millal
When (Millal)
millal means when: Millal sa tuled? (When are you coming?) To ask for the clock time, say mis kell: Mis kell rong läheb? (What time does the train leave?)
How It Works
millal asks when something happens. The answer can be a day, a date, a time word or a whole phrase.
Typical answers
- time words: täna (today), homme (tomorrow), eile (yesterday)
- days with -l: esmaspäeval (on Monday)
- clock times: kell viis (at five)
millal or mis kell?
millal is general. When you want an exact time on the clock, ask mis kell: Mis kell film algab? – Kell seitse. (What time does the film start? – At seven.)
Present for the future
Estonian often uses the present tense for future plans: Millal sa tuled? can mean "When are you coming?" or "When will you come?"
Good to know
- In everyday speech you will also hear kunas with the same meaning.
- kui is not a question word for "when". It means "when" or "if" only inside a sentence: Kui sa tuled, helista. (When you come, call.) See When and If (kui).
Examples (6)
- Millal sa tuled?
When are you coming?
Word by Word: when you come
- Millal koosolek algab?
When does the meeting start?
Word by Word: when meeting starts
- Millal sul sünnipäev on?
When is your birthday?
Word by Word: when you-at birthday is
- Millal pood lahti on?
When is the shop open?
Word by Word: when shop open is
- Millal me kohtume? – Homme.
When shall we meet? – Tomorrow.
Word by Word: when we meet – tomorrow
The present tense kohtume refers to the future here.
- Mis kell rong läheb?
What time does the train leave?
Word by Word: what clock train goes
For an exact clock time, Estonian asks mis kell rather than millal.
Common Mistakes
Using kui as the question word "when".
Kui sa tuled?Millal sa tuled?kui links two parts of a sentence ("when" or "if"). To ask a question about time, use millal.
Asking for the clock time with millal.
Millal kell on?Mis kell on?The time on the clock is asked with the fixed phrase mis kell.
Related Patterns
- mis kell onTelling the Time
mis kell asks for the exact clock time, while millal asks about time in general.
Level 1 - täna / homme / eileBasic Time Words
Time words are common short answers to millal.
Level 1 - Days with -l
Days of the week with -l answer millal: esmaspäeval.
Level 1 - kuiWhen and if (Kui)
kui means "when" inside a sentence, but it does not ask a question.
Level 2 - Present Tense
Questions with millal often use the present tense for the future.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice millal in Bubblegum
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