mööda
mööda 30초 만에
- Primarily means 'along' or 'past'.
- Requires the partitive case when used as a preposition.
- Used for both physical movement and the passage of time.
- Common in idioms like 'mööda panema' (to miss/fail).
The Estonian word mööda is a versatile preposition and adverb that primarily translates to 'along', 'past', or 'by' in English. At its core, it describes movement that follows a line, path, or surface without necessarily entering or crossing through the object itself. Imagine walking on a sidewalk; you are moving mööda kõnniteed (along the sidewalk). Unlike 'läbi' (through), which implies being inside something, mööda implies being adjacent to or following the trajectory of an object. This distinction is crucial for A1 learners who are just beginning to navigate spatial relationships in Estonian. The word is ubiquitous in daily life, appearing in directions, descriptions of nature, and even abstract concepts of time and failure.
- Spatial Motion
- The most common usage is following a physical path. If you are walking along a river, driving along a highway, or running along a track, you use mööda. It requires the noun to be in the partitive case (osastav kääne). For example, 'tee' (road) becomes 'teed'.
- Passing By
- When you move past a stationary object, like a house or a person, without stopping, you use mööda. In this context, it often pairs with the verb 'minema' (to go) or 'sõitma' (to drive).
Me jalutasime õhtul mööda randa ja nautisime päikeseloojangut.
Beyond physical movement, mööda enters the realm of time and metaphor. When time passes, Estonians say 'aeg läheb mööda' (time goes by). In a more idiomatic sense, if you miss a target or make a mistake, you might use the phrase 'mööda panema' (to miss/to be off the mark). This transition from a concrete spatial preposition to an abstract adverb is a hallmark of Estonian linguistic flexibility. For a learner, mastering mööda means being able to describe not just where you are going, but how you are relating to the world around you as you move through it.
Auto sõitis kiiresti majast mööda.
- Metaphorical Misses
- In professional or academic settings, if someone's logic is flawed, you might hear 'see jutt läheb teemast mööda' (this talk is off-topic/past the theme).
Kell on juba kümme mööda.
Using mööda correctly involves understanding its dual role as a preposition (governing a noun) and an adverb (standing alone or modifying a verb). When acting as a preposition, the standard formula is mööda + [Noun in Partitive Case]. This structure is used for 'along' or 'down' a path. For example, 'mööda treppi' (down/up the stairs), 'mööda koridori' (along the corridor). The partitive case is essential here because the movement is perceived as continuous and partial relative to the entire surface or length of the object.
- The Prepositional Pattern
- Structure: [Verb] + mööda + [Noun-Partitive]. Example: 'Ronib mööda puud' (Climbing up/along the tree). Note how 'puu' becomes 'puud'.
- The Postpositional/Adverbial Pattern
- When expressing 'past' something, the noun often takes the elative case (-st ending) and mööda follows it. Structure: [Noun-Elative] + mööda. Example: 'Sõitsime poest mööda' (We drove past the shop).
Vesi voolab mööda ränki kive ojja.
A sophisticated use of mööda involves its combination with verbs to create phrasal meanings. 'Mööda saatma' means to spend time or to see someone off. 'Mööda minema' is the literal 'to pass by' but also the figurative 'to pass' (like a headache or a storm). In these cases, the word functions more like a separable particle in German or a phrasal verb particle in English. Understanding these nuances allows the learner to move from basic descriptions to expressing complex states of being and temporal shifts.
Ma ei saa sinust lihtsalt mööda vaadata.
Kass jooksis mööda aeda tagaaias.
- Directional nuances
- If you say 'läksin mööda teed', you are following the path. If you say 'läksin teest mööda', you missed the road or passed it without turning onto it.
In the real world, you will encounter mööda in a variety of high-frequency contexts. If you are using Google Maps in Estonian, the voice will frequently instruct you to drive 'mööda Pärnu maanteed' (along Pärnu Road). In a grocery store, you might hear someone asking for directions: 'Kust ma leian piima?' – 'Minge mööda seda vahekäiku edasi' (Go further along this aisle). It is a fundamental word for spatial navigation and spatial awareness.
- Public Transport and Directions
- Bus drivers or passengers might say 'Sõidame mööda Vabaduse väljakut' (We are driving past/along Freedom Square). It helps define the route being taken.
- Weather Reports
- Meteorologists often describe storms or clouds moving 'mööda rannikut' (along the coast). It describes the trajectory of natural phenomena.
Lähme mööda treppe üles, lift ei tööta.
In casual conversation, mööda is often used to describe how a day was spent. 'Saatsin päeva mööda raamatut lugedes' (I spent the day reading a book). Here, the word conveys the passage of time as a physical movement. You'll also hear it in sports, specifically when a commentator says 'Löök läks väravast mööda' (The shot went wide of the goal). This indicates a failure to connect or reach a target, which is a very common idiomatic extension of the word's physical meaning.
Aeg lendab nii kiiresti mööda.
Pisarad voolasid mööda ta põski.
- Social Context
- You might hear 'Saime üksteisest mööda' meaning 'We passed each other' (e.g., in the hall or in life).
