This word list was pulled in large part from the Frekvencmorfemaro de Parolata Esperanto (List of Morpheme Frequency in Spoken Esperanto), an analysis of usage frequency in spoken Esperanto. That list revealed that 467 morphemes are enough to yield 95% comprehension in Esperanto, and that 564 words are enough to obtain 80% comprehension based on frequency of use. In most Indo-European languages, about 2000 words are necessary for this level of comprehension.
Here you are presented with a non-exhaustive list of root words in Esperanto. By means of agglutination from within this list, in line with the various part of speech endings, you can be extremely expressive in Esperanto. Reading Esperanto, you can break down the parts and use this list in order to understand compound words.
The table is below; you can also download this entire document for your personal reference here:
Contributed on 28 February 2002 to the public domain by Christopher Zervic, author.
| Esperanto Morpheme | Meaning |
|---|---|
| absolut | absolute |
| aĉ | suffix indicating dirtyness or contemptuousness |
| aĉet | purchase, buy |
| ad | suffix indicating continuousness |
| adres | address (location) |
| afer | affair, matter |
| afrik | Africa |
| ag | action, act |
| aĝ | age |
| aĵ | suffix indicating thing, manifestation |
| ajn | particle used with i- and ki- correlatives to create constructions such as whenever and anytime |
| akcept | accept |
| akv | water |
| al | preposition to |
| ali | other |
| almenaŭ | at least |
| alt | height, tall |
| am | love |
| amas | mass, throng, en masse |
| amerik | the Americas |
| amik | friend |
| ampleks | extensive |
| amuz | fun, amusement |
| an | suffix indicating membership |
| angl | England |
| ankaŭ | also |
| ankoraŭ | still |
| anonc | announcement |
| anstataŭ | in stead of |
| ant | suffix indicating present action or actor |
| antaŭ | before |
| aparat | apparatus, machine |
| apart | separate |
| aper | appear |
| ar | suffix indicating collection |
| aranĝ | arrange |
| asoci | association (group) |
| aspekt | have an appearance |
| at | suffix indicating present passive |
| atend | wait |
| atent | attention |
| ating | attain |
| aŭ | conjunction or |
| aŭd | hear |
| aŭskult | listen |
| aŭtobus | bus |
| aŭt(omobil) | car |
| av | grandparent |
| banan | banana |
| batal | battle |
| baz | base, basis |
| bedaŭr | regret |
| bel | beautiful |
| bend | tape |
| bezon | need |
| bibliotek | library (edifice) |
| bild | picture |
| bilet | ticket |
| bird | bird |
| bon | good |
| botel | bottle |
| bulgar | Bulgaria |
| cel | aim, goal |
| cent | 100 |
| centr | center |
| cert | certain |
| ceter | remaining |
| cigared | cigarette |
| ĉambr | room |
| ĉar | conjunction because |
| ĉarm | charming, quaint |
| ĉe | preposition at |
| ĉef | boss, main |
| ĉeval | horse |
| ĉi | particle used with ti- correlatives to indicate nearness, like in here or this |
| ĉiam | correlative always |
| ĉin | China |
| ĉio | correlative everything |
| ĉirkaŭ | preposition around |
| ĉiu | each |
| ĉu | particle indicating yes or no question |
| da | preposition quantity of |
| dan | Denmark |
| dank | thank |
| daŭr | last (duration) |
| de | preposition of |
| debat | debate |
| decid | decide |
| deĵor | be on duty |
| dek | 10 |
| dekstr | right |
| delegaci | delegation |
| demand | ask |
| dev | be obligated |
| dezir | desire |
| diabl | devil |
| difin | define |
| dir | say, tell |
| dis | prefix indicating dispersion |
| diskriminaci | discriminate |
| diskut | discuss |
| divers | diverse |
| divid | divide, share |
| do | particle for so |
| dom | house |
| don | give |
| donac | gift |
| dorm | sleep |
| du | 2 |
| dum | preposition during |
| ebl | suffix indicating possibility |
| ec | suffix indicating abstract quality |
| eĉ | particle even |
| edz | spouse |
| eg | suffix indicating largeness |
| ej | suffix indicating location |
