täishäälikud

Täishäälikud are vowel sounds in the Estonian language. Estonian has a total of nine distinct vowel phonemes, which are traditionally divided into front and back vowels, and rounded and unrounded vowels. The nine täishäälikud are a, e, i, o, u, õ, ä, ö, and ü. These vowels can be further distinguished by their height (open, mid, or closed) and backness (front, central, or back).

The front vowels are ä, ö, and ü, which are produced with the tongue positioned towards the front of the mouth. Back vowels include a, o, and u, where the tongue is positioned towards the back. The vowel õ is a central vowel. Rounded vowels are ö, ü, o, and u, meaning the lips are rounded during their production. Unrounded vowels are a, e, i, õ, and ä, where the lips are unrounded.

Estonian also distinguishes between short and long vowels. While the written form often uses double letters for long vowels (e.g., aa, ee, ii), the distinction is primarily phonemic, meaning it affects the meaning of a word. For instance, 'tuli' (fire) has a short 'u', while 'tuuli' (winds) has a long 'uu'. The length of vowels is crucial for understanding and speaking Estonian correctly. The nine täishäälikud form the basis of Estonian vowel harmony and play a significant role in its phonology and morphology.