When You Don't Understand

Imagine you're at a supermarket in Estonia.

The cashier says something in Estonian. You recognize a few words, but you don't understand the complete sentence.

What should you do?

You don't have to switch immediately to English or remain silent.

You can politely ask the person to repeat what they said, speak more slowly, or explain something.

In this lesson, you'll learn how.

What You'll Learn

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

• Say that you don't understand something.
• Ask someone to repeat a word or sentence.
• Ask someone to speak more slowly.
• Explain that you're learning Estonian.
• Ask whether someone speaks English.
• Use these expressions in simple everyday conversations.

A1 learning goal: Use memorized expressions to signal a communication problem and request help in a simple conversation.

1. I Don't Understand

Your first essential expression is:

Ma ei saa aru.

Meaning: I don't understand.

This is one of the most useful sentences you can learn as a beginner.

You can use it almost anywhere:

• At a supermarket
• On public transport
• At a reception desk
• At kindergarten
• At a doctor's appointment
• While talking with a neighbor

Example

Someone says something you don't understand.

You respond:

Vabandust, ma ei saa aru.

Meaning: Sorry, I don't understand.

Notice how we combined two expressions:

• Vabandust — Sorry / Excuse me
• Ma ei saa aru — I don't understand

You already learned Vabandust in Lesson 1.

Now you're using it to construct a more useful response.

A Useful Language Pattern

Look at these two sentences:

Ma saan aru.

I understand.

Ma ei saa aru.

I don't understand.

Notice the difference:

• Ma — I
• saan aru — understand
• ei saa aru — don't understand

The word ei is used to form negative sentences.

You don't need to study all Estonian negative verb forms yet.

For now, remember the complete expressions.

2. Please Repeat

Sometimes you almost understand someone.

You only need to hear the sentence again.

Say:

Palun korrake.

Meaning: Please repeat.

This is a polite expression appropriate when speaking to someone you don't know.

A Short Conversation

English Meaning

Cashier: Hello!

You: Hello!

Cashier: Do you have a loyalty card?

You: Sorry, please repeat.

Cashier: Do you have a loyalty card?

You: No, thank you.

What Did You Learn?

You don't need to understand every word immediately.

Asking someone to repeat a question gives you another opportunity to recognize familiar words.

This is a real communication strategy, not a failure.

A More Informal Expression

When speaking to a friend, you may also hear:

Palun korda.

Meaning: Please repeat. (informal)

Compare:

• Palun korrake — polite or plural
• Palun korda — informal singular

For everyday conversations with strangers, prioritize:

Palun korrake.

3. Please Speak More Slowly

Estonian can sound very fast when you're just beginning.

Even familiar words may be difficult to recognize in natural speech.

You can ask:

Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.

Meaning: Please speak more slowly.

Let's understand the useful parts:

• Palun — Please
• rääkige — Speak (polite request)
• aeglasemalt — More slowly

You can also use a shorter expression:

Palun aeglasemalt.

Meaning: More slowly, please.

Both are useful.

Practice Conversation

English Meaning

Receptionist: Good afternoon!

You: Hello!

Receptionist: Do you have an appointment?

You: Sorry, I don't understand.

You: Please speak more slowly.

Receptionist: Do you have an appointment?

You: Yes, I have an appointment at three.

Don't worry if you don't understand all the grammar in this dialogue.

The appointment vocabulary will be taught in detail in a later module.

For now, focus on the expressions that help you manage the conversation.

4. I'm Learning Estonian

Sometimes it's helpful to tell someone why you're speaking slowly or making mistakes.

Say:

Ma õpin eesti keelt.

Meaning: I'm learning Estonian.

This is an excellent sentence to memorize.

Break It Down

• Ma — I
• õpin — learn / am learning
• eesti keelt — Estonian (the language)

Notice that the language name appears as eesti keelt in this sentence.

You'll learn why it has this form in a later grammar lesson.

Another Useful Expression

Ma räägin natuke eesti keelt.

Meaning: I speak a little Estonian.

• räägin — I speak
• natuke — a little

You can use this when someone starts a conversation in Estonian.

Complete Example

English Meaning

Person A: Hello!

You: Hello!

Person A: Do you speak Estonian?

You: A little. I'm learning Estonian.

Person A: Very nice!

You: Thank you!

A Small Grammar Discovery

Compare:

Ma räägin eesti keelt.

I speak Estonian.

Ma õpin eesti keelt.

I'm learning Estonian.

The subject Ma remains the same.

The verb changes:

• räägin — I speak
• õpin — I learn

You can already begin constructing different sentences by changing one part.

