Välisriigis

Välisriigis is an Estonian term that denotes being inside a foreign country. It is the inessive singular form of välisriik, literally meaning “in a foreign state.” The word expresses location or situation outside Estonia and is commonly used in contexts involving travel, work, study, or residence abroad. The corresponding plural noun for foreign countries is välisriigid, and the inessive plural form is välisriikides (“in foreign countries”).

Välisriigis is used with verbs of location and activity: Ma olen välisriigis (I am abroad), Ta töötab välisriigis (He is working abroad), Me elame välisriigis (We live abroad). It answers questions about where something happens or where someone is staying, typically focusing on being inside a foreign country rather than simply traveling.

In everyday Estonian, there are related ways to express broader or less specific notions of being abroad. For example, välismaal is commonly used as an adverb meaning “abroad” or “in foreign parts,” often without specifying a particular country. Välismaa, a noun, refers to a foreign country or foreign lands in a more general sense. The choice between välisriigis, välisriikides, and related terms depends on whether the speaker wants to emphasize location within a specific foreign country or a general sense of being abroad.

Overall, välisriigis is a neutral, location-focused term used to describe activities or presence inside a foreign country, typically in the first person or third-person statements about residence or work abroad.