Asking Simple Questions

Imagine you're in a supermarket in Tallinn.

You need to find the milk, but you don't know where it is.

Later, you visit a café and want to ask what something is.

Then you meet a neighbor and want to know when an event starts.

You don't need complicated Estonian to handle these situations.

You need to know how to ask the right questions.

In this lesson, you'll learn the most useful Estonian question words and discover how a small number of patterns can help you communicate in many everyday situations.

Today's mission: Ask at least three different questions in Estonian and understand the type of answer each question requires.

What You'll Learn

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to:

• Ask what something is.
• Ask who someone is.
• Ask where something or someone is.
• Ask when something happens.
• Ask how something works or how someone is doing.
• Ask why something happens using a simple pattern.
• Ask questions about quantities and prices.
• Construct yes/no questions using kas.
• Combine question words with familiar vocabulary.
• Respond to short, predictable questions.

A1 learning goal: Ask and answer simple questions about familiar people, objects, places, times, and everyday needs, with support from a cooperative conversation partner.

1. Your First Question Words

Let's begin with the most useful Estonian question words.

Estonian	English
mis	what
kes	who
kus	where
kust	from where
kuhu	where to
millal	when
kuidas	how
miks	why
kui palju	how much
mitu	how many
mis kell	at what time
kas	introduces a yes/no question

You already know several of these from earlier lessons.

Now we'll organize them into patterns you can use independently.

Listen to the Question Words

Practice

Listen twice.

First, identify the meaning of each question word.

Then repeat each word aloud.

Don't attempt to memorize all twelve perfectly before continuing.

You'll practice them through real conversations.

2. Mis — What?

The word mis means "what."

You've already encountered it in:

Mis sinu nimi on?

Meaning: What's your name?

Now let's learn another useful question.

Mis see on?

Meaning: What is this?

This expression is useful when you see an unfamiliar object, product, or word.

At a Supermarket

Imagine seeing an unfamiliar food product.

Ask:

Mis see on?

The employee might answer:

See on leib.

Meaning: This is bread.

More Examples

See on piim.

This is milk.

See on juust.

This is cheese.

See on õun.

This is an apple.

New Vocabulary

Estonian	English
leib	bread, usually dark bread
piim	milk
juust	cheese
õun	apple

Practice Dialogue

English Translation

Customer: Excuse me!

Employee: Yes?

Customer: What is this?

Employee: This is cheese.

Customer: Thank you!

Employee: You're welcome!

Pattern to Remember

Mis see on?

See on + object.

You can use this pattern with hundreds of familiar objects.

3. Kes — Who?

The word kes means "who."

Use it when asking about a person.

Who Is This?

Kes see on?

Meaning: Who is this?

Who Are You?

Informal:

Kes sa oled?

Meaning: Who are you?

Polite:

Kes te olete?

Meaning: Who are you?

Be aware that asking someone directly "Who are you?" can sound abrupt, depending on the situation.

When meeting someone politely, it's usually better to ask their name.

Mis teie nimi on?

Practical Example

Imagine a colleague points to a person in a photograph.

You ask:

Kes see on?

They respond:

See on minu õpetaja.

Meaning: This is my teacher.

Another Example

See on minu sõber.

Meaning: This is my friend.

New Vocabulary

õpetaja

Teacher.

sõber

Friend.

Mini Practice

Translate into Estonian:

1. Who is this?
2. This is my friend.
3. This is my teacher.

Answers

Kes see on?

See on minu sõber.

See on minu õpetaja.

4. Kus — Where?

The word kus means "where."

You already learned:

Kus sa elad?

Meaning: Where do you live?

Now let's use it to find everyday objects and places.

Where Is the Shop?

Kus on pood?

Meaning: Where is the shop?

Where Is the Toilet?

Kus on tualett?

Meaning: Where is the toilet?

Where Is the Bus Stop?

Kus on bussipeatus?

Meaning: Where is the bus stop?

Where Is the Pharmacy?

Kus on apteek?

Meaning: Where is the pharmacy?