| ek | prefix indicating either beginning or suddenness |
| eks | prefix indicating former |
| ekskurs | excursion |
| ekster | preposition outside |
| ekzempl | example |
| ekzempler | individual copy |
| ekzist | exist |
| el | prounoun from out of |
| elekt | select |
| en | preposition in |
| entrepren | enterprise |
| er | suffix indicating piece |
| erinac | porcupine |
| esenc | essence |
| esper | hope |
| est | be |
| estr | suffix indicating leader |
| et | suffix indicating smallness |
| eŭrop | Europe |
| eventual | eventual |
| evolu | become evolved |
| facil | easy |
| fak | specialty |
| fakt | fact |
| fal | fall |
| famili | family |
| far | do, make |
| fart | fare |
| feliĉ | happy |
| ferm | close |
| festival | festival |
| film | film |
| fin | finish |
| finn | Finnland |
| firm | firm |
| fiŝ | fish |
| flank | side |
| flav | yellow |
| flor | flower |
| flug | fly |
| foj | time, occurrence |
| for | particle for away |
| forges | forget |
| form | form |
| fort | strong |
| fot | photograph |
| franc | France |
| frank | franc |
| frat | sibling |
| fraŭl | unmarried adult |
| fraz | sentence |
| frenez | crazy |
| fru | early |
| funkci | function |
| fuŝ | prefix indicating blunder |
| ge | prefix indicating mixed company |
| german | Germany |
| giĉet | cashier station |
| grad | grade |
| grand | big |
| gratul | congratulate |
| grav | important |
| grup | group |
| gvid | guide |
| ĝen | bother |
| ĝeneral | in a general sense |
| ĝi | pronoun it |
| ĝis | preposition until |
| ĝoj | joy |
| ĝust | correct |
| ha | interjection |
| hav | have |
| hebre | Hebrew |
| hejm | home |
| help | help |
| hieraŭ | yesterday |
| ho | interjection |
| hodiaŭ | today |
| hom | person |
| hor | hour, time of day |
| hotel | hotel |
| ia | correlative some kind of |
| iam | correlative sometime |
| ide | idea |
| ie | correlative somewhere |
| iel | correlative in some way |
| ig | suffix indicating transitivity, causation |
| iĝ | suffix indicating becoming |
| il | suffix indicating tool |
| ili | pronoun them |
| imag | image, imagine |
| in | suffix indicating female |
| ind | suffix indicating worthiness |
| infan | child |
| inform | inform, information |
| instru | teach |
| int | suffix indicating past action or actor |
| inteligent | intelligent |
| inter | preposition between, among |
| interes | interest |
| interpret | interpret |
| invit | invite |
| io | correlative something |
| iom | correlative some amount of |
| ir | go |
| iran | Iran |
| ist | suffix indicating professional or adherent |
| it | suffix indicating past passive |
| ital | Italy |
| iu | correlative someone |
| ja | indeed |
| jam | already |
| japan | Japan |
| jar | year |
| je | preposition (no fixed meaning) |
| jen | behold |
| jes | yes |
| jun | young |
| ĵet | throw |
| kaj | conjunction and |
| kamp | field |
| kant | sing |
| kapabl | capable |
| kapt | catch, capture |
| kar | dear |
| karot | carrot |
| kart | card |
| kaŝ | hide |
| kaz | case |
| ke | conjunction that |
| kelk | several |
| kia | correlative what kind of |
| kial | correlative why |
| kiam | correlative when |
| kie | correlative where |
| kiel | correlative how |
| kilo | kilo- |
| kio | correlative what thing |
| kiom | correlative how much |
| kiu | correlative who or which |
| klar | clear |
| klopod | take steps to achieve |
| knab | young person |
| kolor | color |
| komenc | begin |
| komision | commission |
| komitat | committee |
| kompetent | competent |
| komplet | complete |
| komplik | complicated |
| kompren | understand |
| kon | be familiar with |
| koncept | concept |
| koncern | in question |
| kongres | congress, conference |
| konkret | concrete |
| konkurs | contest |
| konsci | be conscious |
| konsent | agree |
| konserv | conserve |
| konsil | advise |
| konsili | council |
| konsist | consist |
| konstant | permanent |
| kontakt | contact |
