Introduction

1. Grammar

1.1. Sentence structure

The neutral word order in Estonian is subject–verb–object

 

Example

Source text	The surgeon inserted a catheter.
✘	Kirurg kateetri sisestas.
✓	Kirurg sisestas kateetri.

 

1.2. Agreement

1. Estonian has no definite and indefinite articles (the, a).
2. There are traditionally considered to be 14 noun cases in Estonian. These cases apply both to nouns and names - due to this non-native speakers think that names have been translated, which is not the case. 

#	Case	Singular		Plural
		Estonian	English	Estonian	English
1	Nominative	ilus raamat Alice	a beautiful book Alice	ilusad raamatud	beautiful books (as subject or total object)
2	Genitive	ilusa raamatu Alice’i	of a beautiful book; Alice a beautiful book (as total object)	ilusate raamatute	of beautiful books;
3	Partitive	ilusat raamatut Alice’it	a beautiful book (as a partial object) Alice	ilusaid raamatuid	beautiful books (as a partial object)
4	Illative	ilusasse raamatusse Alice’isse	into a beautiful book Alice	ilusatesse raamatutesse	into beautiful books
5	Inessive	ilusas raamatus Alice’is	in a beautiful book Alice	ilusates raamatutes	in beautiful books
6	Elative	ilusast raamatust Alice’ist	from a beautiful book Alice	ilusatest raamatutest	from beautiful books
7	Allative	ilusale raamatule Alice’ile	onto a beautiful book Alice	ilusatele raamatutele	onto beautiful books
8	Adessive	ilusal raamatul Alice’il	on a beautiful book Alice	ilusatel raamatutel	on beautiful books
9	Ablative	ilusalt raamatult Alice’ilt	off a beautiful book Alice	ilusatelt raamatutelt	off beautiful books
10	Translative	ilusaks raamatuks Alice’iks	[to turn] (in)to a beautiful book Alice	ilusateks raamatuteks	[to turn] (in)to beautiful books
11	Terminative	ilusa raamatuni Alice’ini	up to a beautiful book Alice	ilusate raamatuteni	up to beautiful books
12	Essive	ilusa raamatuna Alice’ina	as a beautiful book Alice	ilusate raamatutena	as beautiful books
13	Abessive	ilusa raamatuta Alice’ita	without a beautiful book Alice	ilusate raamatuteta	without beautiful books
14	Comitative	ilusa raamatuga Alice’iga	with a beautiful book Alice	ilusate raamatutega	with beautiful books

 

1.3. Personal pronouns

 

There are 6 personal pronouns:

		1	2	3
singular	nominative	m(in)a	s(in)a	t(em)a
	genitive	m(in)u	s(in)u	t(em)a
	partitive	mind	sind	teda
plural	nominative	m(ei)e	t(ei)e	n(em)ad
	genitive	m(ei)e	t(ei)e	nende
	partitive	meid	teid	neid

 

The first-person and second-person pronouns (mina, sina, me, te) can be (and often should be) omitted because the person is already indicated in the noun or with verb ending.

 

No masculine (he) or feminine (she), both are: tema or ta

 

Non-living things make use of the pronoun it: see

 

Example

Source text	Anne bought herself a new dress. She (Anne) looks nice. It (the dress) looks nice.
✘	Anne ostis endale uue kleidi. See (st Anne) näeb kena välja. Ta (st kleit) näeb kena välja.
✓	Anne ostis endale uue kleidi. Ta (st Anne) näeb kena välja. See (st kleit) näeb kena välja.

 

However, on some occasions ta can be used for non-living things for clarity.

 

Example

Source text	The vase fell to the floor. It broke.
✘	Vaas kukkus põrandale. See läks katki. [This can be interpreted as if the floor broke]
✓	Vaas kukkus põrandale. Ta läks katki. [This can be interpreted as if the vase broke]

 

1.4. Prepositions

There are a few prepositions in Estonian.

 

Example

Source text: before (evening), in the middle of (road), along (beach), without (mother), until (forest), through (fog), along (street), after (accident), against (table).

✓ enne (õhtut), keset (teed), piki (randa), ilma (emata), kuni (metsani), läbi (udu), mööda (tänavat), pärast (õnnetust), vastu (lauda).

