Introduce Yourself

Imagine you have just met a new neighbor, colleague, or fellow student in Estonia.

They greet you and ask your name.

You already know how to say hello, thank someone, and explain that you're learning Estonian.

Now it's time to have your first real conversation about yourself.

In this lesson, you'll learn to share your name, where you're from, where you live, and which languages you speak.

You'll also learn to ask other people the same questions.

What You'll Learn

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

• Tell someone your name.
• Ask someone their name politely.
• Say which country you're from.
• Say where you live.
• Explain which languages you speak.
• Ask simple personal questions.
• Introduce yourself using several connected sentences.

A1 learning goal: Give basic personal information and ask or answer simple questions about identity, origin, residence, and languages.

1. What's Your Name?

Let's begin with one of the most useful sentences in any language.

Minu nimi on Anna.

Meaning: My name is Anna.

To introduce yourself, simply replace Anna with your own name.

Understand the Pattern

• Minu — My
• nimi — Name
• on — Is

The pattern is:

Minu nimi on + your name.

Examples:

Minu nimi on Maria.

My name is Maria.

Minu nimi on David.

My name is David.

Minu nimi on Ahmed.

My name is Ahmed.

Your Turn

Say your own name aloud using the same pattern.

Try it three times without reading.

Another Way to Introduce Yourself

You can also say:

Mina olen Anna.

Meaning: I am Anna.

Or, more naturally in many everyday conversations:

Ma olen Anna.

Meaning: I'm Anna.

Both are correct.

We'll explore the difference between mina and ma later in this lesson.

2. Asking Someone's Name

To ask someone's name politely:

Mis teie nimi on?

Meaning: What is your name?

This is appropriate when speaking to someone you don't know or in a formal situation.

Informal Version

When speaking with a friend, child, or someone you address informally:

Mis sinu nimi on?

Meaning: What's your name?

Compare

Estonian	English	Usage
Mis teie nimi on?	What is your name?	Polite/formal
Mis sinu nimi on?	What's your name?	Informal

First Conversation

Listen to this short introduction.

English Translation

Martin: Hello!

Anna: Hello!

Martin: What is your name?

Anna: My name is Anna. What's your name?

Martin: My name is Martin.

Anna: Nice to meet you!

A Useful New Expression

Väga meeldiv!

Meaning: Very pleased! / Nice to meet you!

This is a useful polite expression when meeting someone.

You can also say:

Meeldiv tutvuda!

Meaning: Nice to meet you!

Practice both, but prioritize recognizing them rather than memorizing two alternatives immediately.

3. Where Are You From?

Estonia is home to people from many different countries.

One of the first questions you may hear is:

Kust te pärit olete?

Meaning: Where are you from? (polite)

Informal Version

Kust sa pärit oled?

Meaning: Where are you from? (informal)

How to Answer

Ma olen Eestist.

Meaning: I'm from Estonia.

Ma olen Soomest.

Meaning: I'm from Finland.

Ma olen Bangladeshist.

Meaning: I'm from Bangladesh.

Ma olen Indiast.

Meaning: I'm from India.

Ma olen Ukrainast.

Meaning: I'm from Ukraine.

Ma olen Saksamaalt.

Meaning: I'm from Germany.

Notice the Pattern

In Estonian, the form of a country name often changes when you say where you're from.

Examples:

Country	From
Eesti	Eestist
Soome	Soomest
Bangladesh	Bangladeshist
India	Indiast
Ukraina	Ukrainast
Saksamaa	Saksamaalt

Notice that many forms end in -st, while others end in -lt.

These are examples of Estonian location-related case forms.

You don't need to memorize the complete grammar system now.

For A1, learn the correct form of your own country and recognize common examples.

Your Turn

Complete this sentence with your country:

Ma olen ...

If you're unsure of the Estonian form of your country's name, look it up before practicing rather than guessing the ending.

4. Where Do You Live?

Now let's learn how to tell someone where you live.

Ma elan Tallinnas.

Meaning: I live in Tallinn.

Break It Down

• Ma — I
• elan — Live
• Tallinnas — In Tallinn

More Examples

Ma elan Tartus.

I live in Tartu.

Ma elan Pärnus.

I live in Pärnu.

Ma elan Narvas.

I live in Narva.

Ma elan Eestis.

