Describing the family in Estonian
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for freeWhat could be more important than the family? In this lesson we learn how to talk about your family members in Estonian.
Lesson outline
HideImmediate family
| English | Estonian |
|---|---|
| My family | Minu perekond |
| Parents | Vanemad |
| Mother | Ema |
| Father | Isa |
| Child, children | Laps, lapsed |
| Sister | Õde |
| Brother | Vend |
| Daughter | Tütar |
| Son | Poeg |
| Husband/Wife | Abikaasa |
The same word is used for both husband and wife.
Have a question?
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
- Native & verified teachers
- Free trial lesson
- Learning materials included
Diana B. 
Olga T.
Martin L.
Close relatives
| English | Estonian |
|---|---|
| Grandparents | Vanavanemad |
| Grandfather | Vanaisa |
| Grandmother | Vanaema |
| Grandchildren | Lapselapsed |
| Grandson (the son of your son) | Pojapoeg |
| Grandson (the son of your daughter) | Tütrepoeg |
| Granddaughter (the daughter of your son) | Pojatütar |
| Granddaughter (the daughter of your daughter) | Tütretütar |
| Great grandfather | Vanavanaema |
| Great grandmother | Vanavanaema |
| Uncle | Onu |
| Aunt | Tädi |
| Cousin | Nõbu |
| Nephew (the son of your brother) | Vennapoeg |
| Nephew (the son of your sister) | Õepoeg |
| Niece (the daughter of your brother) | Vennatütar |
| Niece (the daughter of your sister) | Õetütar |
Family-in-law
The in-laws are the members of the family of your spouse or via marriage in your family.
| English | Estonian |
|---|---|
| Father-in-law (the father of your spouse) | Äi |
| Mother-in-law (the mother of your spouse) | Ämm |
| Son-in-law (the husband of your daughter) | Väimees |
| Daughter-in-law (the wife of your son) | Minia |
| Brother-in-law (the husband of your sister) | Õemees |
| Sister-in-law (the wife of your brother) | Vennanaine |
/nginx/o/2016/11/07/6045837t1hf909.jpg)
The stepfamily
| English | Estonian |
|---|---|
| Stepfather | Kasuisa |
| Stepmother | Kasuema |
| Stepson | Kasupoeg |
| Stepdaughter | Kasutütar |
| Stepbrother | Kasuvend |
| Stepsister | Kasuõde |
| Half-brother | Poolvend |
| Half-sister | Poolõde |
Other useful expressions
In the table below you can learn how to ask about someone's family and how to describe yours.
| English | Estonian |
|---|---|
| Tell me about your family | Räägi mulle oma perest |
| Describe your family | Kirjelda oma peret |
| Do you have any brothers or sisters? | Kas sul on õdesid või vendi? |
| I have one sister | Mul on üks õde |
| My parents are divorced | Mu vanemad on lahutatud |
| My parents are married | Mu vanemad on abielus |
| Together | Koos |
| He/she is single | Ta on vallaline |
| My father's name is X | Mu isa nimi on X |
| My mother is X years old | Mu ema on X aastat vana |
Example dialogue
Teele: Räägi mulle oma perest. --- Describe me your family.
Lauri: Meid on kokku kuus: mina, ema, isa, kaks õde ja üks vend. --- There's six of us: me, mother, father, two sisters and one brother.
Teele: Mis su vanemate nimed on? --- What are the names of your parents?
Lauri: Mu isa nimi on Mihkel ja ema nimi on Maarika. --- My father's name is Mihkel and my mother's name is Maarika.
Teele: Kui vanad su õed ja vend? --- How old are your sisters and brother?
Lauri: Üks õde on 13 aastat vana, teine on 15 aastat vana ja mu vend on 6 aastat vana. --- One sister is 13 years old, the other is 15 and my brother is 6.
Teele: Kas su vanemad on abielus? --- Are your parents married?
Lauri: Ei, nad ei ole abielus, aga nad on koos. --- No, they are not married but they are together.
Congratulations! Now you can tell everyone about your family. Do the exercises to practice everything you learned!
Exercises
- Exercise: Match the family members
- Fill in the blanks exercise: family members
- Multiple choice exercise on the family vocabulary
Exercise: Match the family members
Fill in the blanks exercise: family members
Multiple choice exercise on the family vocabulary
Exercises
- Exercise: Match the family members
- Fill in the blanks exercise: family members
- Multiple choice exercise on the family vocabulary