Place Words After the Noun
English says under the table, but Estonian says laua all, literally "table's under". Most position words are postpositions: they come after a noun in the genitive. Kass on laua all. (The cat is under the table.)
How It Works
Common position words
- peal – on: laua peal (on the table)
- all – under: laua all (under the table)
- taga – behind: maja taga (behind the house)
- ees – in front of: maja ees (in front of the house)
- kõrval – next to: poe kõrval (next to the shop)
- juures – by, at: jaama juures (by the station)
- sees – inside: kapi sees (inside the cupboard)
- kohal – above: laua kohal (above the table)
- keskel – in the middle of: linna keskel (in the middle of the city)
- vahel – between: laua ja kapi vahel (between the table and the cupboard)
With pronouns
Use the genitive of the pronoun: minu kõrval (next to me), sinu taga (behind you).
Postposition or case ending?
Sometimes a case ending says the same thing more briefly. laua peal = laual (on the table) with the adessive, and kapi sees = kapis (in the cupboard) with the inessive. Both are correct, and the case ending is often more common.
Good to know
A few words stand before the noun instead, such as enne (before) and mööda (along). See words before a partitive.
Examples (6)
- Kass on laua all.
The cat is under the table.
Word by Word: cat is table(GEN) under
- Auto seisab maja taga.
The car is behind the house.
Word by Word: car stands house(GEN) behind
- Ma ootan sind poe ees.
I'll wait for you in front of the shop.
Word by Word: I wait you(PART) shop(GEN) in-front
- Pank on postkontori kõrval.
The bank is next to the post office.
Word by Word: bank is post-office(GEN) next-to
- Lamp ripub laua kohal.
The lamp hangs above the table.
Word by Word: lamp hangs table(GEN) above
- Raamat on laua ja kapi vahel.
The book is between the table and the cupboard.
Word by Word: book is table(GEN) and cupboard(GEN) between
Both nouns before vahel are in the genitive.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the noun in the basic form.
Kass on laud all.Kass on laua all.The noun before a postposition is in the genitive: laud → laua.
Putting the position word before the noun, as in English.
Kass on all laua.Kass on laua all.Most Estonian position words come after the noun.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Position words follow a genitive.
Related Patterns
- Where To, Where and Where From
Most of these words also have forms for "where to" and "where from".
Level 2 - juurde / juures / juurestTo Someone's Place (Juurde)
juures is one of the most common postpositions, used with people and places.
Level 2 - lähedal / kaugelNear and Far
lähedal (near) works the same way: maja lähedal.
Level 3 - Adessive (-l)
laual can replace laua peal.
Level 1 - Words Before a Partitive (vastu, mööda)Words Before a Partitive
A few position words stand before the noun instead.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Place Words After the Noun in Bubblegum
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