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A1 noun 7분 분량

inimene

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 inimene 30초 만에

설명 inimene in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'inimene' is taught as a basic noun to identify oneself and others. You learn that 'Ma olen inimene' (I am a human/person) and how to ask 'Kes see inimene on?' (Who is this person?). The focus is on the nominative singular form. Students at this level should understand that 'inimene' is the standard word for 'person' and 'inimesed' is the word for 'people'. You will use it to describe your family, friends, and the people you see in your immediate environment. It's important to learn that 'inimene' doesn't change based on gender, which simplifies things for English speakers. You will also learn very basic adjectives to go with it, like 'hea inimene' (good person) or 'vana inimene' (old person). The goal is to be able to point to a person and use the word correctly in a simple sentence. You might also encounter it in the context of numbers, like 'üks inimene' (one person). Vocabulary at this level is concrete and focused on the 'here and now'.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'inimene' in more varied grammatical contexts, specifically the genitive ('inimese') and partitive ('inimest') cases. You learn to express possession, such as 'See on selle inimese raamat' (This is that person's book). You also start using the word with numbers and quantity words, which is a major milestone in Estonian grammar. For example, 'Minu peres on neli inimest' (There are four people in my family). You will also learn to use 'inimene' in the plural more fluently, such as 'Inimesed on poes' (People are in the shop). At this level, you can start describing people's appearances and basic personality traits using 'inimene' as the anchor. You might say 'Ta on väga sõbralik inimene' (He/She is a very friendly person). You will also encounter the word in common public signs or simple announcements. The focus shifts from just identifying a person to describing them and their relationship to objects and other people.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the B1 level, 'inimene' starts to appear in more abstract and social contexts. You will use it to discuss social issues, human rights, and general opinions. You will learn more complex case endings, such as the inessive ('inimeses') and elative ('inimesest'). For example, 'Räägime sellest inimesest' (Let's talk about this person). You'll also encounter compound words like 'inimõigused' (human rights) and 'inimkond' (humankind). At this level, you should be able to describe a person's character in detail and discuss what makes someone a 'good person' in a cultural context. You will also hear 'inimene' used more frequently in the media, in interviews, and in more formal settings. You'll start to distinguish between 'inimene' and 'isik' (person/individual) and understand that 'isik' is more formal. Your ability to use 'inimene' in various cases allows you to construct much more complex and nuanced sentences, moving beyond simple descriptions to discussions about human nature and society.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the B2 level, your use of 'inimene' becomes more sophisticated and stylistically varied. You will use it in debates, essays, and formal discussions. You'll understand the nuance of using 'inimene' in philosophical contexts, such as 'Inimene on oma saatusesepp' (Every man is the architect of his own fortune). You will be comfortable with all 14 cases and use them to express precise relationships. For instance, using the terminative case: 'Kuni viimase inimeseni' (Until the last person). You will also learn more idiomatic expressions and proverbs involving the word. At this level, you can analyze texts where 'inimene' is used to represent humanity as a whole. You will also be able to use the word in professional contexts, such as discussing 'inimressursid' (human resources) or 'inimkapital' (human capital). Your understanding of the word will include its historical and etymological roots, and you'll be able to use it to express subtle differences in perspective and tone.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C1 level, you have a near-native command of the word 'inimene'. You can use it with precision in academic, legal, and literary contexts. You understand the subtle connotations it carries in different registers. For example, you might use 'inimene' in a legal argument to emphasize the 'human element' versus the 'letter of the law'. You are familiar with rare and poetic forms like 'inime'. You can discuss complex sociological theories regarding the 'inimene ja ühiskond' (human and society) relationship with ease. You'll recognize and use sophisticated idioms such as 'inimestest võõrduma' (to become alienated from people). Your writing will use 'inimene' as a versatile tool to build complex metaphors and rhetorical structures. You can also handle the word in highly technical fields, such as psychology or medicine, where 'inimene' might be discussed as a biological organism or a psychological subject with great detail and specific terminology.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C2 level, your understanding of 'inimene' is profound and encompasses the full breadth of the Estonian language's history and potential. You can play with the word's meaning in creative writing, use it in high-level philosophical discourse, and understand its most obscure literary references. You are aware of how the word has evolved and how it relates to other Finno-Ugric languages. You can use 'inimene' to discuss the 'human condition' in its most abstract sense, often using it in conjunction with complex philosophical terms. Your usage is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker. You can appreciate the rhythm and sound of the word in poetry and use it to create specific emotional effects. At this level, 'inimene' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a fundamental concept through which you can explore and express the entirety of the human experience in the Estonian language.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

inimene 30초 만에

Inimene means 'person' or 'human' in Estonian.
It is a gender-neutral noun used for all people.
The genitive form is 'inimese' and partitive is 'inimest'.
It is the root of many words like 'inimkond' (humankind).