Useful Answers

Siin.

Here.

Seal.

There.

Siin lähedal.

Nearby / Near here.

Seal kaugel.

Far away over there.

Short Conversation

English Translation

You: Excuse me, where is the pharmacy?

Person: The pharmacy is nearby.

You: Thank you!

Person: You're welcome!

Practice

Imagine you're in a shopping center.

Ask where the toilet is.

Vabandust, kus on tualett?

Repeat the complete sentence aloud.

5. Kust and Kuhu — From Where and Where To?

You already learned kust in Module 1.

Kust sa pärit oled?

Meaning: Where are you from?

Now let's compare three important location questions.

Question	Meaning
Kus?	Where?
Kust?	From where?
Kuhu?	Where to?

These three questions are central to understanding how Estonian expresses location and movement.

Where?

Kus sa oled?

Meaning: Where are you?

Response:

Ma olen kodus.

Meaning: I'm at home.

From Where?

Kust sa tuled?

Meaning: Where are you coming from?

Response:

Ma tulen töölt.

Meaning: I'm coming from work.

Where To?

Kuhu sa lähed?

Meaning: Where are you going?

Response:

Ma lähen koju.

Meaning: I'm going home.

Important Vocabulary

Estonian	English
kodus	at home
koju	homeward / to home
töölt	from work
lähen	I go / I'm going
tuled	you come / are coming

Grammar Discovery

Notice the difference:

• kodus — at home
• koju — home / to home

The word changes depending on the relationship to the place.

You don't need to memorize all the grammatical case forms now.

For A1, begin by learning useful location expressions as complete patterns.

We'll explore this more deeply in the transport and location modules.

6. Millal — When?

The word millal means "when."

Use it to ask when something happens.

When?

Millal?

When Are You Coming?

Millal sa tuled?

Meaning: When are you coming?

When Does It Start?

Millal see algab?

Meaning: When does it start?

Simple Answers

Täna.

Today.

Homme.

Tomorrow.

Esmaspäeval.

On Monday.

Hommikul.

In the morning.

Õhtul.

In the evening.

Example Conversation

English Translation

Person A: When are you coming?

Person B: Tomorrow.

Person A: In the morning or evening?

Person B: In the morning.

Person A: Very good!

Practical Tip

At A1, short answers are completely acceptable.

You don't always need to construct a full sentence.

If someone asks when you're coming, answering Homme can be sufficient.

You'll study time, dates, and appointments in more detail in Module 5.

7. Kuidas — How?

You already know this question:

Kuidas läheb?

Meaning: How's it going?

Now let's learn another important expression.

Kuidas see töötab?

Meaning: How does this work?

Practical Situations

You might ask this when:

• Using a ticket machine.
• Using a self-service checkout.
• Trying a new device.
• Asking about a machine in your apartment building.

Another Useful Question

Kuidas ma saan aidata?

Meaning: How can I help?

You may hear this in workplaces or service settings.

More commonly, a service employee might ask you:

Kuidas ma saan teid aidata?

Meaning: How can I help you? (polite)

Example

English Translation

Employee: Hello!

Customer: Hello!

Employee: How can I help you?

Customer: I have a question.

Employee: Of course!

New Expression

Mul on küsimus.

Meaning: I have a question.

Remember the mul on pattern from the previous lesson?

You're already reusing it in a new situation.

8. Miks — Why?

The word miks means "why."

Use it when asking for a reason.

Why?

Miks?

Why Are You Learning Estonian?

Miks sa õpid eesti keelt?

Meaning: Why are you learning Estonian?

Because I Live in Estonia

Sest ma elan Eestis.

Meaning: Because I live in Estonia.

Another Example

Miks sa oled siin?

Meaning: Why are you here?

Response:

Sest ma töötan siin.

Meaning: Because I work here.

Useful Pattern

Miks ...?

Sest ...

• Miks — Why?
• Sest — Because.

Practice Dialogue

A1 Focus

You don't need to explain complicated reasons yet.

