Ch 21 · Lesson 15Esperanto · Chapter 21 · Lesson 15 · Grammar primer
Saluton to adiaŭ: greetings as speakers use them
among friends, with anyone, for the formal rung; for goodbye and only when you mean it. And which community words to use.
The short version
!
Why?Hide
, until, is the everyday goodbye, short for , and any time can follow it: , . is farewell, as if you do not expect to meet again. For hello, is safe with anyone, and is the chatty form among friends.
krokodilu - !
Why?Hide
To is to speak your own language at an Esperanto gathering, and the community uses the word with a grin rather than a lecture. Joke cousins exist, such as aligatori (speaking a language native to others, not to you), but only is in every speaker's mouth.
Spoken runs on a short greeting ladder and three small habits. is safe with anyone, is the everyday goodbye, and one turns any statement into a question: , ? is you are coming, aren't you?
| Say | When |
|---|---|
! | hi: friends, chat |
! | hello: anyone, any time |
! | good day: formal |
! | bye: the everyday goodbye |
! | goodbye, in full |
! | farewell: it sounds final |
..., ? | isn't it? the one |
, ... | well... (while you think) |
... | so, then |
Saying hello
- Sal’!friends, chat
- Saluton!anyone
- Bonan tagon!a shop, an office
is the default: you cannot go wrong with it. Many younger speakers clip it to among friends and in chat, the way English clips hello to hi. The formal rung changes with the time of day:
| Greeting | English |
|---|---|
! | Good morning! |
! | Good day! |
! | Good evening! |
! | Good night! (at bedtime: a goodbye) |
Every one of them ends in -n, because each is the object of an unspoken wish: (I wish you) a good day. The adjective agrees, so it takes -n too:
!- Good day!!- Hello! (a greeting)
The full story is in greetings. Then the question everyone asks:
?- How are you? (is to fare, to get on)
Saying goodbye
- Ĝis!bye
- Ĝis la revido!goodbye
- Adiaŭ!farewell
is a preposition, until. is until the seeing-again, and plain ! is the everyday goodbye. Put any time after it:
!- See you tomorrow!!- See you soon!!- See you on Monday!
is the one English speakers reach for, because it looks like the textbook word. It is farewell: it sounds as if you do not expect to meet again. Say unless you mean it.
Use it, or just recognise it
The Esperanto community has its own words, and they are not all for every situation. The slang article tells their stories; this is when to say them:
| Word | Means | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| speak your own language at an event | use: everyone knows it |
| the feel of a gathering | use freely |
| cool, great | use with younger speakers |
| fellow | formal: letters, speeches |
| the world | warm, a little ceremonial |
kabei | quit the movement for good | recognise |
aligatori, kajmani | joke cousins of | recognise only |
, a person of the same idea, belongs in a letter or a speech, as letter writing and register shows. In a group chat people say , or your name.
krokodilu!-t crocodile! (Speak Esperanto!)
Going further: Ĉu ne?: one tag for every sentence and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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9-question session
One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
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