I live in Estonia.

Asking Someone Where They Live

Polite:

Kus te elate?

Meaning: Where do you live?

Informal:

Kus sa elad?

Meaning: Where do you live?

A Short Conversation

English Translation

Person A: Where do you live?

Person B: I live in Tallinn.

Person A: Do you live in the city center?

Person B: No, I live in Mustamäe.

Two New Expressions

Kesklinnas.

Meaning: In the city center.

Mustamäel.

Meaning: In Mustamäe, a district of Tallinn.

Notice that location endings are not always identical.

For now, learn useful locations as complete expressions.

You'll explore the patterns in more detail later in the course.

5. Where vs. From Where

You have now encountered two important Estonian question words.

Kus?

Meaning: Where?

Kust?

Meaning: From where?

Compare these two sentences:

Ma elan Eestis.

I live in Estonia.

Ma olen Eestist.

I'm from Estonia.

Understand the Difference

Kus? asks about someone's current location or residence.

Kust? asks about origin or where someone comes from.

Question	Example response
Kus sa elad?	Ma elan Tallinnas.
Kust sa pärit oled?	Ma olen Eestist.

Practice

Choose the correct question word.

1. _____ sa elad?
2. _____ sa pärit oled?

Answers:

1. Kus
2. Kust

This is your first introduction to how Estonian expresses different relationships to places.

We'll revisit these patterns in future lessons.

6. What Languages Do You Speak?

You already learned this expression in Lesson 2:

Ma räägin natuke eesti keelt.

Meaning: I speak a little Estonian.

Now let's make more sentences using the same pattern.

English

Ma räägin inglise keelt.

I speak English.

Estonian

Ma räägin eesti keelt.

I speak Estonian.

Finnish

Ma räägin soome keelt.

I speak Finnish.

Russian

Ma räägin vene keelt.

I speak Russian.

Bengali

Ma räägin bengali keelt.

I speak Bengali.

Speaking Multiple Languages

Ma räägin inglise ja bengali keelt.

Meaning: I speak English and Bengali.

The word ja means and.

Asking Someone

Polite:

Mis keeli te räägite?

Meaning: What languages do you speak?

Informal:

Mis keeli sa räägid?

Meaning: What languages do you speak?

Example Conversation

English Translation

Person A: What languages do you speak?

Person B: I speak English and Finnish.

Person A: Do you speak Estonian?

Person B: A little. I'm learning Estonian.

Person A: Very nice!

Grammar Discovery

Look at these three sentences:

• Ma räägin inglise keelt.
• Ma räägin soome keelt.
• Ma räägin eesti keelt.

Only the language name changes.

This is a reusable sentence pattern.

You don't need to construct the entire sentence from scratch every time.

7. Ma vs. Mina

You have encountered two words meaning "I":

Ma olen Anna.

Mina olen Anna.

Both mean I am Anna.

What's the difference?

Ma

Ma is the shorter, commonly used form.

It's natural in everyday conversation.

Mina

Mina is the full form.

It can be used for emphasis or contrast.

For example:

Meaning:

I'm Anna. And you?

I'm Martin.

The Same Pattern Applies to You

Short form	Full form	English
ma	mina	I
sa	sina	You (informal singular)
ta	tema	He / She

We'll learn the complete set of personal pronouns when we study verbs more systematically.

For now, prioritize ma and sa for everyday conversations.

8. Your First Important Verb: Olema

The Estonian verb olema means to be.

You've already seen several forms.

Ma olen Anna.

I am Anna.

Sa oled Martin.

You are Martin.

Ta on õpetaja.

He or she is a teacher.

Present-Tense Forms

Pronoun	Verb	English
ma / mina	olen	I am
sa / sina	oled	You are (informal)
ta / tema	on	He / She is
me / meie	oleme	We are
te / teie	olete	You are (polite/plural)
nad / nemad	on	They are

Listen to a few examples:

Me oleme Eestis.

We are in Estonia.

Te olete õpetaja.

You are a teacher. (polite)

Nad on Tallinnas.

They are in Tallinn.

Important

Don't attempt to memorize every form perfectly in one sitting.

At this stage, your priority is:

• Ma olen
• Sa oled
• Ta on
• Te olete

These forms will appear repeatedly throughout the course.