 

2. Orthography

 

2.1. Estonian alphabet and writing order

Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Šš, Zz, Žž, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Õõ, Ää, Öö, Üü, Xx, Yy.

Cc, Qq, Ww, Xx and Yy are more common foreign letters that are used only to write foreign names, foreign name derivatives and foreign language words.

Ff, Šš, Zz and Žž occur only in foreign words and foreign names.

 

2.2. Apostrophe

An apostrophe is used in declining foreign names if the name ends with a vowel in writing, but with a consonant in pronunciation, or vice versa, with a consonant in writing, but with a vowel in pronunciation. 

 

Examples

Source text	Use Skype or watch videos on Youtube.
✘	Kasutage Skypet või vaadake videoid Youtubes.
✓	Kasutage Skypeʼi või vaadake videoid Youtubeʼis.

 

Source text	He bought Bordeaux wine.
✘	Ta ostis Bordeaux veini.
✘	Ta ostis Bordeauxi veini.
✓	Ta ostis Bordeaux’ veini.

 

2.3. Capitalization

Written with a continuous capital letter and without quotation marks:

1. personal and creature names,
2. place and building names,
3. names and designations of institutions, companies, organizations, associations (the latter only when showing officiality),
4. country and state names,
5. names of periodicals,
6. names of historical events,
7. honorary titles,
8. event names,
9. trade names,
10. vehicle names and other names.

Written with a capital letter and in quotation marks:

1. titles of works, documents, series, sections,
2. title-like event names,
3. variety names.

A leading capital letter (without quotation marks) indicates the importance of names or historical events.

 

Note! When naming laws, regulations, etc., it is not correct to use a capital letter without quotation marks. They are written either as common names

 

✓ energiaseadus, isikuandmete kaitse seadus, kohaliku omavalitsuse volikogu valimise seadus  or as titles

✓ Vabariigi Valitsuse 7. septembri 2006. a määrus nr 196 „Eesti kirjakeele normi kehtestamise kord”

 

2.4. Compounds

If the first word does indicate possession of the second word, then it should be written together. Generic concepts should be written together.      

 

boy + ball              => boy owns the ball                            => separately: [selle] poisi pall                            washing + powder =>  washing does not own the powder => together:    pesupulber )

 

Examples

Source text	washing powder
✘	pesu pulber
✓	pesupulber

 

Source text	cancer treatment
✓	vähiravi [as a generic concept]
✓	[selle] vähi ravi [treatment for this specific cancer]

 

2.5. Foreign words

A foreign word is not a quoted word. A word taken from a foreign language used in an Estonian text, which is written and pronounced according to the custom its own language, when appearing in the Estonian text, is in italics. Foreign words are written according to pronunciation, i.e. the pronunciation rules of the source language are simplified, and there are no foreign letters c, q, w, x, y.

 

Example of a foreign word

 

Source text	petrol
✘	bensiin
✓	bensiin

 

Example of quoted word

Source text	in vivo
✘	in vivo
✓	in vivo

 

However, if the whole text is written in italics then quoted words must be written without italics.

 

Example

Source text	The drug was studied in vitro. [where the text is deliberately written entirely in italics and this must be reflected in translation]
✘	Ravimit uuriti in vitro.
✓	Ravimit uuriti in vitro.

 

2.6. Special symbols

@ - used in email addresses: (xxxxx@xxxx.com)

@ must not be used in the meaning of “at” [juures]

 

Example

Source text	Value is 30.5 @ 5 V.
✘	Väärtus on 30,5 @ 5 V.
✓	5 V juures on väärtus 30,5.
✓	Pingel 5 V on väärtus 30,5.

 

# - not used for “number” in ET

 

Example

Source text	Use color # 4.
✘	Kasutage värvi # 4.
✓	Kasutage värvi nr 4.

 

& - not used for ‘and’ in ET

 

Example

Source text	Follow steps A & B.
✘	Järgige samme A & B.
✓	Järgige samme A ja B.

 

There should be no space between a number and a percent symbol:

 

Example

Source text	It increased 30 %.
✘	See suurenes 30 %.
✓	See suurenes 30%.

 

The degree symbol (°) is written with no space when it occurs alone. If it is accompanied by abbreviated Celsius (C) etc, it is written with a space.

 

Examples

Source text	The angle is 30°.
✘	Nurk on 30 °.
✓	Nurk on 30°.

