The famous constructed language Esperanto first appeared in Russian Poland in 1887, the product of a Polish-Jewish opthalmologist and amateur linguist, Dr. Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof. Dr. Zamenhof hoped that the worldwide adoption of a neutral international language would ease ethnic tensions and enable people of widely differing backgrounds to communicate with each other. The name of the language means "one who hopes." Esperanto is not officially aligned with any particular country or ethnic group; indeed, one can find Esperanto speakers in well over 100 countries around the world. Pasporta Servo , a hospitality service for Esperanto speakers, includes more than 1,300 addresses in almost ninety different countries.
[edit ] Pronunciation guide Esperanto uses twenty-eight letters from the Roman alphabet. Its spelling is phonetic, each sound has a single letter and each letter represents a single sound, with no exceptions. The letters Q, W, X, and Y are not used. Five of the letters have a circumflex on top of them (ĉ ĝ ĥ ĵ ŝ) and one has a breve (ŭ). Esperanto speakers represent these letters in situations where the circumflex cannot be used (e.g. unformatted e-mail where only basic ASCII characters can be used) either by placing an "x" after the letter; placing an "h" after the letter (this is the method approved by Esperanto's creator, Dr. Zamenhof); or placing the circumflex itself (^) after the letter. On the Internet, most Esperantists use the "x" method, so that ĉ ĝ ĥ ĵ ŝ would be cx gx hx jx sx.
Words are always pronounced with the accent on the penultimate (next-to-last) syllable.
[edit ] Vowels a as in fa ther
e as in be t
i as in machi ne
o as in po rous
u as in hoo p
[edit ] Semi-Vowels ŭ w as in show er
j y as in y oga
[edit ] Consonants b as in b oy
c as ts in cats
ĉ as ch in ch urch (IPA :[tʃ] )
d as in d own
f as in f ood
g as in g ain
ĝ as j in j eep (IPA :[dʒ] )
h as in h ot
ĥ guttural as in Scottish loch , Spanish j , German bach or Arabic خ (IPA :[x] )
ĵ as s in meas ure (IPA :[ʒ] )
k as in sk ip
l as in l ook
m as in m an
n as in n o
p as in sp in
r rolled as in Spanish or Italian
s as in s ome
ŝ as sh in sh e (IPA :[ʃ] )
t as in st op
v as in v an
z as in z oo
[edit ] Common diphthongs aŭ similar to cow ; (IPA :/au̯/ )
eŭ similar to wayw ard (IPA :/eu̯/ )
oj similar to joy (IPA :/oi̯/ )
aj similar to ai sle (IPA :/ai̯/ )
ej similar to pai n (IPA :/ei̯/ )
uj no equivalent, approximated to oo +y in too +y ou pronounced together. (IPA :/ui̯/ )
[edit ] Phrase list Modern Esperanto, like English, does not distinguish between polite & intimate forms of address (e.g. the Spanish "tú" and "usted" for the intimate and polite 2nd person singular, respectively). There is only one form used in the 2nd person, both singular and plural.
