How to pronounce Estonian
Say it like eh-STOH-nee-un. Estonian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Estonian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- eh
- STOH
- nee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Estonian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ehKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- STOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Estonian
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: eh-STOH-nee-un.
What does Estonian mean?
- the official language of Estonia; belongs to the Baltic-Finnic family of languages
- of or pertaining to Estonia or the people or culture of Estonia
Questions about saying Estonian
How do you pronounce Estonian?
Say eh-STOH-nee-un. The American pronunciation is /ɛˈstoʊniən/. In British English it is /ɛˈstəʊniən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Estonian?
Estonian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STOH). Broken into parts: eh · STOH · nee · un.
Is Estonian pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ɛˈstəʊniən/ (eh-STOH-nee-un).