# Esperanto -ig- and -iĝ-: transitive vs intransitive verbs

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/transitivity/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-28

> Esperanto verbs are transitive or not: komenci vs komenciĝi, fermi vs fermiĝi. Use -ig- to add an object, -iĝ- to remove it. 30+ pairs checked in ReVo.

Every Esperanto verb either takes a direct object (transitive) or does not (intransitive), and the suffixes *-ig-* and *-iĝ-* switch between the two. *-Ig-* adds a doer and an object: *sidi* – "to sit" → *sidigi* – "to seat (someone)". *-Iĝ-* removes the object: *fermi* – "to close (something)" → *fermiĝi* – "to close (by itself)". Both are official suffixes from the 1905 Fundamento.

English hides the difference, because "open", "start", "change" and "break" work both ways: "I opened the door" and "the door opened". Esperanto needs two forms: *Mi malfermis la pordon.* and *La pordo malfermiĝis.* A bare *La pordo malfermis* is an error.

With *-iĝ-* the object becomes the subject; with *-ig-* the subject becomes the object:

Mi malfermis la pordon. | I opened the door.
La pordo malfermiĝis. | The door opened.

La infano dormas. | The child is sleeping.
Ŝi dormigas la infanon. | She is putting the child to sleep.

## Transitive or intransitive?

A transitive verb can have a direct object, which takes *-n* (see [the accusative](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/accusative/)). Ask "whom?" or "what?" after the verb. *Mi fermas la pordon* – "I close the door": the answer is *la pordon*, so *fermi* is transitive. *Mi dormas* – "I sleep" has no answer, so *dormi* is intransitive.

A plain verb root gives no sign of which kind it is; it depends on meaning, and dictionaries record it. ReVo, the free Esperanto dictionary, marks most verbs *tr* (transitive), *ntr* (intransitive) or *x* (both). Every root verb in the tables below was checked there, and its label is shown.

Some verbs go both ways. ReVo marks *paroli* with *x*: *Ŝi parolas.* – "She is speaking." and *Ŝi parolas Esperanton.* – "She speaks Esperanto." A few intransitive verbs accept an object that only repeats the action: *Mi dancis valson.* – "I danced a waltz."

## Transitive roots: -iĝ- removes the object

Add *-iĝ-* when the object becomes the subject and the action happens by itself, or nobody cares who did it. Compare:

- *La infano rompis la glason.* – "The child broke the glass."
- *La glaso rompiĝis.* – "The glass broke."

| Verb | ReVo | Meaning | With -iĝ- | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *komenci* | tr | to begin (something) | *komenciĝi* | to begin (an event) |
| *fini* | tr | to finish (something) | *finiĝi* | to come to an end |
| *fermi* | tr | to close | *fermiĝi* | to close, shut |
| *malfermi* | tr | to open | *malfermiĝi* | to open |
| *veki* | tr | to wake (someone) | *vekiĝi* | to wake up |
| *movi* | tr | to move (something) | *moviĝi* | to move, stir |
| *turni* | tr | to turn (something) | *turniĝi* | to turn, rotate |
| *ŝanĝi* | tr | to change (something) | *ŝanĝiĝi* | to change, be altered |
| *rompi* | tr | to break | *rompiĝi* | to break |
| *levi* | tr | to lift | *leviĝi* | to rise |
| *trovi* | tr | to find | *troviĝi* | to be located |
| *detrui* | tr | to destroy | *detruiĝi* | to fall apart, be ruined |
| *naski* | tr | to give birth to | *naskiĝi* | to be born |

## Intransitive roots: -ig- adds an object

Add *-ig-* to say that someone or something makes the action happen. The old subject becomes the object: *La infano dormas.* → *Ŝi dormigas la infanon.* – "She is putting the child to sleep." Every *-ig-* verb takes an object (PMEG).

| Verb | ReVo | Meaning | With -ig- | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *sidi* | ntr | to sit | *sidigi* | to seat (someone) |
| *stari* | ntr | to stand | *starigi* | to set upright, put up |
| *morti* | ntr | to die | *mortigi* | to kill |
| *bruli* | ntr | to burn, be on fire | *bruligi* | to burn (something) |
| *daŭri* | ntr | to last | *daŭrigi* | to continue (something) |
| *resti* | ntr | to stay | *restigi* | to leave (something) behind |
| *vivi* | ntr | to live | *vivigi* | to bring to life |
| *fali* | ntr | to fall | *faligi* | to knock down |
| *dormi* | ntr | to sleep | *dormigi* | to put to sleep |
| *kreski* | ntr | to grow | *kreskigi* | to grow (a plant), raise |
| *boli* | ntr | to boil | *boligi* | to boil (a liquid) |
| *okazi* | ntr | to happen | *okazigi* | to hold, organize (an event) |
| *ĉesi* | ntr | to stop, cease | *ĉesigi* | to stop (something) |