 

Source text	Temperature is 30°C.
✘	Temperatuur on 30°C.
✓	Temperatuur on 30 °C.

 

2.7. Numbers

Regarding the format of numerals (written in numbers or words), please follow the source text: if it is written as digits in the source text, this should be maintained in the translation; on the other hand, if it is written as words, it should be translated to the target language.

When translating numbers, also pay special attention to punctuation. English uses a comma as a thousand separator, but in Estonia it should be changed to a non-breaking space (ALT+0160) (usually it can be entered with Ctrl+Shift+Space). Numbers that contain up to 4 digits are written without a  space.

 

Examples

Source text	The study included 55,685 patients.
✘	Uuring hõlmas 55,685 patsienti.
✓	Uuring hõlmas 55 685 patsienti.

 

Source text	The study included 2,200 patients.
✘	Uuring hõlmas 2 200 patsienti.
✘	Uuring hõlmas 2,200 patsienti.
✓	Uuring hõlmas 2200 patsienti.

 

The correct decimal separator is a comma in Estonian:

 

Example

Source text	The bag contains 2.5 litres of saline.
✘	Kott sisaldab 2.5 liitrit füsioloogilist lahust.
✓	Kott sisaldab 2,5 liitrit füsioloogilist lahust.

 

3. Punctuation

3.1. Comma

The subordinate clause is separated by a comma on both sides - verbs should be separated by commas.

 

Note that when the main clause continues with the word “ja” or “ning” or other words that are written without preceding a comma (see below), this does NOT eliminate the need for a comma when the subordinate clause ends in front of this word.

 

Example

Source text	I noticed that the bread was out and went to the store.
✘	Märkasin, et leib on otsas ja läksin poodi.
✓	Märkasin, et leib on otsas, ja läksin poodi.

 

The comma of the comparative form also depends on the verb to say. If the sentence begins with the word as or as is said, a comma is used: 

Example

Source text	He looked at me like I was a stranger.
✘	Vaatas mind nagu oleksin võõras.
✓	Vaatas mind, nagu oleksin võõras.

 

A sentence without a verb is not a subordinate clause and does not require a comma:

Example

Source text	Looked at me like a stranger.
✘	Vaatas mind, nagu võõrast.
✓	Vaatas mind nagu võõrast.

 

Some words belong together as a conjunction, there is no comma between these parts.

Example

Source text	although; without; even if
✘	olgugi, et; ilma, et; isegi, kui
✓	olgugi et; ilma et; isegi kui

 

A comma is used for suffixes and adjectival suffixes: 

Example

Source text	Mihkel, my former classmate, lives in Nõmme.
✘	Mihkel, minu kunagine klassivend elab Nõmmel.
✓	Mihkel, minu kunagine klassivend, elab Nõmmel.

 

A comma is used for a first name, if it is placed after the last name: 

Example

Source text	The surgeon is called Kask, Jüri.
✘	Kirurgi nimi on Kask Jüri.
✓	Kirurgi nimi on Kask, Jüri.

 

A comma is not used for if-adjunct or adjunct in the present tense: 

Example

Source text	Uncle, as a man with life experience, remained calm.
✘	Onu, kui elukogenud mees, jäi rahulikuks.
✓	Onu kui elukogenud mees jäi rahulikuks.

 

A special type of wedge is a sentence that shows who the sentence is addressed to: 

Example

Source text	Hello, Tiina!
✘	Tere Tiina!
✓	Tere, Tiina!

 

The name at the bottom of the prefix is not wedge and does not require a comma before it:

Example

Source text	Good colleague Tiina! (compared to: Hello, dear colleagues!).
✘	Hea kolleeg, Tiina! (compared to: Tere kallid kolleegid!).
✓	Hea kolleeg Tiina! (compared to: Tere, kallid kolleegid!).

 

Complements, additions, or regulations that are equivalent are separated from each other with a comma: 

Example

Source text	The meeting is on Friday, March 3 in Tartu (Friday = March 3).
✘	Koosolek on reedel 3. märtsil Tartus (reede = 3. märts).
✓	Koosolek on reedel, 3. märtsil Tartus (reede = 3. märts).

 

A comma is not used when additions, appendices or regulations follow on from each other: 

Example

Source text	I live in Tartu, on Tiigi street.
✘	Ma elan Tartus, Tiigi tänavas.
✓	Ma elan Tartus Tiigi tänavas.

