Questions tagged [word-choice]
Use it for questions about which word, in a list of few words, you should use in a sentence.
6
votes
2answers
59 views
Kiom traduki “unit [of measurement]” (de “Maßeinheit”)?
The English noun "unit" has several meanings, one of them (meaning No. 2 on Wiktionary) being the category of "meter", "inch", "volt", "ounces", "milliliters" etc.
unit (plural units)
(...
9
votes
2answers
86 views
6
votes
1answer
56 views
What is the correct word for “Future”?
For example, I've come across two different words, 'futuro' and 'estonteco'. According to several dictionaries 'futuro' relates to the future tense, whereas 'estonteco' refers to a future time. How ...
3
votes
2answers
36 views
Ekkrio pro malpureco aŭ naŭziĝo
Kion vi ekkrius/dirus, kiam vi trovus subite kaj neatendante ion aparte malpuran, naŭzan, malbonodoran, ktp?
Mi ne povis trovi bonan esprimon por tio. Mi nur trovis en mia nederlanda-Esperanto-...
5
votes
1answer
76 views
How to translate the pro- suffix from English?
In English you can say pro-whatever to say that you are in favour of something, such as pro-independence. I sometimes see people use the same suffix in Esperanto such as in mi estas pro-eŭropa. This ...
6
votes
2answers
96 views
“Pli malgranda” aŭ “malpli granda”?
Mi volas diri "smaller". Ĉu estas ajna alieco en signifo inter "pli malgranda" kaj "malpli granda"? Ĉu ili estas ĝuste samaj?
I want to say "smaller". Is there any difference in meaning between "pli ...
2
votes
1answer
108 views
What's the difference between multe and ofte?
When should an Esperanto speaker say ofte, and when multe?
A definition of ofte is 'often', a definition of multe is 'a lot'. When does an Esperanto speaker use which?
An example, what would be used ...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
What is the difference between “ĝis” and “al?”
I understand that ĝis means "up to", or "as far as", and al means "to", but when must one change between the two? Take Duolingo's example:
Mi vojaĝas tra Germanio ĝis Pollando.
Why would one use ...
5
votes
2answers
69 views
How would you name a “mechanical pencil” in Esperanto?
These are named "mechanical pencils" in English, but some other languages use the term "lead holder" (eg. French : portemine).
What word in esperanto would be the most understood?
3
votes
2answers
105 views
How often is “esperanto” used in Esperanto?
L. L. Zamenhof used "doktoro esperanto" as a pseudonym, where esperanto meaning "one who hopes," the present nominal participle of esperi, meaning "to hope" This eventually lead to "Esperanto" being ...
2
votes
2answers
53 views
In the English language or about the English language?
Ĝi estas angla filmo.
Does this mean that the language of the movie is English (understood by English speakers), or does this mean that the film is about the English language (the film may be in any ...
6
votes
3answers
167 views
How would you say “I should not have taught you that”?
How would you say I should not have taught you that? Which of the following sentences is correct?
Mi ne devus instruinta tiun al vi.
Mi ne estus devinta instrui tiun al vi.
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Correct word form
Which of the following is correct and why?
La ĉokolada kuko estas bongusta.
La ĉokolado kuko estas bongusto.
Also, which is correct in the following:
La kafo estas bongusto.
La kafo estas bongusta.
...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
“ties de”, “la de” aŭ “tiu(j)(n) de”
Kiu el la jenaj frazoj estas ĝusta/malĝusta kaj kial?
1) Oni konas bestojn kaj ties danĝerojn, sed neniam ties de malsaĝulo.
2) Oni konas bestojn kaj ties danĝerojn, sed neniam la de malsaĝulo.
3) ...
6
votes
3answers
140 views
What’s the deal with “fariĝi”?
In a lot of places I see the word fariĝi when, from context, it seems that the speaker/writer just meant iĝi (to become). For example: «Mi studas por (far)iĝi kuracisto.»
Why is the radical far- used ...
5
votes
1answer
59 views
Ĉu oni diras “alta kvalito” aŭ “bona kvalito”?
