FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Country Names in Estonian
Quiz about Country Names in Estonian

Country Names in Estonian Trivia Quiz


Hi! We Estonians are a slightly abnormal people. We even cannot call some countries by their proper names. Try your knowledge: what are we talking about?

A multiple-choice quiz by Zyxzewski. Estimated time: 3 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. World Trivia
  6. »
  7. Languages
  8. »
  9. European Languages

Author
Zyxzewski
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
134,815
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
765
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. If an Estonian says "Rootsi", what country is he talking about? (Formerly Estonia was a part of its empire). Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. If we say Venemaa in Estonian, what do we mean? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. There is a country that Estonians call Leedu. Which of these is it? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Now a bit of an exotic sounding name: Elevandiluurannik. What does this mean? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Now, there is a country we call Saksamaa. Probably it's not the hardest of questions, but anyway, what does it mean? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Now, when we are going to "Madalmaad", where we are going? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This country has two official languages, and in one of them they call their state with similar name as we. We call that country "Soome" in Estonian. Which is it? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Now, what does the Estonian name "Prantsusmaa" mean in English? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Now something exotic: Uus-Meremaa means what country in English? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. When we Estonians say "Läti", which country do we mean? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 11 2024 : Guest 108: 4/10
Feb 08 2024 : Guest 47: 4/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. If an Estonian says "Rootsi", what country is he talking about? (Formerly Estonia was a part of its empire).

Answer: Sweden

No one has given me a good answer, why is it so, but it must be quite old name, since also finns call it with (almost) the same name. Estonia was a part of Swedish empire from 1559/1583/1645 (separate parts went to Swedish with different treaties) till 1710 (officially 1721), when it all was lost to Russia. Poland ruled Southern Estonia for some 50 years in the second half of the 16th century.

The only connection with Romania is, that one of the best known kings of Poland to rule over Estonia, was Stefan Batory, who came from Transylvanian region, which now belongs to Romanian state.

He himself was of Hungarian origin.
2. If we say Venemaa in Estonian, what do we mean?

Answer: Russia

It's thought to been derived from the name of a tribe that lived near Estonia. Others say that it comes from a word "vene" (a type of small boat). Anyway, that must also be quite ancient history, since the Finns (again) call it something similar.
3. There is a country that Estonians call Leedu. Which of these is it?

Answer: Lithuania

Probably it comes from their own name "Lietuva". Lithuanians were quite a force in this region during the Middle Ages. Ask some Germans about the battles of Durbe, Saule, Grünwald (aka Tannenberg or Žalgiris).
4. Now a bit of an exotic sounding name: Elevandiluurannik. What does this mean?

Answer: Cote d'Ivoire

Although that country insists that its name should not be translated, in everyday language we still do so. It consists of: Elevandiluu (= Ivory, directly translated as "elephants bone") + rannik (=Coast). I hope you all managed to find an elephant from that name, it should make things a bit easier.
5. Now, there is a country we call Saksamaa. Probably it's not the hardest of questions, but anyway, what does it mean?

Answer: Germany

Due to Germany's location, seems like every nationality calls their differently. We had the contact with "Saxons". Together with the Danes they were first foreigners to come here and occupy Estonian land. (The Danes sold their Estonian territory in 1346, after severe riots, to the Teutonic Order. Before the riots they asked 20,000 marks for it, after they lowered the price to 19,000.

Switzerland is Šveits, Sweden is Rootsi and Czech Republic is Tšehhimaa.
6. Now, when we are going to "Madalmaad", where we are going?

Answer: The Netherlands

Usually we say "Holland", although "Madalmaad" is also used as a direct translation. At least I hope I managed to give you a hint with the other variants: New Zealand got its name from the province of the Netherlands, Indonesia and Suriname both belonged to the Netherlands. There is not very much historical connections between us and the Netherlands.
7. This country has two official languages, and in one of them they call their state with similar name as we. We call that country "Soome" in Estonian. Which is it?

Answer: Finland

Finns himself call their land "Suomi", Finland is its Swedish name. Those are the two official languages of Finland. Estonians and Finns speak quite similar language and they manage to understand each other (but not that easily). Our closest linguistic relatives are the Hungarians, but we cannot understand them at all (and of course vice-versa).

Russia is Venemaa, India is still India and Somalia is Somaalia.
8. Now, what does the Estonian name "Prantsusmaa" mean in English?

Answer: France

It sounds similar but has changed a bit. For example England we call "Inglismaa" and Scotland "Shotimaa".
9. Now something exotic: Uus-Meremaa means what country in English?

Answer: New Zealand

Again a direct translation: Uus = New, and Meremaa = Zealand. It's almost at the other side of the earth from us, so if we start digging through the center point of the world, we can possibly reach there.
10. When we Estonians say "Läti", which country do we mean?

Answer: Latvia

I just can't make a test and leave our neighbours out of it. It sounds almost the same as Latvia, doesn't it? But their name for Estonia is Igaunija ... How are Russia, Finland and Lithuania are called in Estonian you all probably know by now. Hope you enjoyed the quiz.
Source: Author Zyxzewski

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/29/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us