Kallis kell.
Expensive watch.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'kallis kell' to describe a watch or clock that costs a significant amount of money.
- Means: An expensive watch or clock.
- Used in: Shopping for jewelry, discussing gifts, or describing someone's style.
- Don't confuse: 'Kallis' also means 'dear' or 'beloved' in other contexts.
Explanation at your level:
意味
A timepiece that costs a lot of money.
文化的背景
Estonians value punctuality. A 'kallis kell' is not just for show; it is expected to be perfectly accurate. Being late is considered rude. In the Nordic-Baltic region, showing off wealth is often frowned upon (Jante Law influence). A 'kallis kell' is usually subtle. During the Soviet era, watches like 'Pobeda' or 'Raketa' were common. A Western 'kallis kell' was a rare luxury and a sign of status. Many Estonians now prefer Apple Watches or Garmins. A traditional 'kallis kell' is now seen more as jewelry than a tool.
The 'Dear' Rule
If you are talking about an object, 'kallis' usually means expensive. If you are talking to a person, it means dear.
Case Agreement
Don't forget to change both words! 'Kalli kella', not 'Kallis kella'.
意味
A timepiece that costs a lot of money.
The 'Dear' Rule
If you are talking about an object, 'kallis' usually means expensive. If you are talking to a person, it means dear.
Case Agreement
Don't forget to change both words! 'Kalli kella', not 'Kallis kella'.
Complimenting
Instead of saying 'kallis kell' to someone's face, say 'ilus kell' (beautiful watch). It's more polite in Estonia.
Smartwatches
In Estonia, a 'nutikell' (smartwatch) is often more respected than a 'kallis kell' because of the country's tech-loving culture.
自分をテスト
Fill in the correct form of 'kallis kell'.
Ma näen poes ühte ______ (nominative).
After 'näen' (I see), we use the partitive case for an object.
Which sentence is correct?
Select the correct way to say 'He has an expensive watch'.
In 'have' constructions (Tal on...), the thing possessed is in the nominative case.
Match the Estonian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
Kallis = expensive, Odav = cheap.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kas see on sinu uus kell? B: Jah, aga see ei ole ______.
The sentence requires the nominative case after 'ei ole' in this context.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
Types of Kellad
Wrist
- • Käekell
- • Nutikell
Wall
- • Seinakell
- • Käokell
よくある質問
10 問No, it can also mean an expensive wall clock or grandfather clock, though 'käekell' is more specific for wristwatches.
You use the comparative form: 'kallim kell'.
Yes, 'Mu kallis' means 'My dear'. But 'Kallis kell' never refers to a person.
Estonian has no grammatical gender, so 'kell' is gender-neutral.
The plural is 'kallid kellad'.
It can be seen as slightly rude or nosy in Estonian culture. Better to ask 'Kas see on uus kell?'
'Kallis' is more common and focuses on price. 'Hinnaline' is more formal and focuses on value.
See kell oli kallis.
Yes, 'kirikukell' is a church bell. But 'kallis kell' almost always means a watch.
Not a single word, but people might say 'rull' to refer to the money it represents.
関連フレーズ
odav kell
contrastCheap watch
käekell
specialized formWristwatch
seinakell
specialized formWall clock
kallis kingitus
builds onExpensive gift
kuldne kell
similarGolden watch
どこで使う？
At a jewelry store
Klient: Tere, ma otsin ühte kalli kella kingituseks.
Müüja: Meil on siin väga ilusad ja kallid kellad Šveitsist.
Complimenting a colleague
Jüri: Sul on uus kell? See näeb välja nagu kallis kell.
Mari: Jah, see oli mu sünnipäevakink.
Reporting a theft
Ohver: Mult varastati kallis kell.
Politseinik: Mis marki see kell oli?
Talking to a child
Ema: Ära puutu seda, see on isa kallis kell!
Laps: Aga see tiksub nii kavalalt.
At an auction
Oksjonipidaja: Järgmisena on müügil see kallis kell aastast 1850.
Pakkuja: Ma pakun kümme tuhat eurot!
Insurance call
Agent: Kas teil on kodus väärtuslikke esemeid?
Klient: Jah, mul on üks kallis kell seinal.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Kallis' as 'Cash-is' (it takes a lot of cash) and 'Kell' as the 'Bell' that rings every hour.
Visual Association
Imagine a golden bell (kell) sitting on a pile of cash (kallis). The bell starts ticking like a watch.
Rhyme
Kallis kell, heliseb hell.
Story
A king wanted a 'kell' (bell) for his tower, but he wanted it to be 'kallis' (precious). He ended up with a tiny gold watch on his wrist instead.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Go to an online Estonian store (like Goldtime.ee) and find the most 'kallis kell' you can see. Say the price out loud in Estonian.
In Other Languages
Reloj caro
Word order is reversed (Noun + Adjective).
Montre chère
French has gender agreement (feminine 'chère').
Teure Uhr
German requires complex case endings on the adjective (e.g., 'eine teure Uhr').
高い時計 (Takai tokei)
Japanese uses a particle-like structure for adjectives.
ساعة غالية (Sa'a ghalia)
The word for 'watch' is the same as the word for 'hour'.
昂贵的手表 (Ángguì de shǒubiǎo)
Requires a specific noun for 'wristwatch'.
비싼 시계 (Bissan sigye)
The adjective is technically a conjugated verb.
Relógio caro
Adjective follows the noun.
Easily Confused
Learners think it means an 'expensive person'.
When 'kallis' describes a person, it almost always means 'dear' or 'beloved'.
Learners think it means 'The clock is much'.
This is the idiom for 'It is late'.
よくある質問 (10)
No, it can also mean an expensive wall clock or grandfather clock, though 'käekell' is more specific for wristwatches.
You use the comparative form: 'kallim kell'.
Yes, 'Mu kallis' means 'My dear'. But 'Kallis kell' never refers to a person.
Estonian has no grammatical gender, so 'kell' is gender-neutral.
The plural is 'kallid kellad'.
It can be seen as slightly rude or nosy in Estonian culture. Better to ask 'Kas see on uus kell?'
'Kallis' is more common and focuses on price. 'Hinnaline' is more formal and focuses on value.
See kell oli kallis.
Yes, 'kirikukell' is a church bell. But 'kallis kell' almost always means a watch.
Not a single word, but people might say 'rull' to refer to the money it represents.
