Learning a new language involves navigating through the nuances of expressing agreement and disagreement, which are essential aspects of daily communication. Estonian, a Finno-Ugric language spoken in Estonia, is no exception. Here is a guide to some basic Estonian vocabulary used to show agreement and disagreement, complete with definitions and example sentences.
Nõus means “agreed” or “in agreement.” This word is often used when you concur with someone’s opinion or suggestion.
Ma olen sinuga täiesti nõus.
(I completely agree with you.)
Jah is the simple and straightforward way to say “yes” in Estonian.
Jah, ma saan homme tulla.
(Yes, I can come tomorrow.)
Ei is just as simple and straightforward, but it means “no.”
Ei, see ei sobi mulle.
(No, that doesn’t suit me.)
Vastu means “against” and is used when you are opposing an idea or a proposal.
Ma olen selle plaani vastu.
(I am against this plan.)
Arvan, et… translates to “I think that…” and is a soft way to introduce your own opinion, either in agreement or disagreement.
Arvan, et see on hea mõte.
(I think that is a good idea.)
Võib-olla means “maybe” or “perhaps,” and it’s a non-committal term that can be used either to tentatively agree or disagree, or to indicate uncertainty.
Võib-olla peaksime uuesti proovima.
(Maybe we should try again.)
Kindlasti translates to “definitely” and implies strong agreement or certainty.
Kindlasti tuleb meil sellest rääkida.
(We definitely need to talk about this.)
Kahtlen, et… means “I doubt that…” which is a way to express disagreement or skepticism politely.
Kahtlen, et see on võimalik.
(I doubt that it is possible.)
Täpselt nii means “exactly” or “just so.” This phrase is used when you are in complete agreement with what has been stated.
Täpselt nii, see ongi kõige tähtsam.
(Exactly, that is the most important thing.)
Nii ei ole translates to “it is not so” and is used when you want to disagree or correct what someone has said.
Nii ei ole, me ei plaaninud seda teha.
(It is not so; we did not plan to do that.)
Pole hullu literally means “no problem” or “it’s okay.” This is often used in informal situations to express a relaxed attitude, either in agreement to let something go or in response to an apology.
Pole hullu, kõik on korras.
(No problem, everything is fine.)
Huvitav means “interesting” and can be used in the context of both agreement and disagreement, showing interest in the topic without committing to a side.
See on väga huvitav mõte.
(This is a very interesting thought.)
In Estonian, as in any language, it’s important to not only know these words and phrases but also to understand the context in which they are used. This will ensure that you’re able to communicate effectively and express your thoughts in a way that is both polite and clear.