 

A comma is used in compound sentences, with repeated clauses, instead of a last comma ‘and’ (ja) is used: 

Example

Source text	The sweater is warm, soft and comfortable.
✘	Kampsun on soe pehme ja mõnus.
✓	Kampsun on soe, pehme ja mõnus.

 

ja, ning, ega, ehk, või, kui ka (and, nor, maybe, or, as well as) do not require a comma. 

 

3.2. Semicolon

A semicolon is used to separate parts of a sentence that are more loosely connected, especially if the comma already has other functions:

 

Example

Source text	Enter the rod and secure firmly, the device is now ready for use.
✘	Sisestage varras ja kinnitage kindlalt, seade on nüüd kasutusvalmis.
✓	Sisestage varras ja kinnitage kindlalt; seade on nüüd kasutusvalmis.

 

A semicolon is used to separate compound statement list groups from each other: 

Example

Source text	The Finno-Ugric languages are Hungarian, Handi, Mansi (Ugric languages); Komi, Udmurt (Permian languages); Mordva, Mari (Volga languages); Lappish language; Estonian, Livonian, Vadja, Finnish, Isuri, Karelian, Vepsa language (West Sea Finnish languages).
✘	Soome-ugri keeled on ungari, handi, mansi (ugri keeled), komi, udmurdi (permi keeled), mordva, mari (volga keeled), lapi keel, eesti, liivi, vadja, soome, isuri, karjala, vepsa keel (läänemeresoome keeled).
✓	Soome-ugri keeled on ungari, handi, mansi (ugri keeled); komi, udmurdi (permi keeled); mordva, mari (volga keeled); lapi keel; eesti, liivi, vadja, soome, isuri, karjala, vepsa keel (läänemeresoome keeled).

 

A semicolon is used for listing items:

Example

The kit contains the following components: a) xxx b) xxx c) xxx d) xxx

Komplekt sisaldab järgmisi osi: a) xxx; b) xxx; c) xxx; d) xxx.

 

3.3. Colon

A colon is used in a compound sentence, with a list preceded by a summarizing word: 

Example

Source text	While walking, you can do light exercises: arm circles, body bends.
✘	Käimise ajal saate teha kergeid harjutusi käteringe, kerepainutusi.
✓	Käimise ajal saate teha kergeid harjutusi: käteringe, kerepainutusi.

 

A colon is not placed if the list is a natural part of the sentence and there is no summarizing word in front of it: 

Example

Source text	Our biggest cities are Tallinn, Tartu and Narva.
✘	Meie suurimad linnad on: Tallinn, Tartu ja Narva.
✓	Meie suurimad linnad on Tallinn, Tartu ja Narva.

 

Example of when a colon is not required:

Source text	Send a letter to Valga, Luha 3
✘	Saatke kiri aadressil: Valga, Luha 3
✓	Saatke kiri aadressil Valga, Luha 3

 

Example of when a colon is required:

Source text	Send the letter to the following address: Valga, Luha 3
✘	Saatke kiri järgmisel aadressil Valga, Luha 3
✓	Saatke kiri järgmisel aadressil: Valga, Luha 3

 

Note that a colon must not be followed by a capital letter, unless there is a proper name. See section 6. “Most frequent errors”.

 

3.4. Period

In addition to the end of sentence, a period is used also elsewhere:

•  a period is used after the year and date

Examples

Source text	3rd of January 2021
✘	3 jaanuar 2021
✓	3. jaanuar 2021

 

Source text	Eva started the school in 2021
✘	Eva läks kooli 2021 aastal
✓	Eva läks kooli 2021. aastal

 

• a period is used in ordinal numbers

Example

Source text	It was the 3rd failed insertion attempt.
✘	See oli 3 ebaõnnestunud sisestamiskatse.
✓	See oli 3. ebaõnnestunud sisestamiskatse.

 

• a period is used in abbreviations that are not well known or could be confused with another word when a period is not used

Example

Source text	All kit components are washable, except the ones that contain electronics.
✘	Kõik komplekti komponendid, va elektroonikat sisaldavad, on pestavad.
✓	Kõik komplekti komponendid, v.a elektroonikat sisaldavad, on pestavad.

