Meaning
To remain after the rest has been used.
Cultural Background
Estonians hate wasting food. 'Toidu ülejäägid' are almost always saved for the next day's lunch. This is a point of pride in many households. In Estonian business culture, having a budget 'ülejääk' is seen as a sign of efficiency and good planning, rather than a failure to spend allocated funds. Old stories often feature a 'Kratt' (a magical servant) who is tasked with making sure nothing 'jääb üle' or that the master has an 'ülejääk' of riches stolen from neighbors. Estonia's paperless government often talks about 'aja ülejääk' (time surplus) created by digital signatures and e-services.
Word Order
In a question, 'üle' still usually stays at the end: 'Kas jäi midagi üle?'
Not for People
Don't use this to say a person stayed over at your house. Use 'ööseks jääma' instead.
Meaning
To remain after the rest has been used.
Word Order
In a question, 'üle' still usually stays at the end: 'Kas jäi midagi üle?'
Not for People
Don't use this to say a person stayed over at your house. Use 'ööseks jääma' instead.
Leftover Etiquette
In Estonia, it's perfectly polite to ask for a 'doggy bag' if food 'jääb üle' in a restaurant.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing part of the phrasal verb.
Pärast pidu ______ palju jooke ______.
In the past tense, 'jääma' becomes 'jäi' and 'üle' moves to the end.
Choose the correct sentence for 'I have no other choice but to wait.'
Kuidas öelda: 'I have no other choice but to wait'?
We use the Adessive 'Mul' and the da-infinitive 'oodata'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You finished your work 20 minutes early.
'Aeg' means time. If you finish early, you have time left over.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kas meil on veel tapeeti? B: Jah, remondist ______ ______.
The renovation is finished, so we use the past tense 'jäi üle'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesPärast pidu ______ palju jooke ______.
In the past tense, 'jääma' becomes 'jäi' and 'üle' moves to the end.
Kuidas öelda: 'I have no other choice but to wait'?
We use the Adessive 'Mul' and the da-infinitive 'oodata'.
You finished your work 20 minutes early.
'Aeg' means time. If you finish early, you have time left over.
A: Kas meil on veel tapeeti? B: Jah, remondist ______ ______.
The renovation is finished, so we use the past tense 'jäi üle'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a business meeting.
No, it's for objects, time, and money. For people staying over, use 'külla jääma' or 'ööseks jääma'.
They are very similar. 'Üle jääma' emphasizes that it's 'extra' or 'surplus'.
Use the phrase: 'Mul ei jää muud üle kui...' followed by the da-infinitive.
The noun is 'ülejääk', meaning surplus or remainder.
Yes, e.g., 'Mul ei jää armastust üle' (I have no love to spare).
Not usually. It's an intransitive phrasal verb.
In simple main clauses, yes. In subordinate clauses, it might stay before the verb.
Yes, especially when talking about 'eelarve ülejääk' (budget surplus).
It's better to say 'Toit jäi üle' or 'Toitu on üle'.
Related Phrases
järele jääma
synonymto be left behind / to remain
alles jääma
similarto survive / to still be there
üle saama
contrastto get over something
üle elama
similarto survive / to live through
ülejääk
builds ona surplus / a remainder
