Bedeutung
Used to ask if someone is available to talk or meet.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Estonians are known for their 'culture of silence'. Asking if someone has time is a vital sign of respect for their personal space. Like Finns, Estonians value brevity. If you ask this question, be prepared to get straight to the point once they say 'yes'. In Estonian offices, 'Kas teil on hetk aega?' is the standard way to interrupt a colleague, even if you are their boss. In Slack or e-mails, this phrase is often used as a subject line or the first sentence of a message.
The 'Kas' trick
If you forget 'Kas', just raise your voice at the end of 'Sul on aega?' to make it a question.
Don't say 'ma oman'
Never use the verb 'omama' for time. It sounds like a bad translation from a movie.
Bedeutung
Used to ask if someone is available to talk or meet.
The 'Kas' trick
If you forget 'Kas', just raise your voice at the end of 'Sul on aega?' to make it a question.
Don't say 'ma oman'
Never use the verb 'omama' for time. It sounds like a bad translation from a movie.
Wait for the answer
In Estonia, if someone says 'No...', they really don't have time. Don't push it.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to ask a friend if they have time.
Kas ___ on aega?
We use the adessive case 'sul' to show possession in Estonian.
Which of these is the most formal way to ask for time?
Select the formal version:
'Teil' is the formal/plural form of 'you'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kas sul on aega? B: Ei, mul ___ aega.
'Ei ole' is the standard negative form of 'on'. 'Pole' is also correct but 'ei ole' is more common for beginners.
Match the Estonian phrase with its English meaning.
Match them up:
These are essential social phrases.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenKas ___ on aega?
We use the adessive case 'sul' to show possession in Estonian.
Select the formal version:
'Teil' is the formal/plural form of 'you'.
A: Kas sul on aega? B: Ei, mul ___ aega.
'Ei ole' is the standard negative form of 'on'. 'Pole' is also correct but 'ei ole' is more common for beginners.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are essential social phrases.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenYes, dropping the 'Kas' is very common in informal spoken Estonian.
'Aeg' is the nominative (the subject), while 'aega' is the partitive. We use 'aega' here because time is an uncountable quantity.
It's not rude if said politely, but adding 'vabandust' (sorry) makes it much better.
Use 'Kas teil on aega?' (plural 'you').
Verwandte Redewendungen
Kas sul on mahti?
synonymDo you have the opportunity/time?
Mul on kiire.
contrastI am in a hurry.
Vaba aeg
builds onFree time
Aega on!
similarThere is plenty of time!