9. Asking Yes/No Questions with Kas

In Lesson 2, you learned:

Kas te räägite inglise keelt?

Meaning: Do you speak English?

The word kas introduces a yes/no question.

Let's reuse it with familiar vocabulary.

Kas sa oled Eestist?

Are you from Estonia?

Kas sa elad Tallinnas?

Do you live in Tallinn?

Kas te räägite eesti keelt?

Do you speak Estonian? (polite)

Answering

Jah, olen.

Yes, I am.

Ei, ma ei ole.

No, I'm not.

Jah, elan küll.

Yes, I do live there.

Ei, ma ei ela Tallinnas.

No, I don't live in Tallinn.

Grammar Discovery

Compare:

Statement

Sa elad Tallinnas.

You live in Tallinn.

Question

Kas sa elad Tallinnas?

Do you live in Tallinn?

You can form many simple yes/no questions by adding kas to the beginning of a statement.

This is a powerful A1 sentence-building pattern.

10. Your First Complete Introduction

Now combine everything you've learned into one short introduction.

Listen first.

English Translation

Hello!

My name is Maria.

I'm from Ukraine.

I live in Tallinn.

I speak Ukrainian and English.

I'm learning Estonian.

Nice to meet you!

Notice the Structure

Every sentence communicates one clear piece of information.

1. Greeting
2. Name
3. Origin
4. Residence
5. Languages
6. Learning Estonian
7. Polite closing

You don't need complicated grammar to introduce yourself successfully.

Your Turn

Create your own introduction using this structure.

My introduction:

1. Tere!
2. Minu nimi on ...
3. Ma olen ...
4. Ma elan ...
5. Ma räägin ... keelt.
6. Ma õpin eesti keelt.
7. Väga meeldiv!

Try reading it aloud.

Then repeat it without looking.

11. Real-Life Dialogue: Meeting a New Neighbor

Imagine moving into an apartment building in Tallinn.

You meet a neighbor for the first time.

English Translation

Anna: Hello!

David: Hello!

Anna: My name is Anna. What's your name?

David: I'm David.

Anna: Nice to meet you!

David: Nice to meet you!

Anna: Where are you from?

David: I'm from England.

Anna: Do you live here?

David: Yes, I live here.

Anna: Do you speak Estonian?

David: A little. I'm learning Estonian.

Anna: Very nice!

New Vocabulary

Siin.

Meaning: Here.

Kas sa elad siin?

Meaning: Do you live here?

Ma olen Inglismaalt.

Meaning: I'm from England.

Practice

Read the dialogue twice.

First, speak as Anna.

Then, speak as David.

Finally, replace David's personal information with your own.

12. Listening Practice

Listen to the expressions and identify the information being communicated.

Listening 1

Minu nimi on Martin.

What is the person's name?

Listening 2

Ma elan Tartus.

Which city does the person live in?

Listening 3

Ma olen Soomest.

Where is the person from?

Listening 4

Ma räägin inglise keelt.

Which language does the person speak?

Listening 5

Kas sa elad Tallinnas?

Is this a statement or a question?

Listening Answers

1. Martin.
2. Tartu.
3. Finland.
4. English.
5. A question.

Listening Challenge

Listen again without looking at the written sentences.

Try to recognize the key information only from the audio.

This is an important step toward real A1 listening comprehension.

13. Reading Practice

Read this introduction.

Answer the Questions

1. What is the person's name?
2. Which country is she from?
3. Where does she live?
4. Which languages does she speak?
5. What is her profession?

Answers

1. Liisa.
2. Estonia.
3. Pärnu.
4. Estonian and English.
5. Teacher.

14. Writing Practice

Complete the sentences using the correct words.

Words: nimi, elan, olen, räägin, õpin

Exercise 1

Minu _____ on Anna.

Exercise 2

Ma _____ Tallinnas.

Exercise 3

Ma _____ Eestist.

Exercise 4

Ma _____ inglise keelt.

Exercise 5

Ma _____ eesti keelt.

Answers

1. nimi
2. elan
3. olen
4. räägin
5. õpin

Write About Yourself

Write a short introduction containing at least five sentences.

Include:

• Your name
• Your country of origin
• Your city
• A language you speak
• The fact that you're learning Estonian

Use the examples from this lesson as support.

15. Knowledge Check

Choose the correct answer for each question.

