Bedeutung
Failing to remember something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Estonians value honesty. If you forget something, it's better to say 'Ma unustasin' than to make up an excuse. It shows you are reliable enough to admit a mistake. In the world of e-Estonia, forgetting your ID-card PIN codes is a common 'Ma unustasin' moment. There are even help pages dedicated to this. There is a concept of 'unustuse hõlm' (the shroud of oblivion). To fall into this shroud is to be forgotten by history or your people. When visiting someone's home, if you forget to take off your shoes, a quick 'Ma unustasin' as you step back to the rug is very common.
Use 'ära'
Adding 'ära' (Ma unustasin ära) makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Pronunciation
Don't pronounce the 'u' like the English 'u' in 'use'. It's always 'oo'.
Bedeutung
Failing to remember something.
Use 'ära'
Adding 'ära' (Ma unustasin ära) makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Pronunciation
Don't pronounce the 'u' like the English 'u' in 'use'. It's always 'oo'.
Directness
Don't over-explain. 'Ma unustasin' is usually enough of an excuse in Estonia.
Object Case
Remember that the thing you forgot usually ends in a vowel (genitive case).
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'unustama' in the past tense (I forgot).
Ma ______ oma võtmed koju.
'Unustasin' is the first-person singular past tense form.
Which sentence means 'I forgot that today is Sunday'?
Choose the correct translation:
The 'et' clause is used to introduce the forgotten information.
Match the Estonian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are common variations of the verb 'unustama'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kas sa helistasid Martile? B: Oi ei, ma ______!
The context 'Oi ei' (Oh no) indicates a mistake or forgetting.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenMa ______ oma võtmed koju.
'Unustasin' is the first-person singular past tense form.
Choose the correct translation:
The 'et' clause is used to introduce the forgotten information.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are common variations of the verb 'unustama'.
A: Kas sa helistasid Martile? B: Oi ei, ma ______!
The context 'Oi ei' (Oh no) indicates a mistake or forgetting.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, but it's better to say 'Vabandust, ma unustasin' to show respect.
Yes! 'Ma unustasin vihmavarju bussi' is perfectly correct.
'Unustasin' is 'I forgot' (active). 'Ununes' is 'It was forgotten' (passive/accidental).
You say 'Ma ei unusta kunagi'.
No, 'to forgive' is 'andestama'. Don't mix them up!
Yes, 'Mul lendas peast välja' (It flew out of my head).
The 'ära' acts like 'completely' or 'away', emphasizing the action is finished.
Only if you forgot to meet them. If you mean 'I forgot who they are', use 'Ma ei mäleta teda'.
In casual speech, you can just say 'Unustasin!', but 'Ma unustasin' is more standard.
Usually the genitive (for singular) or nominative (for plural) total object.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mul läks meelest
synonymIt went out of my mind
Ma unustasin ära
specialized formI forgot completely
Ära unusta
builds onDon't forget
Unustamatu
builds onUnforgettable
Mäletama
contrastTo remember
