Short, Long and Overlong

Level 1

Estonian sounds come in three lengths: short, long and overlong. sada (a hundred), saada (send!) and saada (to get) differ only in how long the aa is held.

How It Works

Estonian grammars call the three lengths välted (degrees of length):

  • Short (first degree): sada (a hundred), lina (sheet), kabi (hoof).
  • Long (second degree): saada (send!), linna (of the town), kapi (of the cupboard).
  • Overlong (third degree): saada (to get), linna (into the town), kappi (into the cupboard).

Length belongs to the stressed syllable, which is usually the first. A long or overlong vowel is written with two letters (aa, ee), and so is a long consonant after a short vowel (ll, nn, ss).

The tricky part is the difference between long and overlong. For most sounds, spelling does not show it: the genitive linna (of the town) and the illative linna (into the town) look identical. Only the stops show it in writing, with p, t, k for long and pp, tt, kk for overlong. See spelling b, d, g and p, t, k.

How to hear it: an overlong syllable is held longer and its pitch falls, and the vowel after it sounds short. In a long syllable the pitch stays level, and the next vowel sounds a little longer. Compare Linna keskus on ilus (the town centre) with Ma sõidan linna (into town).

Some helpful patterns:

  • A one-syllable word with a long vowel or consonant is always overlong: maa, kool, töö, linn.
  • A few short, usually unstressed words are written with one letter even though the vowel is long: ma, sa, ta, me, te, and ja (and).
  • Length often changes between forms of the same word. This is part of consonant gradation and explains pairs like kapp, kapi.

Examples (5)

  1. Mul on sada eurot.

    I have a hundred euros.

    Word by Word: At-me is hundred euro.

    Sada is short: one a, said quickly.

  2. Saada mulle sõnum!

    Send me a message!

    Word by Word: Send to-me message!

    This saada (from saatma, to send) is long, with a level pitch.

  3. Kas ma võiksin kohvi saada?

    Could I get a coffee?

    Word by Word: Q I could coffee get?

    This saada (from saama, to get) is overlong: held longer, with falling pitch.

  4. Linna keskus on ilus.

    The town centre is beautiful.

    Word by Word: Town-of centre is beautiful.

    The genitive linna (of the town) is long.

  5. Ma sõidan linna.

    I'm driving into town.

    Word by Word: I drive town-into.

    The illative linna (into the town) is overlong. It is spelled the same as the genitive.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing a long consonant with one letter.

    Ma elan Talinnas.
    Ma elan Tallinnas.

    Tallinn has a long l after a short vowel, so it is written ll. One l would mean a short sound.

  • Writing a short vowel as a long one.

    Mul on saada eurot.
    Mul on sada eurot.

    Sada (a hundred) has a short a. Saada is a different word, meaning send! or to get.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Short, Long and OverlongLevel 1

Learn This First

Length builds on knowing how vowels and consonants are spelled.