Estas iel idiomaĵo mi supozas, kaj mi imagas ke varias inter lingvoj. Ĉu oni diras "alta" aŭ "bona" pri kvalitoj esperantlingve?
6
votes
1answer
64 views
What is the difference between “lernanto” and “studanto”?
Both "lernato" and "studanto" means "student", right? When should I use which one?
6
votes
2answers
39 views
Kiel oni nomu sian estron en la laborejo?
Ni imagu, ke mi estas en mia laborejo. Kiel mi nomu mian (rektan) estron, se mi volus diri al li aŭ ŝi ion sen uzi la nomon? Kiel mi komencas la parolon? Ĉu ĉi tiuj variantoj taŭgas:
Estro, mi ...
4
votes
3answers
447 views
Is there a difference between “temperaturo” and “varmeco”?
The Esperanto wikipedia defines "temperaturo" like this :
Temperaturo estas fizika eco de materio, la bazo de la komunaj nocioj
"varma" kaj "malvarma".
(Temperature is a physical property of ...
7
votes
2answers
267 views
7
votes
2answers
371 views
Ke vs. kiu: which one to use?
What is the difference between these two words? My dictionary mentions that both mean that, but how does one know which one to use? Can you please provide some examples? Dankon!
6
votes
3answers
97 views
Which word should I use for “nickname”?
I found many candidates in ReVo: alnomo, alinomo, kaŝnomo, kromnomo, karesnomo. I doubt they are all synonyms. In which situations should I use each one?
I'd like to find the one to use when ...
11
votes
3answers
106 views
What is the difference between “torto” and “kuko”?
Cakes are important matters, I think we can all agree on that ;) It seems to me as if there are two words in Esperanto: torto and kuko. What is the difference between them? I have a feeling they are ...
10
votes
3answers
138 views
What is the difference between “gaja”, “ĝoja” and “feliĉa”?
Gaja, ĝoja and feliĉa are all happy in English. But I have gotten the impression that they are not synonyms. What is the difference between the three adjectives? When should I use each one?
6
votes
1answer
64 views
How would say someone had a “thick” or “broad” accent?
Like if you were saying "he has a thick accent" or "he has a broad accent."
4
votes
3answers
196 views
How do you format the hour in Esperanto?
What are the ways and the most common ways to format an hour (with minutes) in Esperanto?
Is it like on a digital clock like 23:10, or more like 23h10 (in French), or 23h10m or other things?
8
votes
4answers
263 views
Is it possible to say the time in 24 hour?
Is it possible to say the time in 24 hour in Esperanto, like 22:34?
5
votes
2answers
79 views
Adverb or adjective for tio
Marko: Mi volas roli kiel soldato.
Polo: Tio estas bona / bone
Since tio is an -O word then should it be bona? Or, since the word tio is referring to a verb (roli), should it be bone?
9
votes
3answers
120 views
About “ĉu” and “se” in clauses [duplicate]
Which one is correct? If both, what's the difference?
Mi ne scias se ŝi ŝatas min.
Mi ne scias ĉu ŝi ŝatas min.
Mi legis ambaŭ tamen ĉu estas nuancoj?
9
votes
3answers
102 views
What's the difference between the words “aĵo” and “esto” and “estaĵo”
They all seem to be defined as "being", "entity", or "thing", though "estaĵo" also seems to be "creature." Where does this nuance come from? Why do each of these words exist, and how can I use each to ...
9
votes
3answers
130 views
When I assign sex to an animal, does it become li / ŝi?
I have only seen words like virkoko or kokino in sentences where they were a direct subject or object, I don't recall seeing either referred to by a pronoun. Would that still be ĝi or should I use li ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Is it clear what seks- means?
In English, the word sex has two meanings. One is about something you are (gender, male/female etc.) and the other is something you do, which I find difficult to describe in few words, but I am ...
4
votes
2answers
129 views
When to use an adverb/adjective
Sometimes I get confused on when I should be using an adverb or an adjective. What's a good rule set?
For example, one can respond to a question with "bona" or "bone" - but when do I use which?
