Overview of the Estonian Language and Its Time-Telling System

Estonian is part of the Uralic language family and is closely related to Finnish and distantly to Hungarian. Unlike many Indo-European languages, Estonian has unique grammatical structures that influence how time is expressed. Understanding these differences is key to learning how to tell time accurately.

• 24-hour clock preference: Estonia predominantly uses the 24-hour clock format in formal and written contexts.
• 12-hour clock usage: The 12-hour clock is more common in colloquial speech, often accompanied by context clues or time-of-day words.
• Simple and compound expressions: Estonian uses straightforward phrases to express the time, as well as compound forms for minutes past or to the hour.

Basic Vocabulary for Telling Time in Estonian

Before forming sentences, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the fundamental time-related vocabulary in Estonian. Here is a list of the most commonly used words:

• kell – clock/watch/time
• tund – hour
• minut – minute
• sekund – second
• hommik – morning
• päev – day
• õhtu – evening
• öö – night
• kell on… – it is … o’clock

Mastering these core words will help you build sentences and understand time-related conversations more effectively.

How to Tell the Hour in Estonian

Expressing the hour in Estonian is straightforward. The structure generally follows the pattern “kell on [number]”, which means “the time is [number] o’clock.” Here’s how to say the hours from 1 to 12:

• 1 – üks
• 2 – kaks
• 3 – kolm
• 4 – neli
• 5 – viis
• 6 – kuus
• 7 – seitse
• 8 – kaheksa
• 9 – üheksa
• 10 – kümme
• 11 – üksteist
• 12 – kaksteist

Example sentences:

• Kell on üks. – It is one o’clock.
• Kell on viis. – It is five o’clock.

Expressing Minutes Past the Hour

When indicating minutes after the hour, Estonian uses the preposition “ja” (and). The format is:

kell on [hour] ja [minutes]

Example:

• Kell on kolm ja kümme. – It is 3:10.
• Kell on seitse ja kakskümmend viis. – It is 7:25.

Minutes in Estonian are formed by combining number words. Here are numbers 1 to 30 for reference:

• 1 – üks
• 2 – kaks
• 3 – kolm
• 4 – neli
• 5 – viis
• 6 – kuus
• 7 – seitse
• 8 – kaheksa
• 9 – üheksa
• 10 – kümme
• 11 – üksteist
• 12 – kaksteist
• 13 – kolmteist
• 14 – neliteist
• 15 – viisteist
• 16 – kuusteist
• 17 – seitseteist
• 18 – kaheksateist
• 19 – üheksateist
• 20 – kakskümmend
• 21 – kakskümmend üks
• 22 – kakskümmend kaks
• 23 – kakskümmend kolm
• 24 – kakskümmend neli
• 25 – kakskümmend viis
• 26 – kakskümmend kuus
• 27 – kakskümmend seitse
• 28 – kakskümmend kaheksa
• 29 – kakskümmend üheksa
• 30 – kolmkümmend

Expressing Minutes Before the Hour

To express minutes before the next hour, Estonian uses the word “ilma” (literally “without”) which functions similarly to “to” in English time expressions. The structure is:

kell on [next hour] ilma [minutes]

Examples:

• Kell on neli ilma kümme. – It is 3:50 (literally, “four without ten”).
• Kell on kaheksa ilma viis. – It is 7:55.

This way of expressing time is commonly used in everyday speech and is important for natural communication.

Using the 24-Hour Clock in Estonian

In formal contexts like schedules, timetables, and official documents, Estonian uses the 24-hour clock system. It is quite similar to other European countries. Here’s how to interpret the 24-hour time:

• 00:00 – kesköö (midnight)
• 12:00 – keskpäev (noon)
• 13:00 – üheksa + 1 = 13 (tavaliselt öeldakse “kolm pärast lõunat” ehk 15:00)

When reading or writing the 24-hour clock, the format is:

kell on [hour]:[minutes]

Example:

• Kell on 14:30. – It is 2:30 PM.

In spoken language, it is common to convert this to the 12-hour equivalent unless clarity is needed.

Expressions for Parts of the Day

To clarify the time of day when using the 12-hour clock, Estonian speakers often add phrases to indicate morning, afternoon, evening, or night:

• hommikul – in the morning (e.g., Kell on seitse hommikul. – It is 7 in the morning.)
• päeval – during the day (e.g., Kell on üks päeval. – It is 1 in the afternoon.)
• õhtul – in the evening (e.g., Kell on kuus õhtul. – It is 6 in the evening.)
• ööl – at night (e.g., Kell on kaksteist ööl. – It is 12 at night.)

Including these phrases helps avoid confusion, especially since Estonian does not use AM or PM markers.

Common Phrases and Questions Related to Time

To effectively engage in conversations about time, here are common questions and responses you should know:

• Mis kell on? – What time is it?
• Kell on… – It is…
• Millal? – When?
• Kui kaua? – How long?
• Praegu on… – Right now it is…

Practice using these questions and answers with Talkpal’s interactive tools to improve your fluency.

Practical Tips for Learning to Tell Time in Estonian

• Practice with real-life situations: Use time-telling in daily routines such as setting alarms, reading schedules, or planning meetings.
• Use language apps like Talkpal: These platforms provide audio examples and interactive quizzes to reinforce learning.
• Watch Estonian media: Listening to news, podcasts, and videos helps familiarize you with natural time expressions.
• Memorize numbers thoroughly: A solid grasp of numbers from 1 to 60 is crucial for expressing time accurately.
• Practice both 12-hour and 24-hour formats: Be comfortable switching between formal and informal contexts.

Conclusion

Telling time in Estonian combines straightforward grammatical structures with a few unique expressions that reflect the language’s cultural context. From mastering basic vocabulary and numbers to understanding the distinction between 12-hour and 24-hour clocks, this skill is fundamental for everyday communication. With consistent practice, especially using helpful language learning platforms like Talkpal, you can quickly become proficient in discussing time in Estonian. This not only enhances your language skills but also deepens your connection to Estonian culture and people.