Esperanto’s grammar is famously regular, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely brainless. Here’s how to avoid the most common facepalm moments.
1. The -N is Not Optional (Most of the Time)
That little -n at the end of words isn’t just decorative. It marks the accusative case, which tells you what’s being acted upon. Forget it, and you’ll sound like a caveman.
Akuzativo
[akuzaˈtivo]“Accusative case”
2. Adjectives Must Match (No Exceptions)
In English, you can get away with lazy adjective-noun mismatches. In Esperanto, you can’t. If the noun is plural, the adjective must be too. If the noun has an -n, the adjective gets one too.
- Correct: "La granda hundo" (The big dog)
- Correct: "La grandaj hundoj" (The big dogs)
- Wrong: "La granda hundoj" (The big-singular dogs-plural? Nope.)
3. Don’t Overcomplicate Verb Tenses
Esperanto has exactly three tenses: past (-is), present (-as), future (-os). No perfect continuous conditional subjunctive nonsense. Use them. Love them.
| Tense | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past | -is | Mi manĝis (I ate) |
| Present | -as | Mi manĝas (I eat) |
| Future | -os | Mi manĝos (I will eat) |
4. Correlatives: The Cheat Sheet You Need
Esperanto’s correlatives (words like 'kio', 'tio', 'ĉio') follow a logical grid. Memorise the system, and you’ll never fumble for 'what' or 'where' again.
5. Stop Translating Word-for-Word
Esperanto isn’t just English with -oj and -aj slapped on. Sentences like "Mi estas iranta al la butiko" (I am going to the shop) sound awkward. Just say "Mi iras al la butiko".
For more practical phrases, check out our guide on Esperanto for travellers.
6. Learn the Common Prefixes/Suffixes
Why learn 10 words when you can learn one root and modify it? Mal- turns things into opposites (bona = good, malbona = bad). -ej- marks a place (lerni = to learn, lernejo = school).
- mal- = opposite (ami = to love, malami = to hate)
- -ej- = place (kuiri = to cook, kuirejo = kitchen)
- -et- = small (domo = house, dometo = cottage)
7. Yes, You Have to Learn the Accent Rules
Every word in Esperanto is stressed on the second-to-last syllable. Misplace the stress, and you’ll sound like a confused tourist. "Esperánto" is wrong. "EspeRANto" is right.
For more on pronunciation quirks in other languages, see our guide on mastering Czech pronunciation.