[edit ] Basics
Common signs
MALFERMITA Open
FERMITA Closed
ENIREJO Entrance
ELIREJO Exit
PUŜI Push
ELTIRO Pull
NECESEJO Toilet
VIROJ Men
VIRINOJ Women
MALPERMESITA Forbidden
Hello. Saluton. (sah-LOO-tohn )
How are you? Kiel vi fartas? (KEE-ehl vee FAHRR-tahs? )
Fine, thank you. Bone, dankon. (BOH-neh, DAN-kohn )
What is your name? Kiel vi nomiĝas? (KEE-ehl vee noh-MEE-jas? )
My name is ______ . Mi nomiĝas _____ . (mee nom-MEE-jas )
Nice to meet you. Estas plezuro renkonti vin. (or simply "Plezuro.") (EHS-tahs pleh-ZOO-roh rehn-KOHN-tee veen )
Please. Bonvolu. (Bohn-VOH-loo )
Thank you. Dankon. (DAHN-kohn )
You're welcome. Nedankinde. (neh-dahn-KEEN-deh ) (Lit. "Not worthy of thanks" )
Yes. Jes. (yehs )
No. Ne. (neh )
Excuse me. Pardonu min. (pahrr-DOH-noo meen )
I'm sorry. Mi bedaŭras. (mee beh-DOW-rrahs )
Goodbye Ĝis revido. (jees rreh-VEE-doh )
Bye. Ĝis. (jees )
I can't speak ______. Mi ne parolas ______. (mi neh pah-RROH-lahs )
Do you speak English? Ĉu vi parolas la anglan? (choo vee pah-RROH-lahs lah AHN-glahn )
Is there someone here who speaks English? Ĉu estas iu ĉi tie, kiu parolas la anglan? (choo EH-stahs EE-yoo chee-TEE-eh KEE-oo pah-ROH-lahs lah AHN-glahn )
Help! Helpon! (HEL-pohn )
Good morning. Bonan tagon (bonan matenon) (BOH-nahn TAH-gohn (mah-TEH-nohn) )
Good afternoon. Bonan posttagmezon. (BOH-nahn pohst-tahg-MEHZ-ohn )
Good evening. Bonan vesperon. (BOH-nahn vehs-PEH-rrohn )
Good night. Bonan nokton. (BOH-nahn NOHK-tohn )
Workers of the world, unite! Proletoj de ĉiuj landoj, unuiĝu! (pro-LEHT-oy de ch-EE-uy land-OY, uuh-nuh-EE-ju ))
I don't understand. Mi ne komprenas. (mee neh kohm-PRREH-nahs )
Where is the toilet? Kie estas la necesejo? (KEE-eh EH-stahs la neh-tseh-SAY-oh )
[edit ] Problems Leave me alone. Lasu min. (LAH-soo meen )
Don't touch me! Ne tuŝu min! (neh TOO-shoo meen! )
I'll call the police. Mi telefonos la policejon. (mee teh-leh-FOH-nohs lah poh-lee-TSEH-yohn )
Police! Policon! (poh-LEE-tsohn! )
Stop! Thief! Haltu! Ŝtelisto! (HAHL-too! shteh-LEE-stoh! )
I need your help. Mi bezonas vian helpon. (mee beh-ZOH-nahs VEE-ahn HEHL-pohn )
It's an emergency. Estas krizo. (EH-stahs KRREE-zoh )
I'm lost. Mi perdiĝas. (mee pehrr-DEE-jahs )
I lost my bag. Mi perdis mian valizon. (mee PEHRR-dees MEE-ahn vah-LEE-zohn )
I lost my wallet. Mi perdis mian biletujon/monujon. (mee PEHRR-dees MEE-ahn bee-leh-TOO-yohn/moh-NOO-yohn )
I'm sick. Mi malsanas. (mee mahl-SAH-nahs )
I've been injured. Mi vundiĝis. (mee voon-DEE-jees )
I need a doctor. Mi bezonas kuraciston. (mee beh-ZOH-nahs koo-rrah-TSEE-stohn )
Can I use your phone? Ĉu mi rajtas uzi vian telefonon? (choo mee RRAI-tahs OO-zee VEE-ahn teh-leh-FOH-nohn? )
[edit ] Numbers 0 nulo (NOO-loh )
