Kilo Lingo
Esperanto grammar Part of Chapter 3

CEFR A1-A2

4 min read

Test yourself (18 questions)

Esperanto Conversation Words: nu, do, ja, fakte, cetere

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 21 October 2026

Conversation runs on small words that carry no news. Esperanto has a short set of them, and none ever changes its ending. Learn the fifteen below and your replies stop sounding like a textbook.

WordEnglishUse it to
wellstart a reply, buy time
so, thenconclude, push
really, after allstress that it is true
here is, therehand over, point
, fineagree to a plan
?isn't it?, t you?ask for agreement
?really?doubt, show interest
of courseagree strongly
certainly, surelyagree
maybehedge
actually, in factcorrect or add the truth
by the way, besideschange the subject
namely, that issay exactly which
still, all the samego ahead despite it
consequentlyconclude, formally

Quick check

Now use it: three quick questions on the chart above. The full practice is further down.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Each sentence has one word an English speaker put there. Tap it.

Nu, do and ja

These three turn up in almost every conversation. opens a reply:

  • , . - Well, I t know.
  • ? ? - Well? What do you say?
  • . - Oh well, all right.

draws a conclusion, or puts a push into a command or a question:

  • , . - It's raining, so m staying at home.
  • ! - Come on, then!
  • ? - So what do you want?

stresses that something really is so, usually against a doubt. It goes right before the word it stresses ( , yes indeed, is the fixed exception):

  • ! - I did tell you!
  • . - Yes, indeed.

Agreeing and doubting

From doubt to certainty, the everyday steps are these:

UnsureSure
  1. eble: maybe
  2. certe: certainly
  3. kompreneble: of course
WordExampleEnglish
.Maybe ll come.
, .Certainly, ll help you.
!Of course!
, ., let's go.
? , ?You' tired, aren't you?
? ? ?She came? Really?

Several of these are ordinary words with the adverb ending -e, which is why they never change:

the word-class endingWhat do the colours mean?
Root wordConversation wordEnglish
, fine
certainly
really
actually
maybe

is built the same way: (to understand) plus -- (able to be) plus -e. Understandably, which is to say of course.

Adding and correcting

These steer the talk. corrects or adds the real situation; changes the subject, like by the way:

WordExampleEnglish
, .Actually, I t got time.
, Karlo?By the way, where is Karlo?
, .Besides, it's too big.
, Karlo Berta.Two are coming, namely Karlo and Berta.
.At least it isn't raining.

(besides, on top of that) is plus -e, and is at least.

Turning and concluding: tamen, do, sekve

says you go ahead despite what was just said. It can open the sentence or follow the word it qualifies:

  • . . - m tired. All the same, ll come.
  • , . ! - No, I t need help. Thanks anyway!

For so in speech, say . means the same, consequently, and sounds like a report:

  • , . - The road is long; consequently, we will leave early.

Feelings: ho, ha, aĥ, ve, fi, ek

These stand outside the sentence, before a comma or an exclamation mark.

EsperantoEnglish
, !Oh, there you are!
! !Ha! found it!
, !Ah, I forgot!
! !Oh no! The door!
!Woe is me!
! a!Ugh! How ugly!
, !Right, off we go!

is the everyday oh no; alone is the old-fashioned alas. is the prefix that starts an action (, to cry out), used on its own as go! More sounds, and how they become verbs, in interjections and sound words.

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
, ., .hesitant well is
. .so is ; is in that way
, ., . means currently
! ! is already said; I did say is
??the tag is ?, in full ?

What to do next

  1. Answer your next three questions in Esperanto with first.
  2. Add ? to one sentence a day.
  3. Next time you hear Esperanto spoken, count the s.

See also

Practise: test yourself

Complete the story

0/4

Choose the word that fits each gap in the conversation.

Coming tonight?

«Ĉu vi venos hodiaŭ vespere?» «, mi ne scias. Mi havas multe da laboro.» «Sed vi venis pasintan fojon, ĉu ?» «Jes. , mi venos, sed nur por unu horo.» «Bone! Venu !»

Gap 1 of 4

Sort into groups

0/6

What does each word do in a conversation?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Spot the mistake

0/4

Each sentence has one word an English speaker put there. Tap it.

Pick the right one

0/4

Pick the word that says what the English says.

  1. Oh no! (something bad has happened)

  2. Here's your book.

  3. You're coming, aren't you?

  4. Thanks anyway!

Chapters 1 and 2 free

This article is one lesson in a whole course

Every grammar point has its own article and drill, and the course wraps them in graded stories, games and printable worksheets, in the order you need them.

Chapters 1 and 2 free, forever. Plus: 7 days free, then $5 a month for all eleven languages.

Start learning free

Esperanto · Free printables

Practice worksheets and infographics

Practice worksheets with answer keys built in, plus infographic and listicle formats. Open any one to view, print or save.

Free for members

The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.

Start your free week

Related grammar

Frequently asked questions

What does mean in Esperanto?
is well, the word that opens a reply and buys you a second: , (well, I t know). Said alone, with a rising voice, it pushes for an answer: ? (well? go on, then). is oh well, all right.
What is the difference between do and in Esperanto?
In conversation you want do. It means so or then, draws a conclusion (, do ) and adds a push to a command or a question ( do!, do ?). means for that reason, the answer to , and links a cause to its result; do is the lighter, everyday so that draws a conclusion.
What does mean in Esperanto?
stresses that something is true, often against a doubt: (I did tell you). It sits right before the word it stresses. is yes indeed. Do not confuse it with jam, already: is I already know.
How do you say actually and by the way in Esperanto?
Actually, in the sense of in fact, is : , (actually, I t got time). By the way is : , Karlo? Do not use for actually: means currently, the same false friend that trips speakers of English in several European languages.
How do you say oh no in Esperanto?
! on its own is woe or alas, and with ho in front it is the everyday oh no. is a sigh of regret or longing (, , oh, I forgot), and is disgust or shame: !, shame on you!