Learning a new language can be an enlightening experience, and when you dive into Estonian, you begin to see the world from a different cultural perspective. One of the fundamental aspects of language learning is acquiring vocabulary to describe things around you, including colors and other descriptive terms. Here are some essential colors and descriptions in Estonian, complete with their definitions and example sentences to help you incorporate them into your vocabulary.

Sinine translates to the color “blue” in English. It’s a common color found in nature and is often associated with calmness and serenity.

Sinine taevas on täna eriti särav.

Punane signifies the color “red.” It’s a bold and vibrant color that stands out and is often associated with passion and danger.

Kas sa nägid seda punast autot?

Must means “black” in Estonian. It’s a color or lack thereof, that is considered timeless and sophisticated and is associated with elegance or mystery.

Must kass kõndis üle tee.

Valge is the color “white.” It’s pristine and pure, often used to symbolize cleanliness or simplicity.

Meie uues majas on suured valged aknad.

Roheline stands for “green.” This color is reminiscent of nature, representing growth, freshness, and fertility.

Roheline rohi lõhnab nii hästi pärast vihma.

Kollane means “yellow,” a color that often denotes joy and energy, reminiscent of the sun and summer.

Kas sa võtad kollase või sinise vihmavarju?

Hall is “gray” in Estonian. It’s a neutral color, often used to describe things that are ordinary or foundational.

Hallid pilved näitavad, et varsti hakkab vihma sadama.

Suur translates to “big” or “large.” It denotes something of considerable size.

Kui suur on su koer?

Väike means “small” or “little” in Estonian. This term is used to describe objects or concepts that are diminutive in size.

Ta ostis oma tütrele väikese kingi.

Vana signifies “old” in Estonian, often used to describe objects or people that have been around for a long time.

Vana maja vajab palju remonti.

Uus means “new.” It is used to describe anything that is recent or freshly arrived.

Ma ei jõua ära oodata, et näha oma uut telefoni.

Ilus stands for “beautiful.” It is a positive adjective used to express the beauty of people, places, or things.

See lill on tõesti väga ilus.

Kohev means “fluffy.” This word is often used to describe something that is soft and light, like a cloud or a plush toy.

Ta koer on nii kohev, et teda tahaks kogu aeg kaisutada.

Terav translates to “sharp.” In the physical sense, it’s typically used for objects with a cutting edge, but it can also refer to acute senses or a biting taste.

Ole ettevaatlik, noa terav serv võib lõigata.

Incorporating these colors and descriptive terms into your daily Estonian practice can help you start to describe the world around you with more detail. Use them to talk about your environment, clothing, feelings, and more. Soon, you’ll find that you’re not only learning a language but also adopting a new way to perceive everything around you. Happy learning!