| kontraŭ | preposition against |
| kontrol | check, look into |
| korb | basket |
| korespond | correspondence |
| kost | cost |
| kovr | cover |
| kred | believe |
| kresk | grow up |
| kri | shout |
| krokodil1 | crocodile |
| krokodil2 | use a national language where Esperanto would be appropriate |
| krom | preposition besides |
| kruel | cruel |
| kuir | cook |
| kuler | spoon |
| kultur | culture |
| kun | preposition with |
| kunikl | rabbit |
| kur | run |
| kutim | usual, custom |
| kvankam | conjunction although |
| kvar | 4 |
| kvazaŭ | conjunction as if, quasi- |
| kvin | 5 |
| la | article the |
| labor | work |
| lag | lake |
| lanĉ | launch |
| land | country |
| las | let go |
| last | last, most recent |
| laŭ | preposition according to |
| lav | wash |
| leg | read |
| lern | learn |
| lert | skilled |
| leter | letter of correspondence |
| lev | raise something up |
| li | pronoun he |
| liber | free |
| libr | book |
| lig | link, bind |
| lingv | language |
| list | list |
| lit | bed |
| liter | alphabetic glyph |
| literatur | literature |
| loĝ | reside |
| lok | location |
| long | long |
| lu | rent from |
| lud | play a game |
| mal | prefix indicating opposite |
| man | hand |
| manĝ | eat |
| manier | manner |
| mank | be lacking |
| map | map |
| mar | large body of salt water |
| mark1 | mark |
| mark2 | obsolete German currency |
| marŝ | walk |
| maŝin | machine |
| maten | morning |
| material | material |
| mem | self |
| membr | member |
| memor | remember, memory |
| met | put |
| mez | middle, average |
| mi | pronoun I, me |
| miks | mix |
| mil | 1000 |
| minimum | minimum |
| minut | minute = 60 seconds |
| mir | marvel |
| moment | moment |
| mon | money |
| monat | month |
| mond | world |
| mont | mountain |
| montr | show |
| morgaŭ | tomorrow |
| mov | move something |
| mult | multiple, many |
| naci | nation |
| naĝ | swim |
| nask | bear fruit |
| naŭ | 9 |
| ne | no |
| neces | necessary |
| nederland | Netherlands |
| neniam | correlative never |
| nenio | correlative nothing |
| neniu | correlative no one |
| nepr | mandatory |
| neŭtral | neutral |
| ni | pronoun us, we |
| nivel | level |
| nokt | night |
| nom | name |
| normal | normal |
| nov | new |
| nu | interjection |
| nud | naked |
| numer | number |
| nun | now |
| nur | merely, only |
| ofert | offer |
| oficial | official |
| oft | frequent |
| ok | 8 |
| okaz | happen |
| okcident | west |
| okup | occupy |
| ol | preposition than |
| on | suffix indicating number as denominator |
| oni | pronoun one |
| ont | suffix indicating future action or actor |
| opini | opine |
| ord | order (arrangement) |
| ordinar | ordinary |
| organiz | organize |
| orient | east |
| ov | egg |
| pag | pay |
| paĝ | page |
| paper | paper |
| pardon | pardon |
| parol | speak |
| part | part |
| pas | pass |
| paŝ | step |
| patr | parent |
| pend | hang |
| pens | think |
| per | preposition by means of |
| perd | lose |
| perfekt | perfect |
| period | period of time |
| persik | peach |
| person | person |
| pet | request |
| pied | foot |
| plaĉ | be pleasing |
| plan | plan |
| plank | floor |
| plej | particle indicating superlative |
| plen | full |
| pli | particle indicating comparative |
| plor | weep |
| plu | further |
| plur | plural |
| pokal | trophy cup |
| pom | apple |
| pont | bridge |
| popular | popular |
| por | preposition in order to |
| port | door |
| post | preposition after |
| postul | require |
| pov | be able to |
| prav | be morally right |
| precip | principal |
| preciz | precise |
| prefer | prefer |
| preleg | lecture |
| premi | prize |
| pren | take |
| prepar | prepare |
| preskaŭ | nearly |
| pret | ready |
| prez | price |
| prezent | present |
| prezid | preside |
| pri | preposition about, concerning |
| princip | principle |
| pro | preposition on account of |
| problem | problem |
| produkt | product, produce |
