What is the best way to learn Estonian?
There are many options to learn some Estonian online or from language course books and CDs. As most foreigners find the pronunciation of the words most challenging, using a guide with audio content is essential – these are available through YouTube, private web-based language schools and online courses.
Where can I learn to speak Estonian?
Looking for an online Estonian course? The Estonian Ministry of Education and Science suggests two great resources for learning the language, and they’re both free. Keeleklikk.ee – This website is great for beginners.
Is Estonian language easy to learn?
Estonian is one of the hardest languages to learn for English speakers. According to the Foreign Service Institute, Estonian is the fifth hardest language to learn. Especially for the native English speakers, this language is difficult because it operates with 14 noun cases.
What are some unusual sounds in the Estonian language?
The only individual sound that’s unusual for speakers of most European languages is the vowel denoted by õ . This is a wide, highish back vowel (International Phonetic Alphabet ɤ ), not too far away from Russian ы. It occurs very commonly in Estonian words, so learners have to become familiar with it from the start.
How many lengths are there in Estonian orthography?
Estonian orthography generally distinguishes only two lengths, short and long, and learners don’t need to be unduly concerned about the third length, at least at the outset. If playback doesn’t begin shortly, try restarting your device.
How many cases are there in Estonian?
Most of Estonian’s fourteen cases are formed in an absolutely regular way, using case endings which are identical in the singular and plural. These are added to either the genitive singular or plural form respectively, for example: kohviku ‑ s “in the café”, kohviku‑te‑s “in the cafés”.