Estonian Has No Articles
Estonian has no articles. Raamat can mean "a book" or "the book"; you just say the noun.
How It Works
English has to choose between a and the every time. Estonian does not. The noun stands on its own:
- Mul on koer. I have a dog.
- Koer magab. The dog is sleeping.
So how do Estonians show that something is new? Mostly through context, and often through word order. A sentence that starts with a place and then names a thing usually introduces something new:
- Laual on raamat. There is a book on the table. (new)
- Raamat on laual. The book is on the table. (usually one we know about, though "a book is on the table" is also possible)
See the existential clause for this pattern.
Other tools can add the same kind of meaning:
- see (this, that) points to a particular thing: see raamat (this book). See see and need.
- The case of an object can show whether you mean the whole thing or just some of it. See the whole object.
In everyday speech, üks (one) and see (this) are sometimes used a bit like English a and the: Üks mees helistas (A man called). This is colloquial, and you do not need it to be correct. See üks and see as articles.
Examples (6)
- Raamat on laual.
The book is on the table.
Word by Word: Book is table-on.
The same sentence can also mean "A book is on the table"; context decides.
- Laual on raamat.
There is a book on the table.
Word by Word: Table-on is book.
Starting with the place introduces something new.
- Mul on koer.
I have a dog.
Word by Word: At-me is dog.
No word for a is needed.
- Koer magab diivanil.
The dog is sleeping on the sofa.
Word by Word: Dog sleeps sofa-on.
No word for the is needed either.
- Ta on arst.
She is a doctor.
Word by Word: She is doctor.
A job is named with the bare noun. Ta can also mean he.
- Ma ostsin auto. Auto on punane.
I bought a car. The car is red.
Word by Word: I bought car. Car is red.
The same word auto means "a car" and then "the car".
Common Mistakes
Adding üks (one) as if it were the word a.
Ta on üks õpetaja.Ta on õpetaja.To say what someone's job is, use the bare noun. Ta on üks õpetaja sounds like "She is one teacher" or "She is a certain teacher".
Translating the English "there is" with seal.
Seal on raamat laual.Laual on raamat.Seal means "over there", a real place, so the first sentence says the book is on a table over there. English "there is" needs no Estonian word: start with the place instead.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- There Is Sentences
Learn the "there is" pattern that introduces new things.
Level 2 - see / needThis, That and These
Use see and need to point to particular things.
Level 1 - Using üks and see Like Articles
See how everyday speech uses üks and see a little like a and the.
Level 4 - Whole Object in the Genitive
See how the object case can show a whole, definite thing.
Level 2 - Basic Word Order
Learn the usual order of words in a sentence.
Level 1
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