Feelings

1. mul on hea meel

   I'm glad

   Usage

   Literally I have a good mind. The core way to express gladness, and the base of Mul on hea meel teiega tutvuda, pleased to meet you

   Grammar Note

   Estonian often frames feelings as possession — mul on, I have — using the same construction as for owning things

2. olen õnnelik

   I'm happy

   Usage

   Deeper contentment rather than momentary gladness; õnn means both happiness and luck

3. olen elevil

   I'm excited

   Usage

   Keyed up about what is coming — a trip, an event about to start

4. olen uhke

   I'm proud

   Usage

   To be proud of someone: Olen sinu üle uhke, I am proud of you

5. tunnen kergendust

   I'm relieved

   Usage

   kergendus, relief, is built on kerge, light — for when a worry lifts

6. ma armastan sind

   I love you

   Usage

   For a partner or family. Estonians do not throw feelings around, so this carries real weight

7. see meeldib mulle

   I like it

   Usage

   Literally it pleases me — for a thing or a place you have taken to

   Grammar Note

   The thing is the subject and the person takes the allative mulle — the person is never the subject

8. ma igatsen sind

   I miss you

   Usage

   For someone close; igatsema is to long for

9. olen kurb

   I'm sad

   Usage

   The basic way to say it

10. kahju küll

    That's a shame

    Usage

    The reaction when the shop is shut or the tickets have gone; it also works as sympathy for someone else's bad luck

11. olen pettunud

    I'm disappointed

    Usage

    When expectations were not met; a measured way to open a complaint

12. olen üksildane

    I'm lonely

    Usage

    From üksi, alone — about feeling lonely rather than merely being by yourself

13. olen vihane

    I'm angry

    Usage

    The standard, measured way to register anger without attacking the listener

14. olen ärritunud

    I'm irritated

    Usage

    A step below vihane — annoyance rather than anger

15. ma kardan

    I'm afraid

    Usage

    Name the fear with a partitive object: Ma kardan koeri, I am afraid of dogs

16. olen üllatunud

    I'm surprised

    Usage

    Works for good and bad surprises alike; meeldivalt üllatunud makes it explicitly a pleasant one

17. olen mures

    I'm worried

    Usage

    The inessive of mure, worry — literally I am inside a worry

18. olen stressis

    I'm stressed

    Usage

    The loanword stress in the inessive — again, being inside the state

19. mul on piinlik

    I'm embarrassed

    Usage

    Awkwardness and embarrassment; it lands well alongside an apology for a blunder

20. mul on igav

    I'm bored

    Usage

    For friends and family — saying it in a guide's hearing mid-tour would be rude

21. olen väsinud

    I'm tired

    Usage

    Also a gentle way to bow out of more sightseeing

22. olen unine

    I'm sleepy

    Usage

    From uni, sleep — drowsiness specifically, unlike väsinud, tired. Handy for explaining jet lag

23. mul on kõik hästi

    I'm fine

    Usage

    The standard answer to Kuidas läheb?, how is it going — and what you say after a stumble to mean you are all right

24. ma ei tunne end hästi

    I don't feel well

    Usage

    For reporting that you feel ill; usable straight at a pharmacy or clinic

25. olen tänulik

    I'm grateful

    Usage

    A step beyond Aitäh, thank you — worth adding when someone has really helped

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