Uralic structure
Estonian relies heavily on inflected word forms and numerous grammatical cases. A single ending can express important relationships.
Uralic, Finnic language
Request an Estonian translation
eesti keel
Despite its geographical location, Estonian is a Uralic language, not a Baltic language. Document terminology therefore cannot simply be inferred from neighbouring languages.
Estonian is spoken by approximately 1.1 million people, mainly in Estonia.
Geographical distribution of Estonian
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Estonia
Finland
A schematic selection of the main areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders, and the map does not show complete population statistics.
Language profile
Estonian at a glance
- Native name
- eesti keel
- Language family
- Uralic, Finnic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- et
Documents and areas of use
Common uses for this language combination
It is not just about the language. ABBA-Sprachendienste also takes into account the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and the language combination you need.
Have your document checked- Birth and marriage certificates
- School and university records
- Employment and business documents
- Recognition decisions
- Contracts and powers of attorney
Origin and development
How the language developed
Estonian belongs to the Finnic branch of the Uralic language family and is closely related to Finnish. The first substantial printed texts appeared in the 16th century.
In the 19th century, a more unified standard language developed during the Estonian national movement. Estonian now uses an extended Latin alphabet.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Special characters
Characters such as õ, ä, ö and ü affect meaning and must be preserved in names and original titles.
Digital public administration
Many Estonian documents are created digitally; signatures, register extracts and document metadata must also be taken into account.
A glimpse of the language
Three phrases to start with
The transliteration is only a rough guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may differ.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tere | — | Hello |
| Aitäh | — | Thank you |
| Palun | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide figures and may vary depending on the definition, the year of the survey and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Estonian language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources as of 14 July 2026. The information will be cross-checked by subject experts before the website goes live.
Estonian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Estonian
Can I have documents translated from Estonian into German and from German into Estonian?
You can request either direction. We give a binding commitment once we have checked the document type, subject area, certification, appointment and intended use.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Estonian?
Birth and marriage certificates, school and university records, employment and business documents, and recognition decisions are common examples. Other types of documents can also be assessed from a clear photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in Estonian documents?
We check the language combination, document type, script (Latin alphabet), names, stamps, subject area, intended use and whether certification may be needed.
Do I need a certified translation of my Estonian document?
That is decided by the authority, court or notary receiving the document, or by whichever other office has requested it. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted, so that your requirements can be assessed properly.
Is a photo enough for the initial check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually enough for us to check your request and prepare a quote. Depending on the job, the original may also be needed later, when the work is carried out.
Request a specific review of Estonian ↔ German
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally check the language combination, document, intended use and whether certification is needed.