The Estonian word inimene is the fundamental noun used to describe a human being, an individual, or a person. In the Estonian language, this word carries a broad semantic range, covering both the biological classification of our species and the social concept of an individual personality. It is one of the first nouns an Estonian learner encounters because it forms the basis of identity and social interaction. Whether you are describing someone's character, referring to the population of a city, or discussing human rights, inimene is your primary tool.

Biological Context: In scientific or general biological discussions, it refers to the species Homo sapiens. Example: 'Inimene on imetaja' (A human is a mammal).
Social Context: It is used to refer to a person as a social entity. Example: 'Ta on väga hea inimene' (He/She is a very good person).
Plural Collective: The plural form 'inimesed' is used to mean 'people' in a general sense, such as 'Inimesed ootavad bussi' (People are waiting for the bus).

Iga inimene on kordumatu ja väärtuslik oma eripäradega.

The word is versatile because Estonian does not have grammatical gender. Therefore, inimene applies equally to men, women, and children. It is neutral and respectful, making it suitable for all registers of speech, from the most formal legal documents to casual conversations among friends. When you want to emphasize someone's humanity or their role as an individual in society, this is the word you choose. It is also used in many compound words that define human activities and structures, such as inimõigused (human rights) or inimkond (humankind).

Kes on see inimene, kes seal seisab?

Legal Usage: In legal texts, it often contrasts with 'juriidiline isik' (legal entity/person), where 'inimene' represents the 'füüsiline isik' (natural person).

Culturally, Estonians value the concept of being a 'tubli inimene' (a capable/good person). This phrase implies not just being human, but being a functional, reliable, and hardworking member of the community. The word carries a certain weight of responsibility; to be called a 'tõeline inimene' (a true human) is a high compliment, suggesting empathy, integrity, and depth of character. Conversely, calling someone 'ebainimene' (un-human) is a severe insult, used for those who commit atrocities or lack basic empathy.

Me peame kohtlema iga inimest austusega.

Using inimene correctly requires an understanding of Estonian's 14 noun cases, although for daily conversation, the first three (nominative, genitive, partitive) are most critical. The word follows the standard pattern for nouns ending in -ne. The nominative is inimene, the genitive (showing possession or used before postpositions) is inimese, and the partitive (used for quantities and objects of many verbs) is inimest.

Kas sa tunned seda inimest? (Do you know this person?)

Nominative (Kes? Mis?): Used for the subject: 'See inimene on tark' (This person is smart).
Genitive (Kelle? Mille?): Used for possession: 'See on selle inimese auto' (This is that person's car).
Partitive (Keda? Mida?): Used for objects of actions or numbers: 'Ma näen kolme inimest' (I see three people).

In more advanced usage, you will see inimene in cases like the illative (inimesse), meaning 'into a person', often used metaphorically for belief or investment. For example, 'Ma usun sellesse inimesse' (I believe in this person). The inessive case (inimeses) describes something within a person, like a quality or a feeling: 'Inimeses peab kõik ilus olema' (Everything in a person must be beautiful).

Meis kõigis peitub hea inimene.

When talking about 'people' in general, you use the plural inimesed. This is the nominative plural. The genitive plural is inimeste and the partitive plural is inimesi. A common mistake for learners is using the singular partitive after large numbers, but in Estonian, after numbers (2, 3, 4, etc.), you always use the singular partitive: 'kümme inimest' (ten people).

Paljud inimesed armastavad suve.

The 'Inimesed' vs 'Rahvas' distinction: Use 'inimesed' for a group of individuals. Use 'rahvas' for 'the people' as a nation, ethnic group, or a large crowd acting as one.

