# Learn Esperanto – where to start and what to expect

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/learn/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-11

> Esperanto has 28 letters with one sound each, 16 basic grammar rules and no irregular verbs. A five-step path from the alphabet to conversation.

Start with the alphabet and a few phrases, work through one complete beginner course, and talk to people as early as possible. Esperanto was published in 1887 to be learned quickly, and our free [Saluton course](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/course/) teaches its core grammar and about 300 words in 12 lessons of 30–45 minutes. Fluency still takes regular practice.

## A five-step path

| Step | What to learn | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The 28 letters and the stress rule | [Alphabet and pronunciation](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/alphabet/) |
| 2 | Greetings, "please", "thank you", simple questions | [Basic phrases](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/basic/) |
| 3 | Word endings, the accusative *-n*, verbs | [Saluton course](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/course/) and [Grammar](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/) |
| 4 | The words you will meet most often | [100 most common words](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/vocabulary/) and [flashcards](https://esperantopedia.org/tools/flashcards/) |
| 5 | Speaking with other people | [How to learn Esperanto](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/how-to-learn/) |

Do steps 1 and 2 in the first few days. Steps 3 and 4 overlap in every course. Start step 5 as soon as you can say a few sentences.

## Why is Esperanto quick to learn?

Three features save time. **Spelling:** each letter has one sound, and the stress always falls on the second-to-last syllable. **Grammar:** a verb has the same form for every person (*mi estas, vi estas, ili estas* – "I am, you are, they are"), and there are no irregular verbs. **Word building:** prefixes and suffixes create families of words, so *lerni* "to learn" gives *lernejo* "school" and *lernanto* "pupil".

Several studies point the same way. A 2018 review of classroom studies with English primary-school pupils found that, for novice child learners, Esperanto was easier to learn than French (Roehr-Brackin and Tellier), though it found no measurable gain in language awareness or in later language learning. Older experiments from the 1920s to the 1980s, including the Paderborn experiment in Germany, reported large time savings – but reviewers note unclear goals, anecdotal reporting and weak methods. See [How long does it take?](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/how-long/) for the numbers and their limits.

## What is harder than it looks?

The accusative ending *-n* and the table of question and answer words take most learners some weeks. Most roots come from European languages, so speakers of Chinese, Japanese or Arabic recognise fewer words at first. Easy grammar does not replace practice. For the main objections to the language, see [Criticism of Esperanto](https://esperantopedia.org/about/criticism/).

## Common questions

### Is Esperanto worth learning?

It depends on your goal. Esperanto gives access to an international community, free hosting through Pasporta Servo, and events in many countries. It will not help with jobs that require a national language.

### Can I learn Esperanto for free?

Yes. Our [Saluton course](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/course/), the [flashcards](https://esperantopedia.org/tools/flashcards/) for the 1,000 most common words and the [dictionary](https://esperantopedia.org/dictionary/) are free, and so are lernu.net, Duolingo, Esperanto12, Kurso de Esperanto and many video and audio courses. See [Best free resources](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/resources/).

### Do I need a teacher?

No. Many Esperanto speakers taught themselves with books, apps and online courses. A conversation partner helps more than a teacher once you know the basics.

## Sources

- [Fundamento de Esperanto – grammar in English (1905)](https://www.akademio-de-esperanto.org/fundamento/gramatiko_angla.html)
- [Esperanto12 – Learn Esperanto in 12 Hours](https://esperanto12.net/en/)
- [Roehr-Brackin, K. and Tellier, A. (2018). Esperanto as a tool in classroom foreign language learning in England. *Language Problems and Language Planning* 42(1)](http://repository.essex.ac.uk/24243/)
- [Wikipedia: Paderborn method](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paderborn_method)
- [Wikipedia: Esperanto – Third-language acquisition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto#Third-language_acquisition)