Bedeutung
Apologizing for not being on time.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Punctuality is a sign of respect. Arriving exactly on time or 2 minutes early is the norm. Being late without a text is considered rude. The 'Academic Quarter' (akadeemiline veerand) allows students to arrive 15 minutes late to lectures, but not to seminars or exams. In business, 'Ma olen hiljaks jäänud' should be followed by a brief, honest reason. Long excuses are often seen as unprofessional. Even in casual settings, Estonians don't usually practice 'fashionable lateness'. If a party starts at 19:00, people arrive at 19:00.
Add 'veidi'
If you are only a few minutes late, say 'Ma olen veidi hiljaks jäänud' to soften the blow.
Don't just say 'Hilja'
Saying just 'hilja' sounds like you are commenting on the time of day, not your arrival.
Bedeutung
Apologizing for not being on time.
Add 'veidi'
If you are only a few minutes late, say 'Ma olen veidi hiljaks jäänud' to soften the blow.
Don't just say 'Hilja'
Saying just 'hilja' sounds like you are commenting on the time of day, not your arrival.
Eye Contact
When saying this, make brief eye contact to show sincerity in your apology.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'jääma'.
Vabandust, ma olen hiljaks _______.
The present perfect tense requires the past participle 'jäänud'.
Which case ending is used for 'late' in this phrase?
Ma olen hilja__ jäänud.
The translative case (-ks) is used with 'jääma' to show the result of being late.
What would you say if you arrived 10 minutes late to a meeting?
Boss: 'Tere, me juba alustasime.' You: '_______'
This is the most polite and natural way to apologize for tardiness.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are calling your friend to say you will be late in 10 minutes.
'Ma jään hiljaks' (present/future) is used for warnings; 'Ma olen hiljaks jäänud' is for when you have already arrived.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenVabandust, ma olen hiljaks _______.
The present perfect tense requires the past participle 'jäänud'.
Ma olen hilja__ jäänud.
The translative case (-ks) is used with 'jääma' to show the result of being late.
Boss: 'Tere, me juba alustasime.' You: '_______'
This is the most polite and natural way to apologize for tardiness.
You are calling your friend to say you will be late in 10 minutes.
'Ma jään hiljaks' (present/future) is used for warnings; 'Ma olen hiljaks jäänud' is for when you have already arrived.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenYes, it is correct and slightly more formal, but 'hiljaks jäänud' is more common in spoken Estonian.
You say 'Ma jäin bussist hiljaks'. Note the use of the elative case (-st).
Yes, 'sori' is very common among younger people, but 'vabandust' is better for A1 learners to master first.
The '-ks' ending shows you have *become* late. It's a change of state.
Vabandust, et ma olen hiljaks jäänud.
Verwandte Redewendungen
ma hilinen
synonymI am being late
ma jään hiljaks
similarI will be late
ma jäin hiljaks
similarI was late
ma olen täpselt kohal
contrastI am here exactly on time
hilinemine
builds ontardiness / delay
