Meelde tuletama vs. Unustama – Remember vs. Forget in Estonian

Meelde tuletama is a verb that translates to “to remind” or “to recall” in English. It involves the action of bringing something back to one’s memory.

Ta pidi mulle meelde tuletama, et ma kohtumisega hiljaks ei jääks.

Unustama is the verb for “to forget.” It is used when something slips from one’s memory, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Ma unustasin oma võtmed koju.

Meelde tuletama: To Remember or To Remind

Meelde tuletama is a compound verb formed from meelde, which means “to mind” or “memory,” and tuletama, which means “to bring” or “to cause.” When combined, it creates the sense of bringing something to mind or reminding someone of something.

Meelde – memory, mind
See koht tuletab mulle lapsepõlve meelde.

Tuletama – to bring, to cause
Palun tuleta mulle meelde, et ma pean poest piima ostma.

Meelde tuletama can be used in various contexts, whether you’re reminding yourself of something or reminding someone else.

Anna mulle teada, kui ma peaksin sulle midagi meelde tuletama.

Unustama: To Forget

Unustama is a straightforward verb that means “to forget.” It is used when something is no longer remembered, either because it was never committed to memory or because it has been lost from memory over time.

Unustama – to forget
Ma unustasin oma telefoni kontorisse.

This verb can be used in a variety of situations, whether you’re talking about forgetting an item, an appointment, or even a piece of information.

Kas sa unustasid, et meil on täna koosolek?

Common Phrases and Usage

To fully grasp how to use meelde tuletama and unustama, it is useful to see them in common phrases and sentences.

Meelde tuletama – to remind
Ma pean endale meelde tuletama, et ma pean täna arsti juurde minema.

Unustama – to forget
Ära unusta oma kodutööd ära teha.

Here are some additional phrases that might come in handy:

Meelde jääma – to stick in memory
See laul jäi mulle kohe meelde.

Unustada – to be forgotten
Selle vana filmi on paljud inimesed unustanud.

Practice Exercises

To ensure you have a firm understanding of these verbs, let’s practice with some exercises. Try to fill in the blanks with the correct form of meelde tuletama or unustama.

1. Ma __________ oma parooli. (I forgot my password)
unustasin

2. Palun _________ mulle, et ma pean helistama. (Please remind me to call)
tuleta meelde

3. Kas sa _________ meie kohtumise? (Did you forget our meeting?)
unustasid

4. Ma __________ endale, et pean kirja saatma. (I reminded myself to send the letter)
tuletasin meelde

5. Ta _________ oma kodutöö ära teha. (He forgot to do his homework)
unustas

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between meelde tuletama and unustama is crucial for effective communication in Estonian. While meelde tuletama involves recalling or reminding, unustama simply means to forget. By practicing these verbs and using them in your daily conversations, you can enhance your proficiency in Estonian and communicate more effectively. Keep practicing, and don’t forget to remind yourself of the nuances between these essential verbs!