You will hear inimene everywhere in Estonia—from the morning news broadcasts to the quietest whispers in a library. In the news, it is frequently used in statistics and reports: 'Eestis elab 1,3 miljonit inimest' (1.3 million people live in Estonia). In social settings, it’s the standard way to refer to someone you don’t know or to speak about humanity at large.

Tänaval oli täna väga palju inimesi.

In work environments, HR departments are often called 'personaliosakond', but when discussing staffing, managers might say 'meil on vaja uusi inimesi' (we need new people). In literature and philosophy, it is used to ponder the nature of existence. Estonian poetry often uses 'inimene' to evoke a sense of shared vulnerability and strength. It is a word that bridges the gap between the clinical and the emotional.

Public Announcements: 'Palume inimestel mitte väljuda rongist' (We ask people not to exit the train).
Daily Gossip: 'Ta on selline huvitav inimene...' (He/She is such an interesting person...).

Kas siin on mõni inimene, kes räägib inglise keelt?

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is trying to find a separate word for 'human' and 'person'. In Estonian, inimene serves both purposes. Another common error involves the partitive case. Learners often say 'kaks inimesed' instead of the correct 'kaks inimest'. Remember: after any number other than one, the noun must be in the singular partitive.

Incorrect Pluralization: Saying 'Palju inimesed' (Wrong) vs 'Palju inimesi' (Correct). 'Palju' (many/much) requires the partitive plural.
Confusing with 'Isik': While 'isik' means person, it is very formal/legal. Using 'isik' in a casual conversation like 'Ta on hea isik' sounds robotic and strange. Use 'inimene' instead.

Vale: Ma nägin viis inimesed. Õige: Ma nägin viit inimest.

Another mistake is forgetting the 'ne' to 'se' transition in the genitive. Beginners might try to say 'inimene auto' for 'a person's car', but it must be 'inimese auto'. The nominative form should rarely be used as a modifier in Estonian; the genitive is the workhorse for showing relationships between nouns.

While inimene is the most common term, Estonian has several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey. Understanding these synonyms will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to navigate different social contexts more effectively.

Isik: Meaning: Person/Individual. Use: Formal, legal, or administrative contexts. 'Tuvastamata isik' (Unidentified person).
Olend: Meaning: Being/Creature. Use: When speaking about humans as 'elusolendid' (living beings) or in fantasy/sci-fi contexts.
Tüüp: Meaning: Guy/Type/Fellow. Use: Very informal. 'See tüüp on imelik' (That guy is weird).
Kodanik: Meaning: Citizen. Use: In political or civic contexts. Sometimes used jokingly in informal speech: 'Kuule, kodanik!' (Hey, citizen!).

Kas see isik on teile tuttav? (Is this person familiar to you? - Formal)

In literature, you might also find the word inime, which is an older or poetic form of inimene. It is rarely used in spoken language today but appears in traditional songs and classic novels. When referring to someone's character specifically, you might use isiksus (personality). For example, 'Ta on tugev isiksus' (He/She is a strong personality/character).

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

In old Estonian folklore, the word was sometimes used to distinguish between 'real' people and supernatural beings like 'metsarahvas' (forest people) or 'kodukäijad' (ghosts).

발음 가이드

UK /ˈinimene/

US /ˈinimene/

First syllable (IN-i-me-ne)

라임이 맞는 단어

naine (partial) maine laine taime (partial) seeme (partial) teene keene peene

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing the final 'e' as an 'ey' sound (like 'inimeney'). It should be a short 'e'.
Stressing the second or third syllable.
Making the 'i' too long (like 'ee-nimene').
Forgetting to pronounce the 'n' clearly.
Confusing the 'e' sound with an 'a' sound.

난이도

독해 1/5

The word is very common and easy to recognize in text.

쓰기 2/5

Requires remembering the -ne to -se stem change in genitive.

말하기 1/5

Pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers.

듣기 1/5

Distinct sound, usually easy to hear in conversation.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

mina (I) olema (to be) hea (good) üks (one) kes (who)

다음에 배울 것

rahvas (people/nation) isik (person/individual) mees (man) naine (woman) laps (child)

고급

inimkond humanism antropoloogia isiksus olend

알아야 할 문법

Nouns ending in -ne change to -se in the genitive case.

inimene -> inimese

After numbers (except 1), use the partitive singular.

kolm inimest

The word 'palju' (many) requires the partitive plural for countable nouns.

palju inimesi

The negative form of the verb requires the object to be in the partitive case.