 

3.5. Points of thought (three points or ellipsis)

 

Ellipsis is used:

1. to mark a sentence break: 

Although he ... although he ... well ... although he is not your child ...

Kuigi ta ... kuigi ta ... noh ... kuigi ta sinu laps ei ole ...

2. to show that the sentence is more or less finished, but there is still a lot to say:

Eeva had a lot to remember from that night...

Sellest ööst oli Eeval palju meenutada ...

3. to replace the omitted letters from the word:          

p..., m…

 

In the case of 1) and 2), it is better to leave a (non-breaking) space in front of an ellipsis (but writing without a space is not considered to be an orthography mistake). In software translations, a space is generally not used in front of the ellipsis.

 

Example

Press Save…

Vajutage nuppu Save… (Salvesta…).

 

3.6. Hyphen

The hyphen is frequently used in Estonian

 

A hyphen is used in double names:

first names: Mari-Liis, Siim-Sander, 

surnames:  Grünthal-Ridala, Sal-Saller

 

A hyphen is used in names with a specifying complement: 

place names:       Mandri-Eesti, Kesk-Euroopa, Uus-Meremaa, 

known exceptions: Suurbritannia, Valgevene

nicknames:       Sauna-Madis, Raua-Robert

 

A hyphen is used in compound words, one part of which is a name that can be written together or contains a hyphen: 

Example

Source text	Make sure you have a good WiFi connection.
✘	Veenduge, et teil oleks hea WiFi ühendus.
✓	Veenduge, et teil oleks hea WiFi-ühendus.

 

A hyphen is used in summaries, one part of which is a letter, abbreviation, part of a word or an example word: 

Example

letter t, t-shirt, vitamin D, word yes

t-täht, T-särk, D-vitamiin, jah-sõna

 

A hyphen is used between the same word in compound adverbs consisting of nominative and subjunctive case: 

Example

Source text	from time to time, gradually, literally
✘	aegajalt, järkjärgult, sõnasõnalt
✓	aeg-ajalt, järk-järgult, sõna-sõnalt

 

Note that adjectives “järkjärguline”, “sõnasõnaline” etc are written without a hyphen.

 

A hyphen is used instead of the omitted repeated part of compound words and other summaries: 

• to replace the front part:

Example

Source text	pre- and post-war, sports clothes and sports shoes
✘	sõjaeelne ja järgne, spordirõivad ning jalatsid
✓	sõjaeelne ja -järgne, spordirõivad ning -jalatsid

• to replace the suffix:

Example

Source text	water supply works and sewage works
✘	veevarustus ja kanalisatsioonitööd
✓	veevarustus- ja kanalisatsioonitööd

 

A hyphen is used in paired words: 

Example

siblings (brother and sister), hands and feet, socio-economic

õde-venda, käed-jalad, sotsiaal-majanduslik

 

A hyphen is used in names denoting one person, object or phenomenon: 

Example

secretary-assistant manager, pre and primary school

sekretär-juhiabi, lasteaed-algkool

 

A hyphen is used juxtaposed between equivalent clauses: 

Example

the Estonian-Latvian border; it is not something others can push and pull

Eesti-Läti piir; ei ole teiste lükata-tõmmata

 

A hyphen is used between consecutive numbers: 

Example

the conference will be held on 14-15 of March, XX-XXI century writer, grade 6 to 7 sports day, it could have been in 2010-2011.

konverents peetakse 14.-15. märtsil, XX-XXI sajandi kirjanik, 6.-7. klassi spordipäev, see võis olla 2010.-2011. aastal.

 

You can use a hyphen in summaries that are preceded by a character or number:

Example

© label, @ key

©-märk ~ ©märk, @-klahv ~ @klahv

 

Adjectives:

Example

75-year-old, 20-seater

75-aastane ~ 75aastane, 20-kohaline ~ 20kohaline

 

3.7. n-dash

The n-dash (–) should be used in the following cases.

The N-dash is used in ranges (where it means “kuni”)

 

Example

Source text	Temperature must be 18 to 30 °C.
✘	Temperatuur peab olema 18-30 °C.
✓	Temperatuur peab olema 18–30 °C.

 

When the element/phrase on at least one side of n-dash consists of more than one word then there must be spaces around n-dash. (The same rule applies to slash /).