1 unu (OO-noo )
2 du (DOO )
3 tri (TRRI )
4 kvar (KVARR )
5 kvin (KVIN )
6 ses (SES )
7 sep (SEP )
8 ok (OC )as in OCcasion
9 naŭ (NOW )
10 dek (DECK )
20 dudek (DOO-deck )
30 tridek (TRRI-deck )
100 cent (TSENT )
200 ducent (DOO-tsent )
1000 mil (MIL )
2000 du mil (DOO-mil )
1,000,000 miliono (mil-i-ON-o )
4,325 kvarmil tricent dudek kvin (KVARR-mil TRRI-tsent DOO-deck KVIN )
1,446,782 miliono, kvarcent kvardek ses mil, sepcent okdek du (mil-i-ON-o KVARR-deck SES MIL SEP-tsent OC-deck DOO )
2,000,000 du milionoj (DOO mil-i-ON-oy )
now nun (noon )
later poste (POHS-teh )
before antaŭe (an-TOWAY')
morning mateno (maht-TEH-noh )
afternoon posttagmezo (pohst-tahg-MEH-zo')
evening vespero (vehs-PEH-rroh')
night nokto (NOHK-toh')
[edit ] Clock time one o'clock AM je la unua horo matene (yeh lah oo-NOO-ah HOH-rroh mah-TEHN-eh )
two o'clock AM je la dua horo matene (yeh lah DOO-ah HOH-rroh mah-TEHN-eh )
noon tagmezo (tahg-MEH-zoh )
one o'clock PM je la unua horo posttagmeze (yeh lah oo-NOO-ah HOH-rroh pohst-tahg-MEH-zeh )
two o'clock PM je la dua horo posttagmeze (yeh lah DOO-ah HOH-rroh pohst-tahg-MEH-zeh )
two thirty PM je la dua kaj duono posttagmeze (yeh lah DOO-ah kigh doo-OH-noh pohst-tahg-MEH-zeh )
two nineteen PM je la dua kaj deknaŭ minutoj posttagmeze (yeh lah DOO-ah kigh DEHCK-now mee-NOOT-oy pohst-tahg-MEH-zeh )
midnight noktomezo (nohk-toh-MEH-zoh )
[edit ] Duration _____ minute(s) _____ minuto(j) (mee-NOOT-o[h/y] )
_____ hour(s) _____ horo(j) (HO-rro[h/y] )
_____ day(s) _____ tago(j) (TAH-go[h/y] )
_____ week(s) _____ semajno(j) (sehm-IGH-no[h/y] )
_____ month(s) _____ monato(j) (moh-NAHT-o[h/y] )
_____ year(s) _____ jaro(j) (YAH-rro[h/y] )
today hodiaŭ (hoh-DI-ow )
yesterday hieraŭ (hee-EH-rrow )
tomorrow morgaŭ (MOHRR-gow )
this week ĉi tiun semajnon (chee TEE-oon sehm-IGH-nohn )
last week pasintan semajnon (pahs-EEN-tahn sehm-IGH-nohn )
next week venontan semajnon (veh-NOHN-tahn sehm-IGH-nohn )
Sunday dimanĉo (dee-MAHN-choh )
Monday lundo (LOON-doh )
Tuesday mardo (MAHRR-doh )
Wednesday merkredo (mehrr-KRREH-doh )
Thursday ĵaŭdo (JOW-doh )
Friday vendredo (vehn-DRREH-doh )
Saturday sabato (sah-BAH-toh )
[edit ] Months January januaro (yahn-oo-AHRR-oh )
February februaro (fehb-oo-AHRR-oh )
March marto (MAHRR-toh )
April aprilo (ah-PRREE-loh )
May majo (MAY-oh )
June junio (yoo-NEE-oh )
July julio (yoo-LEE-oh )
August aŭgusto (ow-GOOS-toh )
September septembro (sehp-TEHM-brroh )
October oktobro (ohk-TOH-brroh )
November novembro (noh-VEHM-brroh )
December decembro (deh-TSEHM-brroh )
[edit ] Writing time and date Dates are written in day/month/year format. Ordinal numbers are written with an appended "-a" (1-a de januaro , unua de januaro , first of January).