7
votes
1answer
170 views
“Trink-” versus “drink-”
I am mildly confused about this pair of roots. I learned about trink- first in words like trinki, trinkaĵo, trinkigi etc. Later I found drinkejo used for a pub, so my conclusion was that the latter ...
12
votes
2answers
561 views
Which word should I use for “to drive (a car)”?
I've seen several verbs: konduki, stiri, veturigi. I've thought of aŭti too, and I just saw that ReVo actually suggests it.
Which one is the best? Do they fit in different situations?
17
votes
2answers
444 views
Are “la malplej juna” and “la plej maljuna” entirely interchangeable?
Are la malplej juna and la plej maljuna entirely interchangeable? If so, which one is the most common?
7
votes
2answers
96 views
Which should I use, “pro manko de tempo”, “pro tempomanko”, or “pro tempmanko”?
As far as I understand all three alternatives, pro manko de tempo, pro tempomanko, and pro tempmanko, are correct. However, I wonder if there are any reasons for using one of them rather than the ...
10
votes
3answers
248 views
Does profunda also mean philosophically deep?
I understand that profunda translates to "deep", as in "deep water". La rivero estas profunda.
But in English we often use the word deep to mean philosophically deep, or profound, as in profound ...
7
votes
5answers
943 views
If I can't find a word in Vortaro.net, should I cease using that word?
For example, I've seen the word dumtempe before used to mean for a while or for some time.
I used the word today, then started second-guessing myself and looked it up at Vortaro.net, but it showed ...
8
votes
2answers
92 views
What is the difference between “sinmortigi” and “memmortigi”?
As I understood the difference between "sin-" and "mem-":
Mi sinmortigis.
I killed myself (I killed me)
Mi memmortigis la ŝafon.
I killed the sheep myself (I killed it on my own)
But someone ...
9
votes
1answer
55 views
“Deveni el” or “veni el”?
I've seen deveni used in places where it seems veni would work as well.
I originally learned Mi venas el Usono.
If I say Mi devenas el Usono, how does the meaning change? "I originally come from the ...
6
votes
2answers
115 views
Is it “Mi lernas kun Duolingo” or “Mi lernas per Duolingo”?
The prepositions kun and per can both be translated in English with with.
In this case, which one should I use?
11
votes
4answers
805 views
When to use “ĉu” instead of “se”?
I became aware that I don't know if he is friendly should not be translated into
Mi ne scias se* li estas amika
but into
Mi ne scias ĉu li estas amika
But why? Se means "if", so why it is ...
12
votes
2answers
776 views
Should I use “teamo” or “skipo”?
If I want to speak about the team of a project, should I use teamo or skipo?
I know that teamo is originally for a group with the same objective in a sport, while skipo is for every kind of group of ...
7
votes
1answer
65 views
What is the difference between “festo” and “ferio”?
Both festo and ferio seem to generally translate to English as "holiday", but are they actually interchangeable, or is there a difference that the English translation doesn't preserve?
7
votes
2answers
195 views
Is it “Gratulon!” or “Gratulojn!”?
I've seen both. It seems to be random. What's the explanation? Does it matter which one I say? Same with multan dankon and multajn dankojn.
7
votes
2answers
77 views
Can the words “pajlero” and “ŝalmo” be used to mean “drinking straw”?
Can the words "pajlero" and "ŝalmo" be used to mean "drinking straw"? Are there any better options?
5
votes
2answers
82 views
What is the most common way to say “update” in Esperanto?
I know that there are at least three words that convey that meaning (verb and noun):
ĝisdatigi/o
aktualigi/o
novigi/o
It seems to me that these days the most used one is ĝisdatigi, which to me seems ...
10
votes
3answers
140 views
How would one translate “swag”?
Since swag generally means the coolness of a person (e.g. I have swag, I am a swaggy person), would mojosegeco or mojoseco be a good translation for swag?
7
votes
5answers
164 views
“tuj antaŭ ol” or “ĵus antaŭ ol”? What should I use when something happened just before an other thing?
I am not sure how to translate
I understood just before you answered.
I think about
Mi komprenis tuj antaŭ ol vi respondis.
and
Mi komprenis ĵus antaŭ ol vi respondis.
tuj antaŭ ol and ĵus ...
