Cooking & Markets

1. Kus on kohalik turg?

   Where is the local market?

   Usage

   Used when looking for fresh local produce

   Grammar Note

   "Kus on ~?" is the standard Estonian structure for asking where something is

2. Kuidas seda koostisainet kutsutakse?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an unfamiliar ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "kutsutakse" is the passive form meaning "is called"

3. Kas see roog on väga vürtsikas?

   Is this dish very spicy?

   Usage

   Used to check whether a dish is very spicy

   Grammar Note

   "Kas" is an Estonian question particle creating yes/no questions

4. Kas saate soovitada toiduvalmistamise kursust?

   Can you recommend a cooking class?

   Usage

   Used when seeking a cooking class recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "Kas saate ~?" is a polite request: "can you ~?"

5. Kuidas seda rooga valmistatakse?

   How do you prepare this dish?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to prepare a dish

   Grammar Note

   "valmistatakse" is the passive form meaning "is prepared"

6. Kust saan osta värsket köögivilja?

   Where can I buy fresh vegetables?

   Usage

   Used to find where to buy fresh produce

   Grammar Note

   Estonian nouns decline by case. "Kust saan ~?" means "where can I ~?"

7. Tahaksin õppida kohalikku toitu valmistama.

   I'd like to learn to cook local food.

   Usage

   Expresses interest in learning local cuisine

   Grammar Note

   "Tahaksin ~" is the conditional form expressing "I would like to ~"

8. Kas teil on taimetoitlaslikke koostisaineid?

   Do you have vegetarian ingredients?

   Usage

   Used when looking for vegetarian-friendly ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "Kas teil on ~?" is the polite form of "do you have ~?"

9. Milliseid vürtse kasutatakse selles roas?

   What spices are used in this dish?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about spices in a dish

   Grammar Note

   "kasutatakse" is the passive form; Estonian passives use the suffix "-takse"

10. Kas saan proovida näidist?

    Can I try a sample?

    Usage

    Used at markets or food shops to request a taste

    Grammar Note

    "Kas saan ~?" asks for ability: "can I ~?"

11. sool

    Salt

    Usage

    Show to ask for salt or to check an ingredient

12. suhkur

    SUH-kur

    Sugar

    Usage

    Check for sugar; useful alongside declaring diabetes

13. pipar

    PI-par

    Pepper

    Usage

    Black pepper; chilli is a different word, "tšilli"

14. õli

    Õ-li

    Oil

    Usage

    Cooking oil; olive oil is "oliiviõli"

15. äädikas

    ÄÄ-di-kas

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Show to ask for or check for vinegar

16. või

    Butter

    Usage

    The identical word also means the conjunction "or" — make the dairy context clear when you show it

17. juust

    Cheese

    Usage

    Check for cheese, including for dairy allergies

18. mesi

    ME-si

    Honey

    Usage

    Honey; a common word at markets and souvenir shops

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