South Estonian, or Võro-Seto, is a Finnic language spoken in south-eastern Estonia, encompassing the Tartu, Mulgi, Võro and Seto dialects.

After Estonia gained independence in 1918, the standardized Estonian language policies were implemented further throughout the country.

The ban on the instruction and the use of South Estonian dialects in schools continued during the Soviet occupation (1940–1990).

[5] A modernized literary form founded on the Võro dialect of South Estonian has been sanctioned.

[6][7] The extant varieties of the South Estonian language area are Mulgi, Tartu, Võro and Seto.

Ni saatku-i meid joht kiusatusõ sisse, a pästäq meid ärq kur’ast, selle et sino perält om riik ja vägi ni avvustus igävädses aos.

Sinu tahtmine sündigu, nagu taevas, nõnda ka maa peal.

[13] Under the influence of the European liberal-oriented nationalist movement it was felt that there should be a unified Estonian language.

[citation needed] The beginning of the 20th century saw a period for the rapid development of the northern-based variety.

Today, South Estonian is used in the works of some of Estonia's most well-known playwrights, poets, and authors.

[14] Language sample of modern literary (Võro) South Estonian: Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Kõik inemiseq sünnüseq vapos ja ütesugumaidsis uma avvo ja õiguisi poolõst.