Nature & Outdoors

1. Eesti on metsade ja soode maa

   EES-ti on MET-sa-de ja SOO-de maa

   Estonia is a land of forests and bogs

   Usage

   Used to describe Estonia's remarkable natural landscape of forests and peatlands

   Grammar Note

   Over half of Estonia is forested. "Soo" (bog/fen) is a peatland ecosystem unique to the Baltic region and home to diverse wildlife

2. Viru raba on väga kaunis

   VI-ru RA-ba on VÄ-ga KAU-nis

   Viru Bog is very beautiful

   Usage

   Used to praise the beauty of Viru Bog in Lahemaa National Park

   Grammar Note

   "Raba" is a raised bog (peatland). Viru raba lies inside Lahemaa National Park and can be visited on boardwalks. Lahemaa National Park, established in 1971, is Estonia's largest park and lies along the Baltic coast

3. Kas saab metsa jalutama minna?

   kas saab MET-sa JA-lu-ta-ma MIN-na

   Can I go for a walk in the forest?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether it is possible to walk in the forest

   Grammar Note

   Estonia's "Everyman's Right" (igaühiõigus) allows anyone to walk in forests on both public and private land

4. Vaata, seal on põder!

   VAA-ta seal on PÕ-der

   Look, there is a moose over there!

   Usage

   Used to excitedly point out a moose spotted in the wild

   Grammar Note

   Estonia is home to about 11,000 moose. They are commonly spotted in national parks and forested areas

5. Kas siin on tähistatud matkarajad?

   kas siin on TÄ-his-ta-tud MAT-ka-ra-jad

   Are there marked hiking trails here?

   Usage

   Used to ask about designated hiking trails in a nature area

   Grammar Note

   Matkarajad = matka (hike/trek) + rajad (paths, plural). Estonia has over 4,000 km of marked hiking and nature trails

6. Meri on täna väga kena

   ME-ri on TÄ-na VÄ-ga KE-na

   The sea is very beautiful today

   Usage

   Used to admire the beauty of the Baltic Sea

   Grammar Note

   Estonia has 3,780 km of coastline along the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea, with about 2,200 islands

7. Siin kasvavad ilusad lilled

   siin KAS-va-vad I-lu-sad LIL-led

   Beautiful flowers grow here

   Usage

   Used to appreciate wild flowers in Estonian nature

   Grammar Note

   Estonia's national flower is the cornflower (rukkilill). Wildflowers bloom across meadows from spring to summer

8. Kas siin saab marjasid korjata?

   kas siin saab MAR-ja-sid KOR-ja-ta

   Can you pick berries here?

   Usage

   Used to ask if berry picking is permitted in the area

   Grammar Note

   Under Everyman's Right, anyone may pick berries and mushrooms on both public and private land in Estonia

9. Vaata neid ilusaid rändrahne!

   VAA-ta neid I-lu-said RÄND-rah-ne

   Look at those beautiful erratic boulders!

   Usage

   Used to point out Estonia's famous glacial erratic boulders scattered across the landscape

   Grammar Note

   Estonia has many glacial erratic boulders carried from Scandinavia during the Ice Age. The largest is Ehalkivi at 616 cubic metres

10. Kus saab vaadelda linde?

    kus saab VAA-del-da LIN-de

    Where can I observe birds?

    Usage

    Used to ask where to go bird-watching in Estonia

    Grammar Note

    Estonia is a birdwatcher's paradise. Millions of migratory birds pass through Baltic coastal areas in spring and autumn

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