The most frequent error for learners is using the wrong grammatical case. Mööda as a preposition requires the partitive case. Many English speakers instinctively use the nominative (the base form) or the genitive (the possessive form), but 'mööda tee' or 'mööda tee' (genitive) are incorrect. It must be 'mööda teed'. This is a hurdle because the partitive case has many different endings, and identifying the correct one for 'mööda' takes practice.
- Case Confusion
- Mistake: *Mööda tänav (Nominative). Correct: Mööda tänavat (Partitive). The 't' ending for partitive in 'tänavat' is essential for the sentence to flow naturally.
- Confusion with 'Läbi'
- Learners often confuse 'mööda' (along/past) with 'läbi' (through). If you walk 'läbi metsa', you are inside the woods. If you walk 'mööda metsa', you are walking along the edge or following a path within it, but the focus is on the path, not the immersion.
Vale: Ma jalutasin mööda maja. Õige: Ma jalutasin majast mööda.
Another mistake involves the word order when meaning 'past'. While 'mööda majast' is theoretically possible in some dialects, the standard and most natural way to say 'past the house' is 'majast mööda' (Elative + mööda). Learners who stick strictly to the English 'past the...' word order often put 'mööda' first, which can sound slightly clunky or change the meaning to 'along the house' (mööda maja).
Ära pane mööda!
Me läksime mööda valest uksest.
- Phonetic Error
- Do not confuse 'mööda' with 'mooda' (a non-existent word or mispronunciation of 'mood' - fashion). The 'õ' sound is vital.
Estonian has several words that overlap with mööda, and choosing the right one depends on the specific type of movement or relationship you want to highlight. The most direct competitor is piki. While mööda is general, piki specifically emphasizes the length of something, often used for long, straight objects like coastlines or borders.
- Mööda vs. Piki
- 'Mööda randa' (Along the beach - general). 'Piki rannikut' (Along the coastline - emphasizing the long stretch). Piki is more formal and specific.
- Mööda vs. Läbi
- 'Mööda metsa' (Along the woods). 'Läbi metsa' (Through the woods). Use 'läbi' when you are surrounded by the object.
Laev sõitis piki rannikut põhja poole.
Another alternative is kaudu, which means 'via' or 'by way of'. While mööda describes the path you are physically on, kaudu describes the route or medium. For example, 'Sain teada sõbra kaudu' (I found out via a friend) or 'Lendasime Riia kaudu' (We flew via Riga). You wouldn't use mööda for social mediums or transit hubs unless you were literally walking along them.
Me läksime otse, mitte ringiga mööda.
Kõndisime kaudu metsaradu.
- Register Note
- 'Mööda' is the most natural, everyday word. 'Piki' is more descriptive and found in literature or geography.
발음 가이드
- Pronouncing 'öö' as 'oo' (like in 'mood').
- Making the 'd' too hard (it should be light).
- Shortening the 'öö' sound too much.
- Pronouncing the 'a' as 'ay'.
- Confusing the pitch with Finnish 'myöda'.
수준별 예문
Ma jalutan mööda teed.
I am walking along the road.
Mööda + Partitive (teed)
Kass jookseb mööda randa.
The cat runs along the beach.
Mööda + Partitive (randa)
Mine mööda seda tänavat.
Go along this street.
Imperative + Mööda + Partitive
Auto sõidab mööda silda.
The car drives along the bridge.
Mööda + Partitive (silda)
Me kõnnime mööda metsa.
We are walking along the forest.
Mööda + Partitive (metsa)
Vesi voolab mööda toru.
Water flows along the pipe.
Mööda + Partitive (toru)
Poiss ronib mööda puud.
The boy climbs along/up the tree.
Mööda + Partitive (puud)
Sõida mööda seda rada.
Drive along this path.
Mööda + Partitive (rada)
Me läksime majast mööda.
We went past the house.
Elative (majast) + mööda
Kell on kümme minutit mööda.
It is ten minutes past (the hour).
Mööda as an adverb of time
Aeg läheb kiiresti mööda.
Time goes by quickly.
Abstract usage of movement
Sõitsime linnast mööda.
We drove past the city.
Elative + mööda
Lapsed jooksid mööda koridori.
The children ran along the corridor.
Mööda + Partitive
Ma kõndisin sinust mööda.
I walked past you.
Pronoun in Elative (sinust) + mööda
Pilved liiguvad mööda taevast.
Clouds move across/along the sky.
Mööda + Partitive
Ära mine sellest märgist mööda.
Don't go past that sign.
Negative imperative + Elative + mööda
Ta saatis päeva mööda lugedes.
He spent the day reading.
Mööda saatma (phrasal verb)
Külmavärinad jooksid mööda selga.
Shivers ran down the spine.
Metaphorical physical sensation
Vesi tilgub mööda seina alla.
Water is dripping down the wall.
Mööda + Partitive + Adverb (alla)
Me liikusime mööda rannikut edasi.
We moved further along the coast.
Mööda + Partitive + Adverb (edasi)
See jutt läheb teemast mööda.