 

Example

Source text	Temperature must be 18 °C to 30 °C.
✘	Temperatuur peab olema 18 °C–30 °C.
✓	Temperatuur peab olema 18 °C – 30 °C.

 

The N-dash is used as a minus sign in negative numbers

Example

Source text	Temperature must be -18 °C.
✘	Temperatuur peab olema -18 °C.
✓	Temperatuur peab olema –18 °C.

 

3.8. Quotation marks

The preferred quotation marks in Estonian are: „ … “ 

Example

Source text	He watched the animated film "Christmas of Ladybugs".
✘	Ta vaatas joonisfilmi "Lepatriinude jõulud".
✓	Ta vaatas joonisfilmi „Lepatriinude jõulud“.

 

3.9. Exclamation and question marks

The exclamation mark is used in a short call or warning for an important word.

 

Examples

Source text	Caution! Fresh paint.
✘	Ettevaatust. Värske värv.
✓	Ettevaatust! Värske värv.

 

Source text	Warning! Risk of electric shock.
✘	Hoiatus. Elektrilöögi oht.
✓	Hoiatus! Elektrilöögi oht.

 

Question marks are not placed at the end of headings in argument form

 

Example

Source text	How to set up the device
✘	Kuidas seadet seadistada?
✓	Kuidas seadet seadistada

 

In such cases, the heading is not a question but a shortened version of “Instructions about how to…” (= Juhised selle kohta, kuidas…)

 

3.10. Punctuation in greetings and closings 

In Estonian ‘!’ is used either at the end of a sentence, or not at all. A comma is not used.

 

Example

Source text	Dear customer,
✘	Lugupeetud klient,
✓	Lugupeetud klient!
✓	Lugupeetud klient

 

Example

Source text	Sincerely, Ants Kask
✘	Lugupidamisega, Ants Kask
✓	Lugupidamisega Ants Kask

 

4. Localization challenges

 

4.1. Titles

If the text includes Mr or Mrs, then in Estonian this is not used. Only the person's name is used.

 

Example

Source text	Mr Marc Smith will be attending the meeting too.
✘	Kohtumisel osaleb ka hr Marc Smith.
✓	Kohtumisel osaleb ka Marc Smith.

 

4.2. Acronyms and abbreviations

Common Estonian abbreviations can be found here

Some common abbreviations are listed below.

• a – aasta
• dr – doktor
• e – ehk
• EL – Euroopa Liit
• e.m.a – enne meie ajaarvamist
• hrl – harilikult
• IT – infotehnoloogia
• jm – ja muu(d); ja mujal
• jms – ja muud sellised, ja muud seesugust
• jmt – ja mitmed teised, ja mõned teised
• jn – joonis
• jne – ja nii edasi
• jpt – ja paljud teised
• jt – ja teised
• k.a – käesoleval aastal; kaasa arvatud
• kd – köide
• lg – lõige
• lk – lehekülg
• max – maksimaalne, maksimaalselt
• min – minut, minimaalne, minimaalselt
• mld – miljard
• mln – miljon
• nn – niinimetatud
• nr – number
• nt – näiteks
• n-ö – nii-öelda
• pKr – pärast Kristuse sündi
• p.o – peab olema
• prof – professor
• ptk – peatükk
• sealh, sh – sealhulgas
• s.o – see on
• st, s.t – see tähendab
• t – tund (in international system h); tonn
• tel – telefon
• tk – tükk(i)
• tr – trükk
• u – umbes
• v.a – välja arvatud; väga austatud
• vm – või muu(d)
• vms – või muud sellist, või muu seesugune
• vrd – võrdle
• vt – vaata

At the end of well-known acronyms and abbreviations no ‘.’ is used:

 

Example

Source text	Dr. Kask and others make the following suggestions.
✘	Dr. Kask jt. soovitavad järgmist.
✓	Dr Kask jt soovitavad järgmist.

 

Adding case endings to acronyms depends on how they are read. Acronyms can be read either letter by letter (example: HIV = haa ii vee) or, when possible, as a word (example: HIV = hiv). In the case of HIV, the genitive case can therefore be HIV or HIV-i.

 

4.3. Software lexicon and expressions

e-teatmik: http://vallaste.ee/

 

Example

Source text	Software update is available.
✘	Saadaval on tarkvarauuendus.
✓	Saadaval on tarkvaravärskendus.

