Getting around in Estonian
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. Play the ten Estonian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Estonian phrases in this lesson
- Kus on tualett?koos on too-ah-LET
- Where is the toilet?
- Kuidas ma saan ...?KOO-ee-das mah saan
- How do I get to...?
- VasakuleVAH-sah-koo-leh
- To the left
- ParemalePAH-reh-mah-leh
- To the right
- OtseOHT-seh
- Straight ahead
- Siinseen
- Here
- RaudteejaamRAUD-tay-yahm
- Train station
- Bussboos
- Bus
- LennujaamLEN-noo-yahm
- Airport
- Üks pilet, palunooks PEE-let PAH-loon
- One ticket, please
Tualett is the standard word; WC is also widely posted. In Estonia, public toilets in shopping centers and bus stations are usually clean. Some require a small coin fee.
"Kuidas ma saan vanalinna?", how do I get to the old town?
The direction word in the allative case, meaning "to the left." If you just want the adjective (left side) it is vasak. Estonians give directions clearly and concisely.
To the right. The base form is parem, which also means "better." A small memory hook: going right is going "better." Straight ahead is otse (OHT-seh).
Simple and clear. Often accompanied by a point or hand gesture. If someone says otse edasi (OHT-seh EH-dah-see) it means "straight on forward," emphasizing to keep going without turning.
Raudtee means "iron road" (railroad) and jaam means station. Tallinn's main station is Balti jaam. Trains connect Tallinn to Tartu, Narva, and Pärnu. Booking online in advance is recommended.
Public transport in Tallinn is free for residents; visitors buy a card.
Literally "flight station". Tallinn airport is a short tram ride from the center.
Pilet covers bus, tram, train, and event tickets. For Tallinn public transport, registered city residents ride free; visitors pay per trip using contactless payment or the Tallinn Card.