A short answer beginning with sest is a useful starting point.

9. Kui Palju and Mitu — How Much and How Many?

You learned these question words in the previous lessons.

Let's compare them.

How Much?

Kui palju?

Often used for amounts, quantities, or prices.

Example:

Kui palju see maksab?

Meaning: How much does this cost?

How Many?

Mitu?

Used when asking about the number of countable things.

Example:

Mitu piletit?

Meaning: How many tickets?

More Examples

Mitu inimest?

How many people?

Mitu last sul on?

How many children do you have?

Kui palju raha sul on?

How much money do you have?

Practical Difference

Compare:

Mitu piletit?

You're asking for the number of tickets.

Kui palju see maksab?

You're asking for a price.

Mini Dialogue

English Translation

Employee: Hello!

Customer: Hello!

Employee: How many tickets?

Customer: Two tickets, please.

Employee: That costs six euros.

Customer: Thank you!

10. Mis Kell — At What Time?

Sometimes you don't just want to know which day something happens.

You want to know the exact time.

Use:

Mis kell?

Meaning: At what time? / What time?

At What Time Are You Coming?

Mis kell sa tuled?

Meaning: What time are you coming?

At What Time Does It Start?

Mis kell see algab?

Meaning: What time does it start?

Example

English Translation

Person A: What time are you coming?

Person B: At three o'clock.

Person A: Very good!

New Expression

Kell kolm.

Meaning: At three o'clock.

You already know the number kolm from the first lesson in Module 2.

We'll study the full clock system in Module 5.

11. Kas — Asking Yes/No Questions

Unlike the other question words, kas introduces a question that can be answered with yes or no.

You already used this pattern in previous lessons.

Statement

Sa elad Tallinnas.

You live in Tallinn.

Question

Kas sa elad Tallinnas?

Do you live in Tallinn?

More Examples

Kas see on kohv?

Is this coffee?

Kas teil on piima?

Do you have milk?

Kas sa räägid inglise keelt?

Do you speak English?

Kas ma saan kaardiga maksta?

Can I pay by card?

Answers

Jah.

Yes.

Ei.

No.

You can also use longer answers.

Jah, ma elan Tallinnas.

Yes, I live in Tallinn.

Ei, ma elan Tartus.

No, I live in Tartu.

Grammar Discovery

Many Estonian yes/no questions are formed by placing kas at the beginning of a statement.

This pattern is especially useful at A1.

You can generate many new questions using vocabulary you already know.

12. The Question-Building Toolkit

Let's bring the patterns together.

Your Goal	Useful Question
Identify an object	Mis see on?
Identify a person	Kes see on?
Find a place	Kus on ...?
Ask about origin	Kust sa pärit oled?
Ask about a destination	Kuhu sa lähed?
Ask when	Millal ...?
Ask how	Kuidas ...?
Ask why	Miks ...?
Ask a price	Kui palju see maksab?
Ask a quantity	Mitu ...?
Ask the time	Mis kell ...?
Ask yes/no	Kas ...?

The Key Idea

You don't need a completely new sentence for every situation.

Learn a small collection of flexible question patterns.

Then reuse familiar words inside them.

For example:

Kus on pood?

Kus on apteek?

Kus on bussipeatus?

Only one word changes.

This is how practical vocabulary becomes real communication ability.

13. Real-Life Dialogue: At a Shopping Center

Imagine you're visiting a shopping center in Tallinn.

You need to find a pharmacy and ask about a product.

Listen to the conversation.

English Translation

You: Excuse me!

Person: Yes?

You: Where is the pharmacy?

Person: The pharmacy is nearby.

You: Thank you!

Person: You're welcome!

You: Hello!

Employee: Hello!

You: Do you have this?

Employee: Yes, we do.

You: How much does this cost?

Employee: Five euros.

You: Thank you!

New Expression

Kas teil on seda?

Meaning: Do you have this?

The word seda is a form of see.

You'll learn more about these forms in later grammar lessons.

For now, memorize the complete shopping expression.

