Step by Step in Esperanto

4. In English we accent (or stress) sometimes the last syllable (cockatoo), sometimes the last but one (tomato), sometimes a syllable two or more from the end (syllable, dromedary, literature). In Esperanto every vowel counts as one syllable, and every word is accented on the last syllable but one. Thus: ka-ka-tu-o, to-ma-to, si-la-bo, dro-me-da-ro, li-te-ra-tu-ro. The words historio (history) and harmonio (harmony) have therefore four syllables each, and you must accent the i in io.

5. How many syllables are there in balau, heroo, Isaako, lilio, opinio, tiea, kie, tieulo? Underline the accented vowel, and read the words aloud.

Never mind what they mean.

The Words “a”, “an”

6. These words are not translated.

Floro = flower, or, a flower.

Afero = affair, or, an affair.

Ovo = (an) egg.

Pronunciation Exercise

7. Read the following words with correct pronunciation and accent, and translate them into English. You can safely guess the meanings of most words in the next page or two (see “Roots”).

Sound every “r” clearly. Pronounce “s” as in kiss, and “z” as in buzz.

Watch your vowels. Thus, pronounce luno (moon) loo-no, not lew-no; pronounce birdo (a bird) beer-do, not ber-do.

Be especially careful with the accent in words ending with ‑io.

8. mato tablo letero familio telefono vazo lampo botelo plezuro telegramo suno nesto butero ombrelo individuo glaso monto persono omnibuso entuziasmo aero idealo teatro idioto boato poemo heroo

The Letter «k»

9. In Esperanto the sound k is always written k, and not, as in English, either k (kill), c (cat), ch (chaos), ck (tack) qu (conquer), or cqu (lacquer)!

sako korko muziko sekreto krokodilo fakto kremo kandelo konflikto konduktoro

The Noun-Ending «o»

10. All these words end with o. They are all “nouns” (names of things).

One thing I would have you know:
Every noun must end with O.

The main part of the word (e.g., kork, sekret), is the “root”; the final “o” is a “grammatical ending”.

The Names of the Letters

11. It is well to speak of each letter by its proper name. Every vowel is named by its own sound, and every consonant by its sound plus o. Thus: taso (cup), is spelled aloud to ah so o; lakto (milk), lo ah ko to o; luno (moon), lo oo no o.

12. Ekzameno. Which Esperanto letters are silent? Give an English phrase illustrating the Esperanto vowel-sounds. How are syllables counted in Esperanto? Where does the accent lie in the word opinio (opinion)? Why? What is a noun? What is the noun-ending in Esperanto? What is the Esperanto for the words a, an? Which rules in Esperanto have exceptions? Name the Esperanto vowels. Spell teo, kafo, kakao (cocoa), Esperanto, entuziasmo, using the Esperanto names of the letters. Which part of these words is the root?

«Estas»

13. Rozo estas floro, A rose ts a flower. Tempo estas mono, time is money. (You would not say Rose is flower, or A time is money!) (6). Silento estas konsento.

14. (a) Modelo: Hundo estas BESTO (A dog is an animal) — Kato (elefanto, kamelo, leono, leopardo, muso, rato, tigro) estas besto.

(b) Pasero estas BIRDO (A sparrow is a bird). — Aglo, kakatuo, kanario, koko (cock), pelikano, vulturo.

(c) Tulipo estas FLORO.—Anemono, dalio, konvolvulo, lilio, peonio, violo.

(d) Pomo estas FRUKTO (An apple is a fruit). — Banano, figo, limono, melono, olivo, piro (pear).

(e) Fluto estas INSTRUMENTO. — Gitaro, harpo, mandolino, orgeno, piano, trumpeto, violono.

(f) Usono (The U.S.A.) estas LANDO. — Irlando, Kanado, Nederlando, Palestino, Skotlando.

(g) Londono estas URBO. — Berlino, Dublino, Edinburgo, Leningrado, Madrido, Parizo, Romo, Stokholmo, Vieno.

(h) Ameriko estas KONTINENTO. — Azio, Afriko.

(i) Tamizo (The Thames) estas RIVERO. — Amazono, Nilo.

«Kaj»