Tere päevast!

Colloquial greetings register

Estonian greetings depend on time, place, and register. At A2 you need more than one hello: you choose the form that fits the moment, then introduce yourself clearly. In shops, offices, and on the street, a short greeting opens the turn before any request.

• tere - general hello, any time of day
• tere hommikust - good morning; standard at work and in shops
• tere päevast - good day; polite daytime greeting with strangers
• tere õhtust - good evening after work hours
• head aega - goodbye when leaving a shop or ending a chat
• nägemist - see you; informal goodbye among acquaintances
• terevist - goodbye; Russian-loaner register, common in Ida-Virumaa
• ciao - casual bye; Italian-loaner you hear walking out of a Tallinn café

When you meet someone new, say Tere päevast and introduce yourself: Minu nimi on… Then add a simple role sentence: Mina olen üliõpilane. Ask Kuidas läheb? if the situation is friendly.

Word order for introductions

In Estonian statements, the verb usually comes second. Mina olen üliõpilane keeps olen in second place after mina. That pattern shows up again as you learn longer sentences. Keep answers short at A2: greeting, name, role, then one polite close.

Practice tip

Shadow the dialogue once, then retell it without looking. Practise switching register: tere with a friend, tere päevast with a clerk. Record yourself saying the full intro, listen for missing olen, and repair one sentence before the quiz. On A2est, treat this lesson as rehearsal for real first meetings in Tallinn.

Cultural note

Estonians often greet briefly and move on. A long speech at the door can feel awkward. Smile, say the right greeting, give your name, and wait for the other person. If you are unsure of the register, choose the more polite form: tere päevast and head aega are safe in most public places. Listen for terevist and ciao as local colour, but do not force them if they are not natural for you yet.