This is because it is a very old word. Its behavioural logic as a word in sentences is different, because it is so old. The verb “meeldima” builds on top of the abstract noun “meel.” According to the Estonian etymological dictionary that explains the origin of words, “meel” is a Finno-Permic word. The “Finno” part means that the same word with approximately the same meaning occurs in the closest related languages to Estonian which are or were spoken on the shores of the Baltic Sea 4,000 years ago. But not only there. Permic languages, such as Udmurt and Komi, also have the same word. These languages are spoken in Northern Siberia. It is estimated that the paths of Permic and Finnic people diverged about 5,000 years ago, so the common words in these languages must be at least that many years old.
So pretty much everything that has to do with human senses and thought processes can be covered with the derivatives of the word “meel.”
The meaning of the word “meel” in those ancient languages is related to inner human “software,” so to speak. “Meel” can mean thinking, senses, wits, wishes, attitude, or memory, but Votic people have also used it to refer to the human soul. So pretty much everything that has to do with human senses and thought processes can be covered with the derivatives of the word “meel.” Pea meeles!
Excuse me, what was that last phrase? Again, it’s very difficult to translate. The straightforward equivalent of “Pea meeles” in English would be “remember.” If we are to break that Estonian expression into pieces and look for the origin of these parts, we get the imperative form “pea,” from the verb “pidama,” which means to hold or keep, and “meeles,” which means “inside the mind,” where “meel” means mind.
So when you are told to remember something in Estonian, it’s actually a suggestion to collect something important and store it inside your mind long-term.
Pea meeles! Remember! When you are using expressions like “Väga meeldiv!” or “Sa meeldid mulle!”, you speak with words that are thousands of years old. If that isn’t cool, I don’t know what is.
Kadri Tüür is currently the instructor of Estonian language and culture at the University of Toronto and continues her series of language columns explaining some common Estonian phrases used in everyday communication. Together, in Eesti Elu / Estonian Life newspaper, we dig down to the roots of some weird Estonian language logic!
