Estonian→English

Translate Estonian to English the way locals mean it.

Estonian speakers often use understatement, particles, and idioms to leave things open or soften a refusal, so a literal translation can sound more definite than the message is.

Going the other way? English to Estonian

474 local dialects

AIRTranslate on iPhone choosing between Estonian varieties

What locals actually say

Ma vaatan.

I’ll see.

Vaatan literally means “I look,” but in this short reply it often signals non-commitment, sometimes a polite maybe or no.

Pole hullu, juhtub.

No worries, it happens.

Pole hullu literally means “it isn’t crazy,” but this idiom reassures someone that the problem is not serious.

Ära põe, küll saab.

Don’t stress, it’ll work out.

Põdema means “to worry” or “stress” in colloquial use, while küll adds confident reassurance rather than a literal meaning of “surely.”

Kas sul viiekat on?

Have you got a fiver?

Viiekas is colloquial for a five-euro note, signaling casual money talk.

Võtan friikad kõrvale.

I’ll have fries on the side.

Friikad is the casual shortened word for fries, signaling informal food speech.

Meie omad on juba kohal.

Our lot are already here.

Omad is a colloquial noun meaning one’s own people, here referring to family.

Teen selle homseks ära.

I’ll get this done by tomorrow.

The particle ära marks completion, signaling that the task will be fully finished.

Täna sajab nagu oavarrest.

It’s chucking it down today.

Nagu oavarrest is an Estonian idiom for heavy rain, literally describing rain falling as if from a bean stalk.

Notes like these come with every AIRTranslate translation, so you learn why locals phrase it that way as you go.

How Estonian differs

Estonian; sina informal, teie formal; reserved concise register.

Sound like a local everywhere, not just here.

Every one of 474 dialects, with voice, camera, a keyboard for any app, and offline packs.

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Localization Notes explaining why locals say it that way