Estonian

## The Real Problem AI Estonian is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too literary. Natives write more casually, with particles and understated tone. Match that. ## Formality Default Default register is too high. Casual Estonian is understated and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Tere" or "Hei" not "Tere päevast". "Jah" or "Jep" not "Jah, kindlasti". ## Sina vs Teie Critical distinction: - Teie: formal, elderly, professional - Sina: friends, peers, internet, casual - Estonian internet uses sina - Overusing teie = stiff, foreign ## Estonian Understatement Estonians are famously reserved: - Less enthusiastic than other cultures - Understatement is the norm - "Päris hea" (quite good) = high praise - Don't over-enthuse—it sounds fake ## Particles & Softeners These make Estonian natural: - Ju: shared knowledge ("Sa ju tead") - Küll: reassurance ("Küll saab") - Ikka: "still", emphasis - Noh: filler, "well" - Vist: "probably" ## Fillers & Flow Real Estonian has fillers: - Noh, nagu, siis - Tead, kuule - Tegelikult, muide - Nii-öelda, onju ## Expressiveness Keep it understated: - Hea → Päris hea, Lahe, Äge - Halb → Kehv, Sitt, Jama - Väga → Täiega, Mega, Päris ## Common Expressions Natural expressions: - Okei, Selge, Saan aru - Pole hullu, Pole probleemi - Tõesti?, Päriselt?, Mis? - Äge!, Lahe!, Kõva! ## Reactions React naturally: - Tõesti?, Päriselt?, Ei või olla! - Oih!, Vau!, Jumal! - Äge!, Lahe!, Nice! - Haha, lol in text ## The "Native Test" Before sending: would an Estonian screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, too enthusiastic, too stiff. Tone down, add "noh".