5. Do You Speak English?

Sometimes you need to communicate something important that you cannot yet explain in Estonian.

You can politely ask:

Kas te räägite inglise keelt?

Meaning: Do you speak English?

This is useful in shops, offices, medical settings, and other everyday situations.

Break It Down

• Kas — Introduces a yes/no question
• te — You (polite or plural)
• räägite — Speak
• inglise keelt — English (the language)

Two Possible Responses

Jah, räägin küll.

Meaning: Yes, I do.

Ei, kahjuks mitte.

Meaning: No, unfortunately not.

Don't worry about the grammar behind küll or kahjuks yet.

Learn the responses as complete expressions.

Informal Version

When speaking to a friend:

Kas sa räägid inglise keelt?

Meaning: Do you speak English? (informal)

Compare:

• Kas te räägite ...? — polite or plural
• Kas sa räägid ...? — informal singular

When you're unsure which to choose, use the polite form with strangers.

6. What Does That Mean?

Sometimes you hear an unfamiliar word and want to learn it.

Ask:

Mida see tähendab?

Meaning: What does that mean?

Example

Imagine someone says:

Head päeva!

You don't recognize the expression.

You ask:

Mida see tähendab?

The person explains that it means:

Have a nice day!

Another Useful Question

Kuidas öeldakse eesti keeles?

Meaning: How do you say it in Estonian?

You can also ask about a specific word.

For example:

Kuidas öeldakse eesti keeles "hello"?

Meaning: How do you say "hello" in Estonian?

This is a useful question for continuing to learn outside the classroom.

7. Understand Common Responses

When you ask someone for help, you may hear a short response.

Let's learn some.

Of course

Muidugi!

Meaning: Of course!

Yes

Jah.

Meaning: Yes.

No

Ei.

Meaning: No.

All right / Okay

Olgu.

Meaning: All right.

No problem

Pole probleemi.

Meaning: No problem.

Very good

Väga hea!

Meaning: Very good!

You'll encounter these expressions frequently.

Focus first on recognizing them while listening.

8. Real-Life Dialogue: At a Service Desk

Imagine visiting a service desk in Estonia.

You want to ask a question, but the employee speaks too quickly.

Listen to the interaction.

English Translation

Employee: Good afternoon!

You: Hello!

Employee: How can I help you?

You: Sorry, I don't understand.

You: Please speak more slowly.

Employee: Of course. Do you speak Estonian?

You: A little. I'm learning Estonian.

Employee: Very nice! Do you speak English?

You: Yes, I do.

What Makes This Conversation Useful?

You used several different strategies:

1. Politely indicated that you didn't understand.
2. Asked the speaker to slow down.
3. Explained that you're learning Estonian.
4. Continued the conversation rather than ending it.

These are valuable skills at the A1 level.

9. Your First Sentence Patterns

So far, you've learned several expressions beginning with Ma.

Let's compare them.

Ma saan aru.

I understand.

Ma ei saa aru.

I don't understand.

Ma õpin eesti keelt.

I'm learning Estonian.

Ma räägin inglise keelt.

I speak English.

Ma räägin natuke eesti keelt.

I speak a little Estonian.

Pattern: Ma + Verb

In simple statements, Ma often comes before the verb.

Examples:

• Ma õpin. — I'm learning.
• Ma räägin. — I speak.
• Ma saan aru. — I understand.

This is your first introduction to constructing statements in Estonian.

You will learn how verbs change with different subjects in an upcoming lesson.

10. Check Your Understanding

Choose the correct answer for each question.

Question 1

Someone speaks too quickly.

What should you say?

A. Head aega!

B. Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.

C. Väga hea!

Question 2

You don't understand a question.

Which expression is appropriate?

A. Ma ei saa aru.

B. Ma räägin inglise keelt.

C. Nägemist!

Question 3

You want someone to repeat a sentence politely.

What should you say?

A. Kuidas läheb?

B. Palun korrake.

C. Aitäh!

Question 4

How do you say "I'm learning Estonian"?

A. Ma räägin inglise keelt.

B. Kas te räägite eesti keelt?

C. Ma õpin eesti keelt.

Question 5

Which expression means "Do you speak English?"

A. Kas te räägite inglise keelt?

B. Mida see tähendab?

C. Palun aeglasemalt.

Question 6

Someone says:

Muidugi!

What does it mean?

A. Never

B. Of course

C. Goodbye

11. Listening Practice

Listen to each expression and identify its meaning before reading the answer key.

Listening 1

Ma ei saa aru.

Listening 2

Palun korrake.