[edit ] Colors black nigra (NEE-grra )
blue blua (BLOO-ah )
brown bruna (BRROO-nah )
gray/grey griza (GRR-eezah )
green verda (VEHRR-dah )
lime citronkolora (tsee-trrohn-koh-LOHRR-ah )
navy (blue) mariste blua (mah-RREES-teh BLOO-ah )
orange oranĝa (oh-RRAHN-jah )
pink roza (RROH-zah ) / rozkolora (rrohz-koh-LOHRR-ah )
purple purpura (poorr-POOR-ah')
red ruĝa (ROO-jah )
turquoise turkiskolora (toorr-kees-koh-LORR-ah )
violet viola (vee-OH-lah') / violkolora ( vee-ohl-koh-LORR-ah)
white blanka (BLAHN-kah )
yellow flava (FLAH-vah )
[edit ] Transportation [edit ] Bus and Train How much is a ticket to _____? Kiom kostas bileto al _____? (KEE-ohm KOHS-tahs bee-LEHT-oh al _____? )
One ticket to _____, please. (bus, train) Mi volus bileton al _____. (mee VOH-loos bee-LEHT-ohn al _____? )
Where does this train/bus go? Kie ĉi tiu trajno/aŭtobuso iras? (KEE-eh chee TEE-oo trray-noh/ow-toh-BOOS-oh EE-rras? )
Where is the train/bus to _____? Kie estas la trajno/aŭtobuso al _____? (KEE-eh EHS-tahs lah trray-noh/ow-toh-BOOS-oh al _____? )
Does this train/bus stop in/at _____? Ĉu tiu trajno/aŭtobuso haltas en/ĉe _____? (choo TEE-oo trray-noh/ow-toh-BOOS-oh HAHL-tahs ehn/cheh _____? )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave? Kiam la trajno/aŭtobuso por _____ lasos? (KEE-ahm lah trray-noh/ow-toh-BOOS-oh pohrr _____ LAHS-ohs? )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____? Kiam tiu trajno/aŭtobuso alvenos en _____? (KEE-ahm TEE-oo trray-noh/ow-toh-BOOS-oh ahl-VEHN-ohs ehn _____? )
[edit ] Directions How do I get to______? Kiel mi povas atingi ______? (KEE-ehl mee POH-vahs ah-TEEN-ghee ______? )
...the train station? ...la trajno stacio (lah TRRAY-noh stah-TSEE-oh )
...the bus station? ...la aǔtobuso stacio (lah ow-toh-BOOS-oh stah-TSEE-oh )
...the airport? ...la aerohaveno (la ah-ehrroh-hah-VEHN-oh )
...downtown? ...urbocentro (oorr-boh-TSEN-trroh )
...the youth hostel? ...la junularogastejo (lah yoo-noo-lah-rroh-gahs-TEY-yoh )
...the _____ hotel? ... la ______ hotelo (lah ______ hoh-TEH-loh'?')
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? ...la Usono/Kanada/Aǔstralia/Brita konsulejo (lah oo-SOH-noh/kah-NAH-dah/ow-strrah-LEE-ah/BRREE-tah kohn-soo-LEH-yoh? )
Where are there a lot of... Kie estas multaj? (KEE-eh EHS-tahs MOOL-tigh'?')
