Enkomputiligis Don HARLOW

ESPERANTO COURSE FOR BEGINNERS

by J. J. Sussmuth

LESSON 3

Pronounce c like ts in its, rats; never like s or k.

celo = aimdancas = dances
Decembro = Decembercent = hundred

The present tense of the verb always ends in -as. There is no distinction of person or number, except the noun or pronoun to which it refers.

mi estas = I am
li estas = he is
ŝi estas = she is
ĝi estas = it is
ni estas = we are
vi estas = you are
ili estas = they are
mi parolas, li parolas, kaj la viroj parolas = I speak, he speaks and the men speak

The infinitive form of the verb has the ending i. All verbs will hereafter be given in the infinitive form.

esti = to bekuri = to run
iri = to godormi = to sleep

Pronounce g like g in get; also before e and i.

genuo = kneetago = day
ganto = glovelegi = to read

Pronounce ĵ like s in pleasure.

ĵurnalo = journalĵeti = to throw
ne = no, not
li estas sana = he is well (healthy)
li ne estas sana = he is not healthy

The adverb ne is usually put before the verb, unless used to emphasize some other word.

sed = butalia = other another
ne li estas mia frato, sed la alia viro = not he is my brother, but the other man (is)

Pronounce ĥ like German or Scottish ch; the use of this sound is very rare.

eĥo = echomonaĥo = monk

The letter ŭ is pronounced as w in English and is used to form diphthongs. Pronounce like ow in how; ŭ like eyw in they were (but without the y sound).

hodiaŭ = todayEŭopo = Europe
baldaŭ = soonneŭtrala = neutral
= ornaŭ = nine

This concludes the pronunciation. All other letters: b d f h k l m n p r t v and z, are pronounced like in English. Esperanto has no q w x or y. There are no silent letters; each letter is pronounced fully.

knabo = boy (k'nabo)knoto = knot (nautical)
dimanĉo = Sundayĵaŭdo = Thursday
lundo = Mondayvendredo = Friday
mardo = Tuesdaysabato = Saturday
merkredo = Wednesdaysemajno = week
vetero = weatherlaca = tired
devi = oughtlaŭta = loud
brili = to shinekial = why
ankaŭ = alsoankoraŭ = yet, still

EXERCISE

Mi iras hodiaŭ.
Li ne iras hodiaŭ, sed la alia viro iras.
Vi aŭ mi, unu devas labori.
La knabo dormas; li estas mia frato.
Hodiaŭ estas dimanĉo.
La vetero estas agrabla kaj la suno brilas.
La sep tagoj de la semajno.
La eĥo estas tie tre laŭta.

I am neutral.
Today is Thursday.
Where is the other book?
It is not there.
Why are you tired?
I am not tired.
You are still young.
The boy is my brother.