Money & Exchange

1. Kus on lähim sularahaautomaat?

   kus on LÄ-him SU-la-ra-ha-au-to-maat

   Where is the nearest ATM?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the nearest ATM when you need cash

   Grammar Note

   Sularahaautomaat = sularaha (cash) + automaat (machine). Estonia is largely cashless but ATMs are still common

2. Kas te võtate krediitkaarti vastu?

   kas te VÕ-ta-te kre-DIIT-kaar-ti VAS-tu

   Do you accept credit cards?

   Usage

   Used to ask a shop or restaurant if credit card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "Vastu võtma" is a compound verb meaning "to accept / to receive". Estonia is one of Europe's most cashless countries

3. Palju see maksab?

   PAL-ju see MAK-sab

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of an item

   Grammar Note

   "Palju see maksab?" is the most common way to ask a price. Both "Kui palju..." and "Palju..." are used interchangeably

4. Kas saan maksta sularahas?

   kas saan MAK-sta SU-la-ra-has

   Can I pay with cash?

   Usage

   Used to ask if cash payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "Sularahas" is the inessive of "sularaha" (cash): "in cash". "Kaardiga" (by card) uses the comitative -ga

5. Kas saan kviitungi?

   kas saan KVII-tun-gi

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Used to request a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Kviitung" is borrowed from German "Quittung". Estonian borrowed extensively from German due to centuries of Baltic German influence

6. Kas hind sisaldab käibemaksu?

   kas hind SI-sal-dab KÄI-be-mak-su

   Does the price include VAT?

   Usage

   Used to check whether the displayed price includes VAT

   Grammar Note

   Käibemaks = käive (turnover) + maks (tax). Estonia's standard VAT rate has been 24% since July 2025

7. Kus saan valuutat vahetada?

   kus saan va-LUU-tat VA-he-ta-da

   Where can I exchange currency?

   Usage

   Used to find a currency exchange office

   Grammar Note

   Estonia adopted the euro in 2011. Currency exchange offices (valuutavahetus) are at airports, Tallinn station, and Old Town

8. Palun andke vahetusraha tagasi

   PA-lun AND-ke VA-he-tus-ra-ha TA-ga-si

   Please give me the change back

   Usage

   Used to ask for your change back after payment

   Grammar Note

   "Tagasi" is an adverb meaning "back". "Andma tagasi" = to give back / to return something

9. Kas arvel on viga?

   kas AR-vel on VI-ga

   Is there an error on the bill?

   Usage

   Used to politely question a possible error on the bill

   Grammar Note

   "Arvel" is the adessive of "arve" (bill). "Arvel on viga" = "on the bill there is an error" — Estonian uses adessive for location

10. Kui palju on kohane jootraha?

    kui PAL-ju on KO-ha-ne JOOT-ra-ha

    How much tip is appropriate?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the appropriate amount for a tip in Estonia

    Grammar Note

    "Jootraha" parallels Finnish "juomaraha". Tipping is not obligatory in Estonia; 5–10% is a common gesture of appreciation

11. Deposiit

    de-po-SIIT

    Deposit

    Usage

    A refundable deposit paid at check-in for hotels or rentals

12. Tagasimakse

    TA-ga-si-mak-se

    Refund

    Usage

    Used when asking for money to be returned

13. Tagatisraha

    TA-ga-tis-ra-ha

    Security deposit

    Usage

    A more formal security deposit, used for rentals or leases

14. Ettemaks

    ET-te-maks

    Prepayment

    Usage

    Used to indicate money paid in advance, e.g. at booking

15. Lisatasu

    LI-sa-ta-su

    Extra charge

    Usage

    Used to indicate an additional charge added later

16. Teenustasu

    TEE-nus-ta-su

    Service fee

    Usage

    Used to indicate a fee charged for a service or procedure

17. sularaha

    SU-la-ra-ha

    Cash

    Usage

    Show when you want to pay cash; Estonia is largely card-based

18. pangakaart

    PAN-ga-kaart

    Bank card

    Usage

    The bare word "kaart" also means "map", so use the compound for a payment card

19. Maksame pooleks

    MAK-sa-me POO-leks

    Let's split the bill

    Usage

    Split evenly between two people; you can show it to the server too

20. Maksame kõik koos

    MAK-sa-me kõik koos

    We'll pay for everything together

    Usage

    Ask for a single bill covering the whole table

21. vahetusraha

    VA-he-tus-ra-ha

    Change (money back)

    Usage

    Ask for your change; currency exchange is "valuutavahetus"

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