Practice

Repeat the dialogue aloud.

Then change the pharmacy to a shop.

Kus on pood?

Try asking the price of an imaginary item.

14. Listening Practice: Identify the Question

Listen to each question.

Identify what kind of information is being requested.

Try hiding the written Estonian while listening.

Listening 1

Mis see on?

A. A person's name

B. An object or thing

C. A location

Listening 2

Kus on bussipeatus?

A. Location

B. Time

C. Price

Listening 3

Millal sa tuled?

A. Reason

B. Time or day

C. Quantity

Listening 4

Miks sa õpid eesti keelt?

A. Reason

B. Location

C. Price

Listening 5

Mitu piletit?

A. Number of tickets

B. Price of tickets

C. Destination

Listening 6

Kas sa elad Eestis?

A. A yes/no answer

B. A price

C. A person's name

Answers

1. B
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. A
6. A

Listening Challenge

Play the questions again.

Try responding to each one without reading the text.

For some questions, you may need to imagine a situation.

Use short, familiar responses.

15. Reading Practice: An Everyday Conversation

Read this dialogue.

Answer the Questions

1. What is the person's name?
2. Where does Martin live?
3. Why is he learning Estonian?
4. When is he coming?
5. At what time is he coming?

Answers

1. Martin.
2. Tallinn.
3. Because he lives in Estonia.
4. Tomorrow.
5. At three o'clock.

Reading Strategy

Notice that the question words tell you what information to look for.

• Mis — Identify something.
• Kus — Location.
• Miks — Reason.
• Millal — When.
• Mis kell — Exact time.

Understanding the question word often helps you understand the purpose of the entire sentence.

16. Writing Practice: Choose the Question Word

Complete the sentences using the appropriate word.

Word bank:

mis, kes, kus, millal, kuidas, miks, mitu, kas

Exercise 1

_____ see on?

Meaning: What is this?

Exercise 2

_____ on sinu õpetaja?

Meaning: Who is your teacher?

Exercise 3

_____ on apteek?

Meaning: Where is the pharmacy?

Exercise 4

_____ sa tuled?

Meaning: When are you coming?

Exercise 5

_____ läheb?

Meaning: How's it going?

Exercise 6

_____ sa õpid eesti keelt?

Meaning: Why are you learning Estonian?

Exercise 7

_____ piletit?

Meaning: How many tickets?

Exercise 8

_____ sa elad Tallinnas?

Meaning: Do you live in Tallinn?

Answers

1. Mis
2. Kes
3. Kus
4. Millal
5. Kuidas
6. Miks
7. Mitu
8. Kas

17. Writing Practice: Create Your Own Questions

Now write six questions in Estonian.

Use familiar vocabulary from Modules 1 and 2.

Task 1

Ask someone's name.

Task 2

Ask where someone lives.

Task 3

Ask where the pharmacy is.

Task 4

Ask how much something costs.

Task 5

Ask when someone is coming.

Task 6

Ask whether someone speaks English.

Suggested Answers

Mis sinu nimi on?

Kus sa elad?

Kus on apteek?

Kui palju see maksab?

Millal sa tuled?

Kas sa räägid inglise keelt?

Extra Challenge

Write three additional questions using:

• Kes
• Kuidas
• Miks

Try to use your own examples instead of copying directly.

18. Speaking Challenge: Five Everyday Situations

Imagine these situations and ask an appropriate question aloud.

Situation 1 — At a Café

You see something unfamiliar on the menu.

Ask what it is.

Suggested response:

Mis see on?

Situation 2 — At a Supermarket

You need to find the milk.

Ask where it is.

Suggested response:

Vabandust, kus on piim?

Situation 3 — Meeting a New Person

You want to know where they live.

Suggested response:

Kus sa elad?

Situation 4 — Making Plans

You want to know when your friend is coming.

Suggested response:

Millal sa tuled?

Situation 5 — Buying Tickets

You want to know how many tickets someone needs.

Suggested response:

Mitu piletit?

Your Goal

Ask all five questions without looking at the suggested answers.