Ma ei näe inimest.

The comitative case ending is -ga and is added to the genitive stem.

inimese + ga = inimesega

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

수준별 예문

Ma olen inimene.

I am a human.

Nominative singular.

See inimene on minu sõber.

This person is my friend.

Inimene as the subject.

Kes on see inimene?

Who is this person?

Interrogative sentence.

Ta on hea inimene.

He/She is a good person.

Adjective + noun.

Üks inimene ootab sind.

One person is waiting for you.

Number 'üks' + nominative.

Kas sa oled õnnelik inimene?

Are you a happy person?

Question form.

Siin on palju inimesi.

There are many people here.

Palju + partitive plural.

Inimesed on toredad.

People are nice.

Nominative plural.

Ma näen kahte inimest.

I see two people.

Number + partitive singular.

See on selle inimese nimi.

This is that person's name.

Genitive singular.

Ma ei tunne seda inimest.

I don't know this person.

Negative sentence + partitive.

Me otsime uut inimest tööle.

We are looking for a new person for work.

Partitive as object of 'otsima'.

Inimese tervis on tähtis.

A person's health is important.

Genitive showing possession.

Kas teile meeldivad need inimesed?

Do you like these people?

Nominative plural.

Ma räägin ühe inimesega.

I am talking with one person.

Comitative case.

Inimesed elavad majades.

People live in houses.

General statement, plural.

Igal inimesel on oma arvamus.

Every person has their own opinion.

Adessive case (possession).

Me peame austama kõiki inimesi.

We must respect all people.

Partitive plural.

Temas on peidus hea inimene.

There is a good person hidden in him/her.

Inessive case.

Inimene õpib kogu elu.

A person learns their whole life.

Proverbial usage.

See film räägib tavalisest inimesest.

This film is about an ordinary person.

Elative case.

Inimese loomus on keeruline.

Human nature is complex.

Genitive singular.

Ma ei taha olla halb inimene.

I don't want to be a bad person.

Translative case would also work here (inimeseks), but nominative is common after 'olema'.

Paljud inimesed kardavad ämblikke.

Many people are afraid of spiders.

Nominative plural subject.

Inimene on sotsiaalne olend.

Man is a social being.

Philosophical statement.

Selles inimeses on midagi erilist.

There is something special in this person.

Inessive case.

Kuidas saada paremaks inimeseks?

How to become a better person?

Translative case.

Inimeste vahelised suhted on olulised.

Relationships between people are important.

Genitive plural.

Ta on tuntud kui aus inimene.

He/She is known as an honest person.

Essive-like usage with 'kui'.

Inimene ei ole masin.

A human is not a machine.

Metaphorical contrast.

Me peame vaatama inimest kui tervikut.

We must look at a person as a whole.

Partitive singular object.

Inimesed on sageli oma harjumuste ohvrid.

People are often victims of their habits.

General sociological statement.

Inimene on looduse kroon, kuid samas selle suurim vaenlane.

Man is the crown of nature, but also its greatest enemy.

Literary contrast.

Inimeseks jäämine rasketes oludes on tõeline katsumus.

Remaining human in difficult circumstances is a true ordeal.

Gerundial usage of 'inimeseks jäämine'.

See teguviis on sügavalt inimvaenulik.

This way of acting is deeply anti-human.

Compound adjective 'inimvaenulik'.

Inimese psüühika on põhjatu sügavik.

The human psyche is a bottomless abyss.

Genitive singular.

Igaühes meist peitub nii inimene kui ka metsaline.

In each of us hides both a human and a beast.

Dualistic philosophical concept.

Ta on inimene, kes ei karda eksida.

He/She is a person who is not afraid to make mistakes.

Relative clause.

Inimeste massid liikusid aeglaselt väljapääsu poole.

Masses of people moved slowly toward the exit.

Genitive plural + collective noun.

Inimese väärikus on võõrandamatu õigus.

Human dignity is an inalienable right.

Legal/Philosophical register.

Inimene on olemuslikult vaba, kuid igal pool ahelates.

Man is essentially free, yet everywhere in chains.

Rousseau-esque philosophical statement.

