Estonians

In the German language, Estonians are the inhabitants of Estonia who do not feel they belong to the ethnic or national group of Estonians . In addition, the term can also be used for all residents of Estonia regardless of ethnicity. The corresponding adjective is Estonian . The term is almost only used in a historical context, comparable to Russians as opposed to Russians .

In contrast to “foreigners”, the Estonians are autochthonous or at least “indigenous” population groups such as the Baltic Germans , the Estonian Swedes or historically resident Russians . Native Jews or Roma can also be called Estonians. The nationality does not matter.

The Estonian uses the phrase for Estonians eestimaalane while the Este as Eestlane is called.

Similar language formations in German, which linguistically separate the population from the eponymous ethnic group of the country, exist e.g. B. for Finnish vs. Finns , Latvians vs. Latvians , Livonians vs. Liven , Kurländer vs. Cures etc.