Bedeutung
To stop speaking or making noise.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Silence is a sign of agreement or comfort. If an Estonian is 'vait' during a meal, it usually means they are enjoying the food, not that they are unhappy. Very similar to Estonia. Silence is respected and 'vait olema' (olla hiljaa) is a common state in public transport. In contrast, Americans often find 'vait olemine' (being silent) awkward and will try to fill the gap with 'small talk'. Silence (Ma) is an aesthetic and structural element in conversation, similar to the Estonian respect for 'vait olemine'.
Bluntness Alert
Never say 'Ole vait!' to your boss or a stranger unless you want to start a fight.
Softening the Blow
Add 'palun' (please) or use 'Kas sa saaksid...' (Could you...) to make the phrase polite.
Bedeutung
To stop speaking or making noise.
Bluntness Alert
Never say 'Ole vait!' to your boss or a stranger unless you want to start a fight.
Softening the Blow
Add 'palun' (please) or use 'Kas sa saaksid...' (Could you...) to make the phrase polite.
The Silent Estonian
If an Estonian is vait, don't feel pressured to talk. They are likely just comfortable.
State vs. Action
Use 'vait olema' for the state and 'vait jääma' for the moment someone stops talking.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of 'olema'.
Lapsed, palun ______ vait!
Since 'lapsed' (children) is plural, you must use the plural imperative 'olge'.
Which sentence is correct to describe a quiet room?
Kuidas öelda 'The room is quiet'?
'Vait' is for people/animals; 'vaikne' is for places/objects.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Miks sa midagi ei ütle? B: Ma tahan lihtsalt ______.
After 'tahan' (I want), you use the infinitive 'olla'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Match 'Vait nagu sukk' to its context.
The idiom 'vait nagu sukk' specifically refers to someone refusing to speak, often about a secret.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Vait vs. Vaikne
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenLapsed, palun ______ vait!
Since 'lapsed' (children) is plural, you must use the plural imperative 'olge'.
Kuidas öelda 'The room is quiet'?
'Vait' is for people/animals; 'vaikne' is for places/objects.
A: Miks sa midagi ei ütle? B: Ma tahan lihtsalt ______.
After 'tahan' (I want), you use the infinitive 'olla'.
Match 'Vait nagu sukk' to its context.
The idiom 'vait nagu sukk' specifically refers to someone refusing to speak, often about a secret.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenYes, it can be. It depends on the tone, but generally, it's very direct. Use 'Ole palun tasa' for a gentler version.
No, for electronics, use 'kinni panema' (to turn off) or 'vaiksemaks panema' (to turn down).
It is 'Olge vait'.
Yes, but it means 'I am a quiet person' (personality), not 'I am being silent right now'.
Yes, 'Suu kinni!' (Mouth shut!) is very common slang, but very rude.
You can say 'Ole selle kohta vait' (Be silent about this).
No, 'vait' is an invariant adverbial form in this context.
Yes, 'Laps jäi lõpuks vait' (The baby finally stopped crying/became silent).
In writing, yes. In speaking, 'vait olema' is much more natural.
It means 'silent as a sock', meaning someone is refusing to speak at all.
Yes, it's the most common command to stop a dog from barking.
Constantly. Any scene with an argument or a teacher will have it.
Verwandte Redewendungen
vaikima
synonymTo keep silent (formal)
vait jääma
builds onTo become silent
tasa olema
similarTo be quiet/still
suud pidama
idiomTo hold one's tongue
vaikust hoidma
formalTo maintain silence
