Bedeutung
Wishing someone good luck.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Estonia, the physical gesture of putting the thumb inside the fist is often done while saying the phrase to emphasize the wish. The phrase is nearly identical in Germany, reflecting the historical Hanseatic and Baltic German influence on Estonian culture. Finns use 'pitää peukkuja' (hold thumbs), which is linguistically very close to Estonian, showing the Finno-Ugric connection. Russians use 'держать кулачки' (to hold little fists), which is a similar concept of closing the hand for luck.
Use it in texts
Estonians love using the 'thumbs up' emoji 👍 to represent this phrase in digital communication.
Don't say 'ristan sõrmi'
Even though you see it in movies, saying 'I cross my fingers' in Estonian sounds very unnatural.
Bedeutung
Wishing someone good luck.
Use it in texts
Estonians love using the 'thumbs up' emoji 👍 to represent this phrase in digital communication.
Don't say 'ristan sõrmi'
Even though you see it in movies, saying 'I cross my fingers' in Estonian sounds very unnatural.
The 'Omadele' rule
When supporting your own country or friends, use 'Hoiame omadele pöialt' to sound like a native.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the word 'pöial'.
Ma hoian sulle ______.
The idiom always uses the partitive case 'pöialt'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to wish a friend luck?
Sinu sõbral on täna tööintervjuu. Mida sa ütled?
This is the standard idiomatic expression in Estonian.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Mul on homme suur kontsert. B: Oi kui põnev! ______.
You hold the thumb (pöialt), not other body parts, to wish luck.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: A group of fans supporting the national team.
'Omadele' (for our own) is used when supporting your team or compatriots.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Thumb vs. Fingers
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenMa hoian sulle ______.
The idiom always uses the partitive case 'pöialt'.
Sinu sõbral on täna tööintervjuu. Mida sa ütled?
This is the standard idiomatic expression in Estonian.
A: Mul on homme suur kontsert. B: Oi kui põnev! ______.
You hold the thumb (pöialt), not other body parts, to wish luck.
Situation: A group of fans supporting the national team.
'Omadele' (for our own) is used when supporting your team or compatriots.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenUsually no. You don't 'hold your thumb' for yourself. You ask others: 'Hoidke mulle pöialt!'
Both are fine. 'Pöialt' (singular) is more common, but 'pöidlaid' (plural) implies you are using both hands for extra luck.
Yes, if you have a good relationship. It's a very safe, warm idiom.
Tuck your thumb into your palm and wrap your other four fingers over it to make a fist.
Yes, but it's more specific to a certain event rather than a general wish for a good life.
No, it must be partitive: 'pöidlaid' or 'pöialt'.
Yes: 'Ma hoidsin sulle pöialt' (I was holding my thumb for you).
Absolutely. It's very common on Instagram and TikTok in Estonia.
Just say 'Edu sulle!' (Success to you!), which is the literal equivalent.
Yes, many Estonian pop songs use it to describe supporting a loved one.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Kivi kotti!
similarBreak a leg / Good luck
Edu sulle!
synonymSuccess to you
Naela kummi!
specialized formA nail in your tire!
Tuult tiibadesse!
builds onWind in your wings