Then repeat the exercise using polite forms where appropriate.

For example:

Kus te elate?

Instead of:

Kus sa elad?

19. Knowledge Check

Choose the correct answer.

Question 1

Which word means "Who?"

A. Mis

B. Kes

C. Kus

Question 2

Which question means "Where is the pharmacy?"

A. Kus on apteek?

B. Kust on apteek?

C. Miks on apteek?

Question 3

What does Millal? mean?

A. Why?

B. How?

C. When?

Question 4

Which question asks for a reason?

A. Kuidas?

B. Miks?

C. Mitu?

Question 5

Which question means "How many tickets?"

A. Kui palju maksab?

B. Mitu piletit?

C. Mis kell?

Question 6

Which word introduces a yes/no question?

A. Kas

B. Kus

C. Kes

Question 7

What does Kuhu? mean?

A. Where?

B. From where?

C. Where to?

Question 8

Which question means "How much does this cost?"

A. Mis see on?

B. Kui palju see maksab?

C. Kuidas see töötab?

Answers

1. B
2. A
3. C
4. B
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. B

20. Real-World Mission

Your challenge is to ask at least three questions in Estonian.

Choose questions that fit your daily life.

Mission A — Easy

Ask someone where something is.

For example:

Vabandust, kus on tualett?

Or:

Kus on bussipeatus?

Mission B — Intermediate

Ask the price of something.

Kui palju see maksab?

Try to understand the answer.

If you need help, say:

Palun korrake.

Mission C — Challenge

Have a short conversation with an Estonian-speaking person.

Ask three questions:

1. A question beginning with mis.
2. A question beginning with kus.
3. A question beginning with kas.

Try to respond naturally and politely.

If You Cannot Practice With Someone

Choose three imaginary situations and say your questions aloud.

Record yourself if possible.

Then listen to the audio examples and compare your pronunciation.

21. Lesson Summary

You've learned the most useful Estonian question words and how to use them in familiar everyday situations.

Essential Question Words

Estonian	English
Mis?	What?
Kes?	Who?
Kus?	Where?
Kust?	From where?
Kuhu?	Where to?
Millal?	When?
Kuidas?	How?
Miks?	Why?
Kui palju?	How much?
Mitu?	How many?
Mis kell?	At what time?
Kas?	Introduces yes/no questions

Essential Question Patterns

Mis see on?

What is this?

Kes see on?

Who is this?

Kus on apteek?

Where is the pharmacy?

Kust sa pärit oled?

Where are you from?

Kuhu sa lähed?

Where are you going?

Millal sa tuled?

When are you coming?

Kuidas läheb?

How's it going?

Miks sa õpid eesti keelt?

Why are you learning Estonian?

Kui palju see maksab?

How much does this cost?

Mitu piletit?

How many tickets?

Mis kell sa tuled?

What time are you coming?

Kas sa elad Tallinnas?

Do you live in Tallinn?

22. A1 Progress Check

This lesson develops the following CEFR A1 foundation skills.

Listening

Recognize common question words and understand what basic information someone is requesting.

Speaking

Ask simple questions about people, objects, places, prices, quantities, and times.

Interaction

Use questions to obtain information and respond to predictable answers.

Reading

Identify common question structures in short written dialogues.

Writing

Construct simple questions using familiar vocabulary and sentence patterns.

Grammar

Recognize:

• Basic Estonian question words.
• Yes/no questions introduced by kas.
• The distinction between kus, kust, and kuhu.
• Common question-and-answer patterns.
• Short answers using familiar adverbs and expressions.

Before Moving On

Check whether you can:

• Ask what something is.
• Ask who someone is.
• Ask where a place is.
• Distinguish kus, kust, and kuhu.
• Ask when something happens.
• Ask how something works.
• Ask a simple why-question.
• Ask about quantities and prices.
• Form yes/no questions using kas.
• Ask at least five useful questions without copying.
• Understand familiar question words when spoken clearly.

If you can perform most of these tasks, you're ready to continue.