vabandage
/ˈvɑb̥ɑnd̥ɑɡ̊e/
In Estonian, 'excuse me' is translated as vabandage. Wiktionary also lists vabanda.
Meaning: sorry, as apology (noun)
Ways to say it
| Estonian | IPA |
|---|---|
| vabandage | /ˈvɑb̥ɑnd̥ɑɡ̊e/ |
| vabanda |
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈvɑb̥ɑnd̥ɑɡ̊e/
Did you know?
- In Estonian, there is no single word that perfectly covers all English uses of 'excuse me', such as when sneezing. For a sneeze, Estonians are more likely to say tervist meaning 'health'.
- Unlike English, where 'excuse me' can be used to get someone's attention, Estonians often prefer to use a person's name or a simple 'hei' to avoid sounding like they are making a formal apology.
- If an Estonian wants to get someone's attention in a crowd, they might use vabandage followed by a slight nod. Speaking too loudly while saying it is often considered rude, regardless of the polite wording.
Examples in context
- Vabandage mind, aga kas te teate, mis kell on?Excuse me, do you know what time it is?This sentence shows how to use vabandage when asking a person for the time.Tatoeba #3858731 by Maasikas, translation #3789181 by CK
- Vabandage, mis kell on?Excuse me, what time is it?This sentence demonstrates a shorter way to use vabandage to ask for the time.Tatoeba #944758 by mayok, translation #385392 by Mouseneb
- Palun vabandust, kas saaksin menüüd näha?Excuse me, could I see the menu?
- Vabandust, väga vabandust!Sorry, I'm really sorry!
Example conversation
Kadi accidentally bumps into Margus at a grocery store.
- KadiVabandage, ma ei näinud teid.Excuse me, I didn't see you.
- MargusEi ole probleemi, kõik on korras.No problem, everything is fine.
- KadiKas kõik on hästi, Margus?Is everything okay, Margus?
- MargusJah, Kadi, kõik on hästi.Yes, Kadi, everything is fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excuse me” translations and entries vabandage, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