Roots that already take an object can add *-ig-* too, meaning "make someone do it": *kompreni* – "to understand" → *komprenigi* – "to make understand"; *manĝi* – "to eat" → *manĝigi* – "to feed"; *scii* – "to know" → *sciigi* – "to inform". The object is either the person or the thing, never both: *Mi sciigis lin pri la afero.* – "I informed him about the matter."

## Sidi, sidiĝi, sidigi: three verbs from one root

With an intransitive root, both suffixes can attach.

| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| *sidi* | to be sitting | *La infano sidas.* – "The child is sitting." |
| *sidiĝi* | to sit down | *La infano sidiĝis.* – "The child sat down." |
| *sidigi* | to seat someone | *Ŝi sidigis la infanon.* – "She sat the child down." |

After an intransitive root, *-iĝ-* marks the start of the action, almost like the prefix *ek-* (see [prefixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/prefixes/)): *sidiĝi* ≈ *eksidi*. *Sidiĝi* names the movement into the seat, *sidi* the position: *Bonvolu sidiĝi.* – "Please sit down."

## Adjective and noun roots: both suffixes

From an adjective, *-ig-* means "make it that" and *-iĝ-* means "become that": *pura* – "clean" → *purigi* – "to clean", *puriĝi* – "to get clean". Nouns follow the same pattern; see [word-building](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/word-building/) for the logic.

| Root | With -ig- | With -iĝ- |
|---|---|---|
| *pura* – clean | *purigi* – to clean | *puriĝi* – to get clean |
| *ruĝa* – red | *ruĝigi* – to redden | *ruĝiĝi* – to turn red, blush |
| *granda* – big | *grandigi* – to enlarge | *grandiĝi* – to grow bigger |
| *seka* – dry | *sekigi* – to dry | *sekiĝi* – to dry out |
| *laca* – tired | *lacigi* – to tire | *laciĝi* – to get tired |
| *kolero* – anger | *kolerigi* – to anger | *koleriĝi* – to get angry |
| *paco* – peace | *pacigi* – to pacify | *paciĝi* – to make peace |
| *edzo* – husband | *edzigi* – to marry off (as a husband) | *edziĝi* – to marry (of a man) |
| *edzino* – wife | *edzinigi* – to marry off (as a wife) | *edziniĝi* – to marry (of a woman) |

For a couple, use *geedziĝi*: *Ili geedziĝis en Majo.* – "They got married in May." With *amiko* – "friend" the useful verb is *amikiĝi*: *Mi amikiĝis kun ŝi.* – "I became friends with her."

## Mistakes English speakers make

The usual error is to use a transitive verb with no object. If there is no object and the thing simply happens, you probably need *-iĝ-*.

| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| *La filmo komencas je la oka.* | *La filmo komenciĝas je la oka.* | No object: the film begins by itself. |
| *La leciono finis.* | *La leciono finiĝis.* | *Fini* needs an object: *Ŝi finis la lecionon.* |
| *La pordo malfermas.* | *La pordo malfermiĝas.* | No object, so *-iĝ-*. |
| *La vetero ŝanĝis.* | *La vetero ŝanĝiĝis.* | *Ŝanĝi* needs an object: *Mi ŝanĝis mian opinion.* |
| *Mi vekis je la sesa.* | *Mi vekiĝis je la sesa.* | *Veki* means to wake someone else. |
| *Li mortis la serpenton.* | *Li mortigis la serpenton.* | *Morti* never takes an object. |
| *La libro vendas bone.* | *La libro vendiĝas bone.* | The book is not the seller. |

*Komenci* with an infinitive is correct, because the infinitive is the object: *Komencis pluvi.* – "It began to rain."

