Understanding how to talk about the weather is a fundamental aspect of learning any language. In Estonian, a Finno-Ugric language spoken primarily in Estonia, discussing the weather is no different. Here is a list of essential weather terms and phrases in Estonian that will help you describe various weather conditions, whether you’re planning to travel to Estonia or just want to expand your language skills.

Ilm
The word for “weather” in Estonian. It is the starting point for any conversation about atmospheric conditions.
Kas sa tead, milline ilm homme on?

Päikesepaisteline
Describes sunny or “sunshiny” weather.
Täna on väga päikesepaisteline päev.

Pilvine
The term for “cloudy.” It describes a sky covered with or full of clouds.
Taevas on täna väga pilvine.

Vihmane
Means “rainy.” This adjective is used when talking about weather with rainfall.
Eile oli terve päev väga vihmane.

Tuuline
Translates to “windy.” This term is suitable when describing a day with much wind.
Küll on täna tuuline, hoia oma müts kõvasti peas!

Tormine
Refers to “stormy” weather, when the weather conditions are rough or tempestuous.
Merepäästjad hoiatavad, et õhtuks on oodata tormist ilma.

Lumesadu
Used when talking about “snowfall” or when snow is falling from the sky.
Lapsed ootavad kannatamatult lumesadu, et saaks kelgutama minna.

Jää
Simply “ice.” It is used when there are icy conditions, such as on roads or other surfaces.
Ole ettevaatlik, tänavad on täis jääd!

Külm
Means “cold.” It is an adjective used to describe low temperatures.
Kas sul ei ole külm? Sa peaksid rohkem riideid selga panema.

Soe
The opposite of külm, this word means “warm” and describes higher temperatures.
Täna on nii soe ilm, et võiks randa minna.

Kõrge õhurõhk
Translates to “high atmospheric pressure.”
Kõrge õhurõhk võib põhjustada peavalusid.

Madal õhurõhk
Means “low atmospheric pressure.” It can be associated with stormy weather and rain.
Madal õhurõhk tõotab tavaliselt vihma ja tuult.

Udu
Refers to “fog.” When visibility is poor because of a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere.
Maantee on udu tõttu vaevu nähtav.

Kaste
The word for “dew,” the condensation on cool surfaces, especially in the morning.
Hommikul oli murul nii palju kastet, et mu jalanõud said märjaks.

Äike
Means “thunder” or “thunderstorm.” It describes a storm with lightning and thunder.
Eile õhtul oli äike nii vali, et see ajas mu koera hirmust värisema.

Päike
Simply “sun.” Indicates the star at the center of our solar system, but it’s also used to describe sunny weather.
Kui päike paistab, on kõik rõõmsamad.

Temperatuur
The term for “temperature,” referring to the degree of heat present in the atmosphere.
Täna on temperatuur nulli lähedal, nii et teed võivad olla libedad.

With this vocabulary, you can start to discuss the weather in Estonian and better understand daily weather reports. Remember, practice makes perfect, so try using these terms in sentences and engage in conversations with native speakers for improved fluency. Ilusat ilma! (Nice weather!)