Inimeseks olemise eetos eeldab vastutustunde olemasolu.

The ethos of being human presupposes the existence of a sense of responsibility.

Highly formal/Academic register.

Inimese eksistentsi mõte on läbi aegade olnud suurimaks mõistatuseks.

The meaning of human existence has been the greatest riddle throughout the ages.

Complex genitive chain.

Kirjanik lahkab oma teoses inimese hinge kõige tumedamaid soppe.

In their work, the writer dissects the darkest corners of the human soul.

Metaphorical literary analysis.

Inimene on vaid pilliroog, kuid ta on mõtlev pilliroog.

Man is but a reed, but he is a thinking reed.

Pascal reference.

Inimese subjektiivsus moonutab paratamatult objektiivset reaalsust.

Human subjectivity inevitably distorts objective reality.

Scientific/Philosophical register.

Inimeste vahel haigutav kuristik on sageli ületamatu.

The abyss yawning between people is often insurmountable.

Poetic/Metaphorical usage.

Inimene on iseenda suurim projekt.

A person is their own greatest project.

Existentialist concept.

자주 쓰는 조합

hea inimene

noor inimene

vana inimene

tundmatu inimene

tark inimene

lähedane inimene

võõras inimene

andekas inimene

lihtne inimene

rikas inimene

자주 쓰는 구문

Inimene õpib kogu elu.

— A person learns throughout their entire life. It means it's never too late to learn.

Ära muretse, inimene õpib kogu elu.

Olema nagu teine inimene.

— To be like a different person. Used when someone has changed significantly.

Pärast puhkust on ta nagu teine inimene.

Inimeste seas.

— Among people. Used to describe being in a social setting.

Mulle meeldib olla inimeste seas.

Inimese moodi.

— Like a human / Properly. Often used to mean doing something correctly or decently.

Käitu ometi inimese moodi!

Seda inimest ei ole enam.

— That person is no longer here. A euphemism for death.

Kahjuks seda head inimest ei ole enam meie seas.

Inimene kavatseb, jumal juhib.

— Man proposes, God disposes. Things don't always go as planned.

Meil olid suured plaanid, aga inimene kavatseb, jumal juhib.

Igaühes on peidus inimene.

— There is a human hidden in everyone. Suggests everyone has a good side.

Isegi temas on peidus inimene.

Inimene on ekslik.

— To err is human. Everyone makes mistakes.

Ära ole enda vastu nii karm, inimene on ekslik.

Oma inimene.

— One of our own / A trusted person. Someone who belongs to the group.

Ta on meie oma inimene, sa võid teda usaldada.

Inimeste keel.

— Human language. Sometimes used to contrast with animal sounds or jargon.

Räägi minuga palun inimeste keeles!

자주 혼동되는 단어

inimene vs rahvas

Rahvas means 'the people' as a collective or nation, while inimesed refers to multiple individuals.

inimene vs isik

Isik is more formal and used in legal/administrative contexts, whereas inimene is for general use.

inimene vs mees

Sometimes English speakers use 'mees' (man) when they mean 'person'. Use 'inimene' for a gender-neutral term.

관용어 및 표현

"Inimene ei ela üksnes leivast"

— Man does not live by bread alone. People need more than just material things to be happy.

Inimene ei ela üksnes leivast, ta vajab ka armastust.

literary/religious

"Inimest tundma õppima"

— To get to know a person deeply. Refers to the process of understanding someone's character.

Selleks kulub aega, et inimest päriselt tundma õppida.

neutral

"Inimesest tegema"

— To make a 'man' out of someone. To educate or discipline someone into a respectable person.

Sõjavägi tegi temast inimese.

informal/old-fashioned

"Inimese kombel"

— In a human way. Meaning decently or politely.

Söö ometi inimese kombel!

neutral

"Inimese nägu"

— A human face. Often used metaphorically for a system or organization that is humane.

Me vajame inimese näoga poliitikat.

political/journalistic

"Inimestest eemale hoidma"

— To keep away from people. To be antisocial or shy.

Ta on viimasel ajal inimestest eemale hoidnud.

neutral

"Inimese moodi välja nägema"

— To look like a human. Often said when someone finally cleans themselves up.

Pärast pesemist näed sa jälle inimese moodi välja.

informal

"Inimene on inimesele hunt"

— Man is a wolf to man. Humans can be very cruel to each other.

Selles karmis ärimaailmas on inimene inimesele hunt.

literary/philosophical

"Inimese kätt tunda saama"

— To feel the human hand. Usually means to experience human interference or cruelty.

Loodus on seal tunda saanud inimese kätt.

literary

"Inimestest lugu pidama"

— To respect people. To have a high regard for others.

Ta on keegi, kes peab teistest inimestest lugu.

neutral

혼동하기 쉬운

inimene vs rahvas

Both translate to 'people'.

Inimesed is the plural of person (individuals). Rahvas is a collective noun like 'the nation' or 'the crowd'.

Inimesed seisid järjekorras (Individuals stood in line). Eesti rahvas (The Estonian people/nation).

inimene vs isik

Both mean 'person'.

Inimene is warm and human; isik is cold and administrative. You wouldn't say 'Ta on mu lemmikisik' (He is my favorite person - sounds like a file).

Seda isikut otsib politsei (The police are looking for this person/individual).

inimene vs olend

Both can refer to a human being.

Inimene is the specific word for our species. Olend is a more general term for any living being (creature).

Inimene on mõistusega olend (Human is a being with reason).

inimene vs mees

In English, 'man' can mean 'humanity'.

In Estonian, 'mees' almost always means a male. Use 'inimene' for the general concept of 'man/mankind'.

Ta on vana mees (He is an old man). Inimene on looduse osa (Man/Human is part of nature).

inimene vs isiksus

Sounds like 'isik' or 'inimene'.

Isiksus refers specifically to a person's 'personality' or 'character'.

Tal on tugev isiksus (He/She has a strong personality).

문장 패턴

[Name] on [Adjective] inimene.

Jüri on hea inimene.

Ma näen [Number] inimest.

Ma näen viit inimest.

See on [Genitive Name] inimese [Object].

See on selle inimese kott.

Inimene, kes [Verb]...

Inimene, kes naerab, on õnnelik.

Inimesena on ta [Adjective].

Inimesena on ta väga sümpaatne.

Hoolimata sellest, et ta on [Adjective] inimene...

Hoolimata sellest, et ta on tark inimene, tegi ta vea.

Inimese olemus peitub [Noun-Inessive].

Inimese olemus peitub tema tegudes.

Ma räägin [Adjective] inimesega.

Ma räägin huvitava inimesega.

어휘 가족

명사

inimkond (humankind)

inimlikkus (humanity/humane quality)

inimõigus (human right)

inimene-loom (human-animal)

inimtühi (deserted/empty of people)

동사

inimestama (to humanize)

inimeseks saama (to become a person/mature)

형용사

inimlik (human/humane)

inimtühi (empty of people)

inimvaenulik (anti-human)

inimlikustatud (humanized)

inimväärne (worthy of a human)

사용법

frequency

Extremely high. It is among the top 100 most used nouns in Estonian.

자주 하는 실수

Kaks inimesed → Kaks inimest
After numbers, you must use the singular partitive case, not the nominative plural.
Inimene auto → Inimese auto
To show possession, the first noun must be in the genitive case.
Palju inimesed → Palju inimesi
The word 'palju' (many) requires the partitive plural for countable nouns.
Ta on hea isik → Ta on hea inimene
'Isik' is too formal for describing someone's character in casual speech.
Ma näen inimene → Ma näen inimest
The object of the verb 'nägema' (to see) should be in the partitive case in this context.

팁

Stem Change

Remember the -ne to -se change. It applies to many Estonian words like 'naine' (woman) and 'hobune' (horse) as well.

Natural Sounding

To sound more natural, use 'inimesed' instead of 'rahvas' when talking about a specific group of people you see.

Compounds

Learn compound words starting with 'inim-'. It's a very productive prefix for anything related to humans.

High Praise

Calling someone a 'tõeline inimene' is one of the highest compliments in Estonian culture, implying great empathy.

Partitive Plural

Remember 'palju inimesi'. The plural partitive 'inimesi' is used after 'palju' (many) and 'mitu' (several).

Case Clues

If you hear 'inimese', look for a noun following it—it's likely possessive.

Gender Neutrality

Don't look for 'he' or 'she' versions. 'Inimene' covers everyone perfectly.