This talk is off-topic.
Idiomatic expression
Ta vaatas minust lihtsalt mööda.
He simply looked past me.
Mööda vaatama (to ignore)
Me peame tegutsema mööda plaani.
We must act according to the plan.
Mööda meaning 'according to'
Auto libises mööda märga teed.
The car slid along the wet road.
Mööda + Adjective + Noun (Partitive)
Sa panid oma ennustusega täiesti mööda.
You were completely off with your prediction.
Mööda panema (to miss/be wrong)
Elu läheb meist märkamatult mööda.
Life passes us by unnoticed.
Abstract philosophical usage
Ta ronis mööda karjääriredelit üles.
He climbed up the career ladder.
Metaphorical movement
See kleit on mööda külgi maha jooksev.
This dress flows down the sides.
Descriptive aesthetic usage
Ma ei saa sellest faktist mööda vaadata.
I cannot ignore this fact.
Figurative 'look past'
Me jalutasime mööda mälestuste rada.
We walked along the path of memories.
Poetic usage
See lask läks märgist mööda.
This shot missed the target.
Literal 'miss'
Kõik läks mööda ootusi.
Everything went according to expectations.
Formal 'according to'
Diskussioon kaldus algsest sihist mööda.
The discussion drifted away from the original goal.
Complex abstract movement
Ta püüdis mööda hiilida seaduse silmast.
He tried to evade the eye of the law.
Mööda hiilima (to evade/sneak past)
Aastad veeresid mööda vaikses üksinduses.
Years rolled by in quiet solitude.
Literary personification of time
Me ei tohi mööda lasta seda võimalust.
We must not let this opportunity pass.
Mööda laskma (to let slip/pass)
Tema pilk libises mööda pealkirju.
His gaze slid along the headlines.
Subtle physical/mental action
Ta rääkis mööda ja ümber tegelikust probleemist.
He talked around and past the real problem.
Double prepositional usage for emphasis
Mööda saadetud aeg ei tule kunagi tagasi.
Spent time never comes back.
Participial phrase
See on mööda hiilimine vastutusest.
This is an evasion of responsibility.
Noun phrase from phrasal verb
Filosoof arutles aja möödapääsmatuse üle.
The philosopher discussed the inevitability of time's passage.
Compound noun derivation
Ta on meisterlikult mööda tüürinud karidest.
He has masterfully steered past the reefs.
Metaphorical nautical language
See teos on kirjutatud mööda klassikalisi kaanoneid.
This work is written according to classical canons.
Academic/Artistic register
Meie teed läksid paratamatult mööda.
Our paths inevitably went past each other (diverged).
Existential nuance
Ta ei suutnud mööda vaadata oma südametunnistuse häälest.
He could not ignore the voice of his conscience.
Deeply metaphorical usage
Kõik mööduv on vaid tähendamissõna.
Everything passing is but a parable.
Substantivized participle
Ta libises mööda elu pinda, süvenemata.
He slid along the surface of life, without deepening.
Philosophical critique
Mööda mindi ka kõige ilmsematest märkidest.
Even the most obvious signs were passed by (ignored).
Impersonal voice with adverb
동의어
반의어
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
— To flow down the sides (or be useless/ignored).
Hea nõu jookseb tal mööda külgi maha.
관용어 및 표현
— To make a mistake, to miss a target, or to be wrong about something.
Seekord panid sa küll täiesti mööda.
informal— To be wasted or ignored (usually advice or effort).
Minu õpetused jooksevad tal mööda külgi maha.
neutral— To intentionally ignore someone or something.
Ülemus vaatab probleemidest mööda.
neutral— The years one has lived or spent.
Ta meenutas mööda saadetud aastaid.
literary어휘 가족
명사
동사
형용사
Summary
The word 'mööda' is your primary tool for describing movement along a line or past a point. Remember: 'mööda + partitive' for 'along' and 'elative + mööda' for 'past'. Example: 'Mööda teed' (along the road).
- Primarily means 'along' or 'past'.
- Requires the partitive case when used as a preposition.
- Used for both physical movement and the passage of time.
- Common in idioms like 'mööda panema' (to miss/fail).
관련 콘텐츠
general 관련 단어
ainult
A1Only or just
algama
A1시작되다 (sijakdoeda). '수업은 8시에 시작됩니다.' (Tund algab kell kaheksa.)
all
A1Under or below something
aprill
A14월은 일 년 중 네 번째 달입니다. 에스토니아에서 이때는 봄이 진정으로 시작되는 시기입니다.
arvama
A1To think, suppose, or opine
august
A18월은 연중 여덟 번째 달입니다.
detsember
A1The twelfth month of the year
ees
A1'ees'는 '~ 앞에'라는 뜻입니다. 차가 집 앞에 있습니다 (Auto on maja ees).
enne
A1에스토니아어 단어 'enne'는 '~전에'라는 뜻입니다. 어떤 일이 다른 일보다 먼저 일어남을 나타낼 때 사용합니다.
esmaspäev
A1The first day of the week, Monday