Phrase in 30 Seconds
A versatile one-word reaction used to express shock, disbelief, or amazement in response to surprising news.
- Means: 'Unbelievable' or 'I can't believe it!'
- Used in: Reacting to gossip, sports results, or unexpected weather changes.
- Don't confuse: With 'võimatu' (impossible), which is more literal and technical.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Expressing great surprise or shock.
Contexte culturel
Estonians are often perceived as cold or quiet. Using 'Uskumatu!' is one of the few socially acceptable ways to show high emotion without appearing 'too much'. In the tech-heavy capital, 'Uskumatu!' is frequently used to describe new app features or startup successes. In the countryside, 'Uskumatu!' might be used more sparingly, often reserved for significant events like a record-breaking harvest or a rare animal sighting. During rally (WRC) or discus throwing events, you will hear fans shouting 'Uskumatu!' at the TV or in the stands.
Intonation is Key
Rise your pitch at the end for positive surprise, and lower it for negative shock.
Add 'Lihtsalt'
Say 'Lihtsalt uskumatu!' to sound exactly like a native speaker who is truly fed up or amazed.
Intonation is Key
Rise your pitch at the end for positive surprise, and lower it for negative shock.
Add 'Lihtsalt'
Say 'Lihtsalt uskumatu!' to sound exactly like a native speaker who is truly fed up or amazed.
Teste-toi
Choose the best reaction to this news: 'Ma leidsin tänavalt sada eurot!' (I found 100 euros on the street!)
Reaction:
Finding money is a surprising event, so 'Uskumatu!' is the natural reaction.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the word.
See vaade on lihtsalt _________!
We need an adjective to describe the view ('vaade').
What would the second person say?
A: 'Buss hilineb jälle 20 minutit.' B: '__________! See on juba kolmas kord sel nädalal.'
The speaker is frustrated by a recurring delay, making 'Uskumatu!' the appropriate response.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You see a cat playing the piano.
A cat playing the piano is a classic 'unbelievable' scenario.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesReaction:
Finding money is a surprising event, so 'Uskumatu!' is the natural reaction.
See vaade on lihtsalt _________!
We need an adjective to describe the view ('vaade').
A: 'Buss hilineb jälle 20 minutit.' B: '__________! See on juba kolmas kord sel nädalal.'
The speaker is frustrated by a recurring delay, making 'Uskumatu!' the appropriate response.
Situation: You see a cat playing the piano.
A cat playing the piano is a classic 'unbelievable' scenario.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsYes, it is neutral and can be used with anyone, from friends to your boss.
Yes, Estonians use it for everything from a late bus to a lottery win.
'Vau' is borrowed from English and is more of a sound. 'Uskumatu' is a real word and carries more weight.
The plural is 'uskumatud'.
Expressions liées
Ei ole võimalik
synonymIt is not possible
Võimatu
similarImpossible
Imeline
similarWonderful
Jube
contrastTerrible/Awful
Où l'utiliser
Winning the lottery
Mati: Ma võitsin miljon eurot!
Tiina: Uskumatu! Õnnitlen!
Bad traffic
Autojuht: See ummik on juba viis kilomeetrit pikk.
Kaasreisija: Lihtsalt uskumatu...
Amazing view
Turist: Vaata seda päikeseloojangut!
Giid: Jah, see on tõesti uskumatu vaade.
Shocking gossip
Kati: Kas sa kuulsid, et Jüri läks töölt ära?
Mari: Uskumatu! Ta oli seal kümme aastat.
Unexpected weather
Naaber: Jälle lund sajab, ja on juuni!
Sina: Uskumatu, see on Eesti suvi.
Impressive skill
Sõber: Ma õppisin selle laulu ühe tunniga selgeks.
Sina: Uskumatu, sa oled nii kiire õppija!
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Uskumatu' as 'Usk' (Faith) + 'Matu' (No). No faith = I don't believe it!
Association visuelle
Imagine a person standing in the middle of a snowy forest in Estonia, looking at a palm tree that has suddenly grown there. They point at it and shout 'Uskumatu!'
Rhyme
Uskumatu, see on tabamatu! (Unbelievable, it is elusive!)
