Esperanto

American  

[es-puh-rahn-toh, -ran-] / ˌɛs pəˈrɑn toʊ, -ˈræn- /

noun

1. an artificial language invented in 1887 by L. L. Zamenhof (1859–1917), a Polish physician and philologist, and intended for international use. It is based on word roots common to the major European languages.

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Esperanto British  

/ ˌɛspəˈræntəʊ /

noun

1. an international artificial language based on words common to the chief European languages, invented in 1887

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Other Word Forms

• Esperantism
  noun
• Esperantist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Esperanto

1890–95; originally pseudonym of inventor; literally, the hoping one. See esperance

Example Sentences

Within a single page Mr. Hahn can hop from Esperanto to Turkish to Hindi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

When Interpol was first being planned in 1914, French was chosen as the designated language — but organizers also believed Esperanto could be a viable alternative in the future.

From Salon • Aug. 6, 2022

A standing credit line in renminbi is the financial equivalent of fluency in Esperanto.

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2022

Real, but not: “Conlangs,” or constructed languages, have been around for decades—like Klingon, Sindarin, and Esperanto.

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2019

As Groucho Marx said, “Love flies out the door when money comes innuendo,” and it’s hard to imagine him saying it in Esperanto.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner