Estonian offers many words for idlers and hard workers

Estonian has a rich vocabulary for describing both lazy people and those who work hard, ERR’s Vikerraadio reported in a language column by Kristina Koppel.

A person who avoids work and responsibilities can be called a laiskvorst, looder, lohe or logard. The word päevavaras, meaning “day thief”, is also often used. It entered Estonian as a loan translation from the German Tagedieb.

The expression seanahka vedama has given rise to the words seanahavedaja and, in shorter form, nahavedaja. A lazy person may also be called a siidivedaja or siidivend. Other colourful terms include loodrinahk, lullilööja, logask, logamus, looderdaja, logeleja, laiskloom and laisik.

There are also numerous terms for a diligent and active person, including töömesilane, tööhobune and töökaru. Someone who works particularly hard can be called a töörügaja or töömurdja. A person who takes this even further may be described as a tööhüll, or workaholic, as well as a töödik or rühkli. Someone who is addicted to working can be called a töönarkomaan or töösõltlane.

Koppel notes that these words can give the impression that people fall into two groups: those who shirk work and those who work relentlessly. In reality, most people are somewhere in between, and the important thing is to keep work and rest in balance.