Story
A traveler arrives in Tallinn and sees a robot delivering groceries. The traveler rubs their eyes, checks their phone, and says 'Uskumatu!'. The robot beeps in agreement.
In Other Languages
Similar to the English 'unbelievable' or German 'unglaublich'. It follows the same logic of negating the verb 'to believe'.
Word Web
Défi
Try to use 'Uskumatu!' at least three times today: once for something good, once for something bad, and once for something neutral.
Review this word in 1 day, then 3 days, then 1 week to lock in the pronunciation of the 'u' and 'a' vowels.
Prononciation
Short, rounded back vowel.
Standard voiceless alveolar fricative.
Unaspirated 'k'.
Clear 'a' and 'u' sounds.
Spectre de formalité
Seda on tõepoolest raske uskuda. (General surprise)
See on uskumatu. (General surprise)
Uskumatu! (General surprise)
No see on ikka täitsa haige! (General surprise)
Derived from the Proto-Finnic root *usko (faith/belief). The suffix '-matu' is a caritive suffix that has been part of the language for millennia, used to denote the absence of a quality.
Le savais-tu ?
The root 'usk' is also the basis for the word 'usaldus' (trust), which is one of the most important values in Estonian society.
Notes culturelles
Estonians are often perceived as cold or quiet. Using 'Uskumatu!' is one of the few socially acceptable ways to show high emotion without appearing 'too much'.
“Uskumatu, kui ilus see on!”
In the tech-heavy capital, 'Uskumatu!' is frequently used to describe new app features or startup successes.
“See uus äpp on uskumatu.”
In the countryside, 'Uskumatu!' might be used more sparingly, often reserved for significant events like a record-breaking harvest or a rare animal sighting.
“Uskumatu saak sel aastal.”
During rally (WRC) or discus throwing events, you will hear fans shouting 'Uskumatu!' at the TV or in the stands.
“Uskumatu sõit Ott Tänakult!”
Amorces de conversation
Kas sa oled kunagi näinud midagi uskumatut?
Mis on kõige uskumatum asi, mis sinuga sel nädalal juhtus?
Erreurs courantes
See on mitte-uskumatu.
See on uskumatu.
L1 Interference
Ma olen uskumatu.
Ma ei usu seda.
L1 Interference
See on uskumatu võimatu.
See on uskumatu!
L1 Interference
Uskumatu! (used for 'I don't know')
Ma ei tea.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
¡Increíble!
Spanish speakers might use it more frequently for minor things than Estonians.
Incroyable !
French 'incroyable' can sometimes sound more formal than 'uskumatu'.
Unglaublich!
German often uses 'Wahnsinn!' for the positive sense where Estonians might still use 'Uskumatu!'.
信じられない (Shinjirarenai)
Japanese has different levels of politeness for this phrase, whereas 'Uskumatu!' is quite stable.
لا يصدق (La yu’daq)
Arabic often follows this with religious phrases (like 'Mashallah'), which is not common in secular Estonia.
不可思议 (Bùkěsīyì)
The Chinese version is much more 'heavy' and literary than the everyday Estonian word.
믿길 수 없어 (Mit-gil su eops-eo)
Korean requires different endings based on who you are talking to.
Inacreditável!
Portuguese speakers might elongate the word for emphasis (In-a-cre-di-tá-vel!) more than Estonians.
Spotted in the Real World
“Uskumatu video: karu jalutas Tallinna tänaval.”
A news article about a bear sighting in the city.
“Uskumatu vaade meie uuest kontorist!”
A photo of a view from a skyscraper.
Facile à confondre
Sounds very similar to 'uskumatu'.
Usutamatu means 'not credible' (like a bad witness), while uskumatu means 'unbelievable' (the emotion).
Shares the same root 'usk'.
Usklik means 'religious' or 'a believer'. Don't use it to react to news!
Questions fréquentes (4)
Yes, it is neutral and can be used with anyone, from friends to your boss.
basic understandingYes, Estonians use it for everything from a late bus to a lottery win.
usage contexts'Vau' is borrowed from English and is more of a sound. 'Uskumatu' is a real word and carries more weight.
comparisonsThe plural is 'uskumatud'.
grammar mechanics