...hotels? ...hoteloj (hoh-TEHL-oy? )
...restaurants? ...restoracioj (rrehs-tohrr-ah-TSEE-oy? )
...bars? ...trinkejoj (trreenk-EH-yoy? )
...sites to see? ...ejoj vidi (AY-yoy VEE-dee )
Can you show me on the map? Vi povas montras min sur la mapo? (vee POH-vahs MOHN-trras meen soorr lah MAH-poh? )
street strato (STRRAH-toh )
Turn left. Turni maldekstra. (TOORR-nee mahl-DEHKS-trrah. )
Turn right. Turni dekstra. (TOORR-nee DEHKS-trrah. )
left maldekstra (mahl-DEHKS-trrah )
right dekstra (DEHKS-trrah )
straight ahead rektaantaŭa (rrehk-tah-ahn-TOW-ah )
towards the _____ al la ______ (ahl lah ______ )
past the _____ preter la ______ (PRREH-terr lah ______ )
before the _____ antaǔ la ______ (AHN-tow lah )
Watch for the _____. Rigard al la ______. (RREE-gahrrd al lah ______ )
intersection stratkruciĝo (strraht-krroo-TSEE-joh )
north nordo (NOHRR-doh )
south sudo (SOO-doh )
east oriento (ohrri-EHN-toh')
west okcidento (ohk-tsee-DEHN-toh )
Taxi! Taksio! (TAHK-sio )
Take me to _____, please. Konduk min al ______, bonvolu. (KOHN-dook meen ahl ______, bohn-VOH-loo )
How much does it cost to get to ______? Kiom estas la kosto atingi al ______? (KEE-ohm EHS-tahs lah KOH-stoh ah-TEEN-gi ahl ______? )
Take me there, please. Okupi min tie, bonvolu. (oh-KOOP-ee meen TEE-eh, bohn-VOH-loo. )
[edit ] Lodging [edit ] Eating fruit (pl.) fruktoj (..)
apple pomo (..)
banana banano (..)
pineapple ananaso (..)
vegetables legomoj (..)
broccoli brokolo (..)
carrot karoto (..)
potato terpomo (..)
[edit ] Dietary requirements Dietary requirements. Dietaj bezonaĵoj. (..)
I am a... Mi estas... (mee EST-ahs)
...vegetarian. ...vegetarano. (veh-geh-tah-RRAH-noh)
...vegan. ...vegetalano. (veh-geh-tah-LAH-noh) / ...vegan. (veh-GAH-noh)
... coeliac. ...celiakiulo. (..)
I don't eat... Mi ne manĝas... (mee neh MAHN-jahs)
...meat. ...viandon. (vee-AHN-dohn)
...fish. ...fiŝaĵon. (fee-SHAH-zhohn)
...seafood. ...marmanĝaĵon. (..)
...eggs. ...ovaĵon. (oh-VAH-zhohn)
...dairy products. ...laktaĵon. (lahk-TA-zhohn)
...gluten. ...glutenon. (..)
...wheat products. ...tritikaĵojn.
...nuts. ...nuksojn. (..)
...peanuts. ...arakidojn. (..)
...soy products. ...sojaĵon. (..)
Bars trinkejoj (trreenk-EH-yoy )
Do you serve alcohol? Vi servas alkoholo? (vee SEHRR-vahs ahl-koh-HOL-oh )
Is there table service? Estas tablo servo? (EHS-tahs TAHB-loh SEHRR-voh )
A beer/two beers, please. Biero/Du bieroj, bonvolu. (bee-EH-rroh/doo bee-EH-rroy, bohn-VOH-loo )
A glass of red/white wine, please. Glaso da ruĝa/blanka vino, bonvolu. (GLAH-soh dah RROO-jah/BLAHN-kah VEE-noh, bohn-VOH-loo )
A pint, please. Pajnto, bonvolu.