 

Note that unlike in the termbase above, the preferred translation of “setting” is “säte”, not “seade”. See https://www.eki.ee/dict/qs/index.cgi?Q=s%C3%A4te&F=M , Arvutikasutaja sõnastik, Tehnikasõnaraamat.

 

Example

Change the settings when necessary.

Vajaduse korral muutke sätteid. [Preferred]

 

4.4. Address format

https://www.omniva.ee/kirja_adresseerimine

 

The correct address format is:

Name (of a person or juridical entity)

Street, number of house and apartment, or name of the farm

Name of village and parish

Postal code; city or county

Country

 

Example:

Kati Kask

Aia tn 1-23

80011 Pärnu

Estonia

 

4.5. Numeric expressions

https://www.eki.ee/books/ekk09/index.php?p=2&p1=10

 

Mathematical operators are written with a space around or after them.

 

Examples

Source text	2+2=4
✘	2+2=4
✓	2 + 2 = 4

 

Source text	<3
✘	<3
✓	< 3

 

In English, sometimes a zero in front of the decimal separator is omitted. In Estonian, the zero must be added.

 

Example

Source text	This was statistically significant: p=.001
✘	See oli statistiliselt oluline: p = ,001
✓	See oli statistiliselt oluline: p = 0,001

 

Negative numbers are written without a space after minus.

 

Example

Source text	-3
✘	– 3
✓	–3

 

Measurements with units are written with numbers.

 

Example

Source text	Tubing diameter is 3 mm.
✘	Vooliku läbimõõt on kolm mm.
✓	Vooliku läbimõõt on 3 mm.

 

Percent and paragraph symbols are only used along with numbers.

 

Example

Source text	It increased 3%.
✘	See suurenes kolm %.
✓	See suurenes 3%.

 

Different numbers should not occur immediately next to each other, as this makes them harder to read. When necessary, reword the sentence.

 

Example

Source text	Value on day 3 was 100.
✘	Väärtus oli päeval 3 100.
✓	3. päeval oli väärtus 100.

 

Please use a non-breaking space between number and unit, around mathematical operators, and also when numbers are grouped with a space, as in 55 000.

 

4.6. Time expressions

Time (international standard) Time (common text)

Kellaaeg

18:06:20 18.06.20

 

4.7. Weekdays

Day of the week in ENG	Day of the week	Abbrevation
Monday	esmaspäev	E
Tuesday	teisipäev	T
Wednesday	kolmapäev	K
Thursday	neljapäev	N
Friday	reede	R
Saturday	laupäev	L
Sunday	pühapäev	P

4.8. Date expressions

Month in ENG	Month in EST	Abbrevation
January	jaanuar	jaan
February	veebruar	veebr
March	märts	märts
April	aprill	apr
May	mai	mai
June	juuni	juuni
July	juuli	juuli
August	august	aug
September	september	sept
October	oktoober	okt
November	november	nov
December	detsember	dets

 

Full construction of the date	7. detsember 1999. a
Abbreviated representation of the date	7. dets 1999. a
Full construction of the month and day of the week	teisipäev, 23. veebruar 1999
Abbreviated representation of date and time	T, 23. veebr 1999. 18:06:20
Representation of the date in numerical form	23.02.1999

 

4.9. Phone numbers

Phone numbers are grouped by four or three numbers from the back or keeping readability in mind. Use non-breaking spaces between groups of numbers.

+372 669 6630

+372 6616 5565

6 310 310

 

4.10. Currency

The currency unit euro is written as a word in its unabbreviated form, or the euro sign is used to denote it. The use of the international currency abbreviation EUR is analogous to the use of other international currency abbreviations.

 

Writing the Euro with  the international currency abbreviation	International designation	Use of the  Euro sign
EUR 543.21	543.21 eurot	543.21
EUR -543.21	-543.21 eurot	-543.21
EUR 9 876 543.21	9 876 543.21 eurot	9 876 543.21

 

4.11. Measures

Basic units

meeter	(m)	length
kilogramm	(kg)	mass
kilogramm	(s)	time
amper	(A)	current strength

 

SI unit	multipliers
meeter (m)	kilomeeter (km), sentimeeter (cm), millimeeter (mm)
kilogramm (kg)	gramm (g), milligramm (mg)

 

Temperature units

 

In Estonia we use Metric Units. There has to be a space between the number and the unit.