Question 1

How do you politely ask someone their name?

A. Kus te elate?

B. Mis teie nimi on?

C. Kuidas läheb?

Question 2

Which sentence means "I live in Tallinn"?

A. Ma olen Tallinnast.

B. Ma elan Tallinnas.

C. Ma räägin Tallinnas.

Question 3

What does Kust? mean?

A. Where?

B. When?

C. From where?

Question 4

Which is the correct form of "I am"?

A. Ma oled

B. Ma olen

C. Ma on

Question 5

How do you ask "Do you live in Tallinn?" informally?

A. Kas sa elad Tallinnas?

B. Kust sa pärit oled?

C. Ma elan Tallinnas.

Question 6

What is the difference between ma and mina?

A. They refer to different people.

B. Mina is the full form and can add emphasis.

C. Ma is only used when speaking formally.

Answer Key

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

16. Speaking Challenge: A New Colleague

Imagine it's your first day at work in Estonia.

A colleague introduces themselves.

You need to respond naturally.

Part A — Answer the Questions

Your colleague asks:

Mis sinu nimi on?

Say your name in Estonian.

Next:

Kust sa pärit oled?

Say which country you're from.

Next:

Kus sa elad?

Say where you live.

Next:

Mis keeli sa räägid?

Say which languages you speak.

Part B — Ask Questions

Now reverse the conversation.

Ask your colleague:

1. What's your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. Where do you live?
4. What languages do you speak?

Use polite or informal forms consistently.

Part C — No Notes

Introduce yourself using at least four complete sentences without looking at your notes.

If you forget a word, remember what you learned in Lesson 2:

Palun korrake.

Ma õpin eesti keelt.

These expressions help you continue learning and communicating.

17. Real-World Mission

Your goal is to introduce yourself in Estonian.

Choose one of these challenges.

Mission A — Easy

Say your name and where you live.

Example:

Mission B — Intermediate

Add your country and the languages you speak.

Example:

Mission C — Challenge

Have a short conversation with someone.

Ask their name and where they live.

Answer at least two questions about yourself.

If possible, try this with an Estonian-speaking colleague, neighbor, classmate, or friend.

If that isn't possible, practice aloud using the role-play questions from this lesson.

18. Lesson Summary

You've learned to introduce yourself and exchange basic personal information.

Essential Expressions

Estonian	English
Minu nimi on ...	My name is ...
Ma olen ...	I am ...
Mis teie nimi on?	What is your name? (polite)
Mis sinu nimi on?	What's your name? (informal)
Kust te pärit olete?	Where are you from? (polite)
Kust sa pärit oled?	Where are you from? (informal)
Ma olen Eestist.	I'm from Estonia.
Ma elan Tallinnas.	I live in Tallinn.
Kus te elate?	Where do you live? (polite)
Kus sa elad?	Where do you live? (informal)
Ma räägin inglise keelt.	I speak English.
Ma õpin eesti keelt.	I'm learning Estonian.
Mis keeli sa räägid?	What languages do you speak?
Väga meeldiv!	Nice to meet you!
Meeldiv tutvuda!	Nice to meet you!

Grammar You've Started Learning

• Personal pronouns: ma, sa, ta, me, te, nad
• Full and short forms: mina / ma, sina / sa
• Present tense of olema (to be)
• First-person verb forms: elan, räägin, õpin
• Yes/no questions with kas
• Question words: mis, kus, kust
• Introductory location and origin forms
• Polite and informal address

You don't need to master every grammatical detail yet.

These patterns will return in later lessons.

19. A1 Progress Check

This lesson develops the following CEFR A1 foundation skills.

Listening

Understand short, clearly spoken questions about personal information.

Speaking

Give a short introduction containing your name, origin, residence, and languages.

Interaction

Ask and answer simple questions about yourself and another person.

Reading

Understand a short written personal introduction.

Writing

Write several simple sentences about yourself.

Grammar

Recognize basic personal pronouns, present-tense forms, questions, and location expressions.

Before Moving On

Check whether you can:

• Say your name in Estonian.
• Ask someone their name.
• Say which country you're from.
• Say where you live.
• Say which languages you speak.
• Ask someone where they're from.
• Introduce yourself in at least four sentences.
• Write a short personal introduction without copying.

If you can complete these activities, you're ready for the next lesson.