## Esti fermita or fermiĝi?

Both can describe a shut door, but they say different things.

| Form | Focus | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Active | the doer | *La gardisto fermis la pordon.* – "The guard closed the door." |
| Passive: *esti* + *-ita* | the thing; a doer exists, named or not | *La pordo estas fermita.* – "The door is closed." |
| *-iĝ-* | the thing's own change | *La pordo fermiĝis.* – "The door shut." |

A passive always has a doer behind it, who can be added with *de*: *La pordo estis fermita de la gardisto.* An *-iĝ-* verb says the action happens more or less by itself, so a doer is normally not named. PMEG contrasts *Li estis naskita en Januaro*, which stresses the act of birth, with *Li naskiĝis en Januaro*, which stresses the newborn. Likewise *Li estas nomata Petro* means people call him that, while *Li nomiĝas Petro* just gives his name. More on the passive: [participles](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/participles/).

## When no suffix is needed

- A verb that already means a change usually needs no *-iĝ-*. *Morti* already means "to pass from life to death"; *mortiĝi* is rare and suggests an accident (PMEG).
- PMEG prefers *ĉesi* or *ekĉesi* to *ĉesiĝi*, *ektimi* to *timiĝi*, and *ekscii* to *sciiĝi*.
- To say that someone makes something happen that is already an *-iĝ-* verb, use *igi* with an infinitive instead of stacking suffixes: *La bruo igis ŝin vekiĝi.* – "The noise made her wake up." *Igi* – "to cause" and *iĝi* – "to become" are also verbs on their own.

## Examples in sentences

- *Mi fermis la pordon.* – "I closed the door."
- *La pordo fermiĝis pro la vento.* – "The door closed because of the wind."
- *La orkestro komencis la koncerton akurate.* – "The orchestra started the concert on time."
- *La koncerto komenciĝis je la oka.* – "The concert began at eight."
- *La infano sidiĝis apud la fenestro.* – "The child sat down by the window."
- *La patro sidigis la bebon sur la seĝon.* – "The father sat the baby down on the chair."
- *La akvo jam bolas.* – "The water is already boiling."
- *Mi boligas akvon por teo.* – "I'm boiling water for tea."
- *Liaj vortoj ĝojigis ĉiujn.* – "His words made everyone happy."
- *La prezoj altiĝis dum la jaro.* – "Prices went up during the year."

## Common questions

### What is the difference between -ig- and -iĝ-?
*-Ig-* means "to cause": it adds a doer and an object (*bruli* → *bruligi*). *-Iĝ-* means "to become" or "to happen by itself": it never takes an object (*fermi* → *fermiĝi*). All the suffixes are listed on [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/).

### Is komenci transitive in Esperanto?
Yes, ReVo marks it *tr*. It takes the thing begun (*Mi komencis la laboron*) or an infinitive (*Li komencis paroli*). For an event that starts by itself, use *komenciĝi*: *La koncerto komenciĝis.*

### How do you say "the shop opens at nine"?
*La butiko malfermiĝas je la naŭa.* If a person does the opening, use the plain verb: *La vendisto malfermas la butikon je la naŭa.*

### How can I tell if an Esperanto verb is transitive?
Check ReVo, which marks verbs *tr*, *ntr* or *x* (both), or ask "whom?" or "what?" after the verb. Verbs ending in *-ig-* are always transitive and verbs ending in *-iĝ-* never are.

### How do I type -iĝ- without the hat letter?
In the x-system write *igx*: *komencigxi* becomes *komenciĝi*.

### Is it sidi or sidiĝi for "to sit down"?
*Sidiĝi* names the act of sitting down: *Ŝi sidiĝis apud mi.* – "She sat down next to me." *Sidi* is the state of being seated: *Mi sidas.* – "I am sitting." *Sidigi* means to seat someone else.

## Sources

- PMEG: [IG-verboj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj_frazroloj/ig.html), [IĜ-verboj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj_frazroloj/igh.html), [Objektaj verboj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj_frazroloj/objektaj.html), [Senobjektaj verboj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj_frazroloj/senobjektaj.html)
- PMEG: [IG](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ig.html) and [IĜ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/igh.html) (including the comparison of IĜ-verbs with passive verbs)
- PMEG: [Pasivo – bazaj reguloj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/pasivo/bazaj_reguloj.html), [Pasivigeblaj frazoj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/pasivo/pasivigeblaj_frazoj.html)
- [Reta Vortaro](https://reta-vortaro.de/) (ReVo): [abbreviations *tr*, *ntr*, *x*](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/dok/mallongigoj.html); entries such as [komenci](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/komenc.html), [fini](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fin.html), [fermi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ferm.html), [sidi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sid.html), [morti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/mort.html), [veki](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/vek.html), [bruli](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/brul.html)
- [Fundamento de Esperanto](https://www.akademio-de-esperanto.org/fundamento/) – Akademio de Esperanto