 

Source text	The outside temperature is 5°C.
✘	Välistemperatuur on 5°C.
✓	Välistemperatuur on 5 °C.

 

5. Most frequent errors

„Veenduge, et“ construction requires conditional mode. https://keeleabi.eki.ee/?leht=8&id=231

 

Example

Source text	Make sure the kit is working.
✘	Veenduge, et komplekt töötab
✓	Veenduge, et komplekt töötaks.
✓	Veenduge, kas komplekt töötab.

 

When a method or disease etc has been named after two (or more) people, necessary case endings must be added to both or all names.

 

Example

Source text	Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed.
✘	Tehti Kaplan-Meieri analüüs.
✓	Tehti Kaplani-Meieri analüüs.

 

Mathematical operators are written with (non-breaking) spaces after or around them.

 

Examples

Source text	Patients had age <30 (n=15) or ≥70 years (n=18).
✘	Patsientide vanus oli <30 (n=15) või ≥70 aastat (n=18).
✓	Patsientide vanus oli < 30 (n = 15) või ≥ 70 aastat (n = 18).

 

Source text	It must be diluted 1:1 with water.
✘	Seda tuleb lahjendada veega vahekorras 1:1.
✓	Seda tuleb lahjendada veega vahekorras 1 : 1.

 

The word after a colon must not start with a capital letter, unless there is a proper name. For that reason, colon can not be used to introduce capitalized sentences, capitalized lists, capitalized sections of text etc.

 

Examples

Source text	Note: Always wash your hands.
✘	Märkus: Peske alati käed puhtaks.
✓	Märkus. Peske alati käed puhtaks.

 

Source text	To finish the work: A. Press the button X. B. Close the program window.
✘	Töö lõpetamiseks: A. Vajutage nuppu X. B. Sulgege programmi aken.
✓	Töö lõpetamiseks tehke järgmist. A. Vajutage nuppu X. B. Sulgege programmi aken.

 

Trade names and acronyms also need case endings in Estonian, depending on the sentence. If adding case endings to trade names is not the desired outcome, then word order must be changed and the product name must be put before trade name.

 

Examples

Source text	Use GoodCath catheter.
✘	Kasutage GoodCath kateetrit.
✓	Kasutage GoodCathi kateetrit.
✓	Kasutage kateetrit GoodCath.

 

Source text	There were many SARS cases in 2003.
✘	2003. aastal oli palju SARS juhtumeid.
✓	2003. aastal oli palju SARS-i juhtumeid.
✓	2003. aastal oli palju SARSi juhtumeid.

 

If, depending on the sentence, a software UI element needs a case ending then descriptors have to be used in front of it (even if not present in source); do not add case endings directly to software UI elements.

 

Example (if UI must not be translated)

Source text	Press Save button to continue.
✘	Jätkamiseks vajutage Save nuppu.
✘	Jätkamiseks vajutage Saveʼi nuppu.
✓	Jätkamiseks vajutage nuppu Save.

 

Example (if UI has been translated and the button is called Salvesta in translated software)

Source text	Press Save button to continue.
✘	Jätkamiseks vajutage Salvesta nuppu.
✘	Jätkamiseks vajutage Salvestamise nuppu.
✓	Jätkamiseks vajutage nuppu Salvesta.

 

In bilingual software translations, necessary case ending can not be transferred to its translation in parenthesis. Translations of the same UI element must always correspond 1:1 to source and be the same in every occurrence, unless context dictates otherwise.

 

Example

Source text	Press Save button to continue.
✘	Jätkamiseks vajutage Save (Salvestamise) nuppu.
✓	Jätkamiseks vajutage nuppu Save (Salvesta).

 

Note that when the source refers to a function in general or the button doesn’t have a label but is just an icon without text then it can be translated directly.

 

Example

Press save to continue.

Jätkamiseks vajutage salvestamise nuppu.

 

6. Useful online resources

• Wikipedia / Vikipeedia: https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikipeedia:Esileht
• Eesti õigekeelsussõnaraamat: https://www.eki.ee/dict/qs/
• Eesti keele seletav sõnaraamat https://www.eki.ee/dict/ekss/
• Võõrsõnade leksikon: https://www.eki.ee/dict/vsl
• e-teatmik: http://vallaste.ee/