Listening 3

Ma õpin eesti keelt.

Listening 4

Kas te räägite inglise keelt?

Listening 5

Mida see tähendab?

Listening 6

Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.

Listening Answers

1. I don't understand.
2. Please repeat.
3. I'm learning Estonian.
4. Do you speak English?
5. What does that mean?
6. Please speak more slowly.

If you recognize all six expressions without reading, you're making progress.

12. Reading Practice

Read the following short conversation without translating every word individually.

Situation: You visit an office and speak with a receptionist.

Answer These Questions

1. Does the visitor speak fluent Estonian or only a little?
2. Is the visitor learning Estonian?
3. What does the visitor ask the receptionist to do?
4. How does the receptionist respond?

Answers

1. Only a little.
2. Yes.
3. Speak more slowly.
4. "Of course!"

13. Writing Practice

Complete the sentences using the words provided.

Words: aru, õpin, korrake, räägite, aeglasemalt

Exercise 1

Ma ei saa ______.

Exercise 2

Ma ______ eesti keelt.

Exercise 3

Palun ______.

Exercise 4

Kas te ______ inglise keelt?

Exercise 5

Palun rääkige ______.

Answers

1. aru
2. õpin
3. korrake
4. räägite
5. aeglasemalt

Build Your Own Sentences

Now write three complete sentences in Estonian:

1. I don't understand.
2. I'm learning Estonian.
3. Do you speak English?

Try without looking at the earlier examples.

14. Speaking Practice: Three Situations

Read the situation, then say the appropriate Estonian sentence aloud.

Situation A — At the Supermarket

The cashier says something you don't understand.

Your response:

Vabandust, ma ei saa aru.

Situation B — At the Reception Desk

The receptionist speaks too quickly.

Your response:

Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.

Situation C — Talking with a Neighbor

Your neighbor asks whether you speak Estonian.

Your response:

Ma räägin natuke eesti keelt.

Extra Challenge

Try saying all three responses without reading them.

Then repeat each one using a polite and friendly tone.

Clear communication is more important than speaking quickly.

15. Real-World Mission

Your challenge is to use at least one expression from this lesson in a real interaction in Estonia.

Mission 1 — Beginner

When you don't understand someone, say:

Vabandust, ma ei saa aru.

Mission 2 — Intermediate

Ask someone to repeat what they said:

Palun korrake.

Mission 3 — Challenge

Explain that you're learning Estonian:

Ma õpin eesti keelt.

Then try to continue the conversation with one more Estonian expression.

You don't need to understand every response.

The goal is to become comfortable using the language.

16. Lesson Summary

You've learned how to manage simple conversations when you don't understand everything.

Estonian	English
Ma saan aru.	I understand.
Ma ei saa aru.	I don't understand.
Vabandust, ma ei saa aru.	Sorry, I don't understand.
Palun korrake.	Please repeat. (polite)
Palun korda.	Please repeat. (informal)
Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.	Please speak more slowly.
Palun aeglasemalt.	More slowly, please.
Ma õpin eesti keelt.	I'm learning Estonian.
Ma räägin natuke eesti keelt.	I speak a little Estonian.
Kas te räägite inglise keelt?	Do you speak English?
Mida see tähendab?	What does that mean?
Kuidas öeldakse eesti keeles?	How do you say it in Estonian?
Muidugi!	Of course!
Olgu.	All right.
Pole probleemi.	No problem.

17. A1 Progress Check

This lesson develops the following early A1 skills.

Listening

Recognize common expressions that help manage communication.

Speaking

Produce short, familiar sentences to explain that you don't understand and request help.

Interaction

Ask someone to repeat themselves or speak more slowly.

Reading

Understand basic written sentences about speaking and learning languages.

Writing

Write short sentences using familiar vocabulary and patterns.

Grammar

Recognize:

• Ma as the first-person pronoun.
• Simple first-person present-tense verb forms.
• ei in negative statements.
• Kas in yes/no questions.
• The distinction between polite te and informal sa forms.

These are introductory observations. You'll study the patterns more systematically in later lessons.

Quiz Answer Key

1. B — Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.
2. A — Ma ei saa aru.
3. B — Palun korrake.
4. C — Ma õpin eesti keelt.
5. A — Kas te räägite inglise keelt?
6. B — Of course.

Before Moving On

Check whether you can:

• Say that you don't understand something.
• Ask someone to repeat themselves.
• Ask someone to speak more slowly.
• Say that you're learning Estonian.
• Ask whether someone speaks English.
• Recognize at least five expressions when listening.
• Write three simple sentences without copying.

If you can do these things, you're ready to continue.