A bottle, please. Botelo, bonvolu. (boh-TEH-loh bohn-VOH-loo )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. ______ kaj ______, bonvolu (______ kigh ______, bohn-VOH-loo )
whiskey viskio (vees-KEE-oh )
vodka vodko (VOHD-koh )
rum rumo (RROO-moh )
water akvo (AHK-voh )
club soda seltersakvo (sehl-tehrr-SAHK-voh )
tonic water tonikakvo (toh-neek-AHK-voh )
orange juice oranĝo suko (oh-RRAN-joh SOO-koh )
Coke (soda) koakso/CocaCola (koh-AHK-soh/koh-kah-KOH-lah )
Do you have any bar snacks? Vi havas baromanĝet? (vee HAH-vahs bah-rroh-MAHN-jeht )
One more, please. Una plia, bonvolu. (OO-nah PLEE-ah bohn-VOH-loo )
Another round, please. Alia rondo, bonvolu. (ah-LEE-ah RROHN-doh, bohn-VOH-loo )
When is closing time? Kiam estas fermtempomezur? (KEE-ahm EHS-tahs fehrrm-tehm-poh-MEHZ-oor )
Cheers! Huraas!/Je via sano! (Lit. To your health) (hoorr-AH-ahs/yeh VEE-ah SAH-noh )
[edit ] Shopping Do you have this in my size? Vi havas ĉi tiu en mia grandeco? (vee HAH-vahs chee TEE-oo ehn MEE-ah grrahn-DEHTS-oh )
How much is this? Kiom da ĉi tio estas? (KEE-ohm dah chee TEE-oh EHS-tahs )
That's too expensive. Tio estas tro altekosta. (TEE-oh EHS-tahs trroh ahl-teh-KOHS-tah )
Would you take _____? Vius okupas ______? (VEE-oos oh-KOOP-ahs ______ )
expensive kara (KAH-rrah )
cheap malkara (mahl-KAH-rrah )
I can't afford it. Mi ne povas pagi la koston de ĝi. (mee neh POH-vahs PAH-gee lah KOHS-tohn deh jee )
I don't want it. Mi ne povas ĝin. (mee neh POH-vahs jeen )
You're cheating me. Vi estas fraŭdanta mi. (vee EHS-tahs frrow-DAHN-tah mee )
I'm not interested. Mi ne interesita. (mee neh een-tehrr-ehs-EET-ah )
OK, I'll take it. Konsenite, mi aĉetos ĝin. (kohn-sehn-EET-eh, mee ah-CHEH-tohs jeen )
Can I have a bag? Mi povas havas sakon? (mee POH-vahs HAH-vahs SAHK-ohn )
Do you ship (overseas)? Vi perŝipas (eksterlanden)? (vee pehr-SHEE-pahs (ehk-stehrr-LAHN-dehn) )
I need... Mi bezonas... (mee beh-ZOHN-ahs )
...toothpaste. ...dentpasto. (dehnt-PAHS-toh )
...a toothbrush. ...dentbroso. (dehnt-BRROH-soh )
...tampons. ...tamponoj. (tahm-POHN-oy )
...soap. ...sapo. (SAH-poh )
...shampoo. ...ŝampuo. (shahm-POO-oh )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) ...dolortrankviligno. (doh-lohrr-trrahnk-veel-EEG-noh )
...cold medicine. ...malvarmumkuracilo. (mahl-vahrr-moom-koorr-ahts-EEL-oh )
...stomach medicine. ...stomakkuracilo. (stoh-mahk-koorr-ahts-EEL-oh )
...a razor. ...razilo. (rraz-EEL-oh )
...an umbrella. ...pluvombrelo. (ploov-ohm-BRREH-loh )
...sunblock lotion. ...sunbrunŝmiraĵo. (soon-brroon-shmeer-AH-joh )
...a postcard. ...poŝtkarto. (pohsht-KAHRR-toh )
...postage stamps. ...poŝtmarkoj. (pohsht-MAHRR-koy )
...batteries. ...baterioj. (bah-tehrr-EE-oy )
...writing paper. ...skribpapero. (skrreeb-PAHP-ehrroh )
...a pen. ...skriboplumo. (skrreeb-PLOO-moh )
...English-language books. ...Anglalingvaj libroj. (ahng-lah-LEENG-vay LEEB-rroy )
...English-language magazines. ...Anglalingvaj revuoj. (ahng-lah-LEENG-vay rrehv-OO-oy )
...an English-language newspaper. ...Anglalingva gazeto. (ahng-lah-LEENG-vah gah-ZEH-toh )
...an English-Esperanto dictionary. ...Anglaesperanta Vortaro. (ahng-lah-ehs-pehrr-AHN-tah voh-TAH-rroh)
[edit ] Driving [edit ] Authority
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