| profesi | professional |
| profesor | professor |
| program | program |
| proksim | close |
| propon | propose |
| protest | protest |
| protokol | minutes of a meeting |
| prov | try |
| publik | public |
| punkt | dot |
| pup | doll |
| pur | clean |
| rajt | right, entitlement |
| rakont | story, tell a story |
| rapid | fast, quick |
| raport | report |
| re | prefix indicating repetition |
| region | region |
| regul | rule, regulation |
| reklam | advertisement |
| rekomend | recommend |
| rekt | direct |
| relativ | relative |
| renkont | meet |
| respond | answer |
| rest | remain |
| riĉ | rich |
| ricev | receive |
| rid | laugh |
| rigard | look at |
| rilat | relation |
| rimark | notice |
| river | river |
| romp | break |
| rus | Russia |
| saĝ | wise |
| sal | salt |
| salon | sitting room |
| salt | jump |
| salut | greet |
| sam | same |
| sat | satiated |
| saŭn | suana |
| sci | know |
| scienc | science |
| se | conjunction if |
| sed | conjunction but |
| seg | saw |
| seks | sex |
| sekv | follow |
| semajn | week |
| sen | preposition without |
| senc | sensible |
| send | send |
| sent | feel |
| sep | 7 |
| serĉ | seek |
| seri | series |
| ses | 6 |
| si | pronoun reflexive to actor |
| sid | sit |
| signif | mean, signify |
| simil | similar |
| simpl | simple |
| simul | feign, simulate |
| sinjor | Mister |
| siren | siren |
| sistem | system |
| situaci | situation |
| skandinavi | Scandinavia |
| skatol | box |
| ski | ski |
| skrib | write |
| soci | society |
| sol | alone |
| solv | solution |
| sorĉ | perform wizardry or witchcraft |
| spec | type, species |
| special | special |
| specif | specific |
| spert | experience |
| spinac | spinach |
| star | standing |
| stat | state of being |
| statut | code of law |
| strat | street |
| struktur | structure |
| stult | stupid |
| sub | preposition under |
| sud | south |
| sufiĉ | suffice |
| suk | juice |
| sukces | succeed, success, successful |
| super | preposition above |
| supoz | suppose |
| supr | top |
| sur | preposition on |
| sved | Sweden |
| svis | Switzerland |
| ŝaf | sheep |
| ŝajn | seem |
| ŝanc | chance, luck |
| ŝanĝ | change |
| ŝat | like, appreciate |
| ŝi | pronoun she |
| ŝip | sea-going vessel |
| ŝir | tear, rip |
| ŝlos | lock |
| ŝtel | steal |
| tabl | table |
| tabul | board |
| tag | day |
| tajp | typewrite |
| tamen | nevertheless |
| task | task |
| te | tea |
| teatr | the theatrical art form |
| tekst | text |
| teler | plate |
| tem | theme, subject |
| temp | time |
| temperatur | temperature |
| ten | hold |
| teren | terrain, campus |
| terur | terrible |
| tia | correlative that kind of |
| tial | correlative for that reason |
| tiam | correlative then |
| tie | correlative there |
| tiel | correlative in that way |
| tim | fear |
| tio | correlative that |
| tiom | correlative so much |
| tiu | correlative that person |
| tra | preposition through |
| traduk | translate |
| trajn | train |
| trakt | handle, deal with |
| tranĉ | cut |
| trans | preposition across |
| tre | very much |
| tri | 3 |
| trink | drink |
| tro | too much |
| trov | find |
| tuj | immediately |
| tuk | napkin |
| tuŝ | touch |
| tut | entire, total |
| uj | suffix indicating container |
| ul | suffix indicating type of person |
| um | suffix (no fixed meaning) |
| universal | universal |
| universitat | university |
| unu | 1 |
| urb | municipality |
| uson | United States of America |
| util | useful |
| uz | use |
| valor | value |
| varm | warm |
| vast | vast |
| ven | come |
| vend | sell |
| venk | win |
| ver | true |
| verk | compose |
| vesper | evening |
| vest | clothing |
| veter | weather |
| vetur | take a trip |
| vi | pronoun you |
| vid | see |
| vin | wine |
| vir | man |
| viv | be alive |
| vizit | visit |
| voĉ | voice, vote |
| voj | way, path |
| vojaĝ | travel |
| vol | want |
| volv | wind up |
| vort | word |
| vulp | fox |
| zorg | care for |