In-I-Me-Ne

Break it down: In-I-Me-Ne. It has a rhythmic sound that's easy to repeat.

Respect

Using 'inimene' is always respectful. It's safer than 'tüüp' if you aren't sure of the formality level.

Core Word

Master this word early. It appears in almost every conversation and text.

암기하기

기억법

Imagine an 'Inny' (inner) 'Men' (man) - every 'inimene' has an inner man/person. Or think: 'I am a ni-me-ne'.

시각적 연상

Visualize a circle of diverse people holding hands around the word 'inimene'.

Word Web

inimkond inimlik isik rahvas laps mees naine hing

챌린지

Try to use the word 'inimene' in three different cases (nominative, genitive, partitive) while describing your best friend today.

어원

The word 'inimene' is of Finno-Ugric origin. It is related to the word 'inime', which is an older form. The root 'inim-' is found in several related languages.

원래 의미: The original meaning likely referred to a member of one's own group or tribe, or simply a living being.

Finno-Ugric / Uralic

문화적 맥락

The word is neutral. However, using 'inimene' to refer to someone standing right in front of you ('see inimene siin') can sometimes feel slightly distancing or rude, similar to saying 'this person here' instead of using their name.

English speakers should be careful not to over-use the word 'person' where 'someone' or 'anyone' might be more natural, but in Estonian, 'inimene' is very frequently used in these spots.

Anton Hansen Tammsaare's 'Tõde ja õigus' (Truth and Justice) explores what it means to be a human. The song 'Eestlane olen ja eestlaseks jään' mentions being a person/Estonian. Estonian Human Rights Centre (Inimõiguste Keskus).

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Introducing someone

Ta on tore inimene.
See inimene on minu kolleeg.
Kas sa tunned seda inimest?
Ta on uus inimene meie tiimis.

Counting people

Siin on viis inimest.
Mitu inimest tuleb?
Ainult üks inimene puudub.
Inimesi oli väga palju.

Describing character

Ta on aus inimene.
Julge inimene ei karda.
Ta on väga keeruline inimene.
Ole ometi inimene!

Generalizing about humanity

Inimene on ekslik.
Inimesed on erinevad.
Mida inimene tahab?
Inimene ja loodus.

Legal/Official

Inimese põhiõigused.
Inimene kui kodanik.
Selle inimese andmed.
Isikusamasuse tuvastamine.

대화 시작하기

"Milline inimene on sinu suurim eeskuju?"

"Kas sa oled pigem hommiku- või õhtuinimene?"

"Mis teeb ühest inimesest hea inimese?"

"Kas sa usud, et iga inimene saab muutuda?"

"Kui palju inimesi on sinu peres?"

일기 주제

Kirjelda ühte inimest, kes on sinu elu positiivselt mõjutanud.

Mida tähendab sinu jaoks olla 'hea inimene' tänapäeva maailmas?

Mõtle korrale, kui kohtasid täiesti võõrast inimest, kes sind üllatas.

Kas sa eelistad olla üksi või teiste inimeste seltsis? Miks?

Kuidas on sinu arvamus inimestest aja jooksul muutunud?

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

No, 'inimene' refers to any human being regardless of age. You can use it for children, though 'laps' is more specific. It is the most general term available.

The most common way is 'inimesed', which is the nominative plural of 'inimene'. If you mean 'people' as in an ethnic group or nation, use 'rahvas'.

The genitive form is 'inimese'. This is used to show possession (e.g., 'inimese auto' - a person's car) and before many postpositions.

Use 'inimest' (partitive singular) after numbers (except one), in negative sentences, or as the object of certain verbs like 'armastama' (to love).

Yes, Estonian has no grammatical gender. 'Inimene' is completely neutral and applies to everyone.

'Inimene' is the common word for a human. 'Isik' is more formal, used in law, medicine, or official documents (like 'isikukood' - personal ID code).

It is 'inimõigused'. This is a compound word combining 'inim-' (human) and 'õigused' (rights).

In poetry or old texts, you might see 'inime', but in modern spoken and written Estonian, you should always use 'inimene'.

You say 'Ma olen hea inimene'. Note that both 'hea' and 'inimene' are in the nominative case.

'Inimkond' means 'humankind' or 'humanity' as a whole collective entity.

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