# Jobs and professions in Esperanto – teacher, doctor, nurse

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/jobs-work/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-11

> Teacher is instruisto, doctor kuracisto, engineer inĝeniero: 43 Esperanto jobs with pronunciation, the -ist- suffix, female forms and work phrases.

Most jobs in Esperanto end in ***-isto***: ***instruisto*** "teacher", ***kuracisto*** "doctor", ***kuiristo*** "cook". The suffix *-ist-* marks a person who is busy with something, often as a profession: *instrui* "to teach" gives *instruisto*. A few jobs are plain roots with no *-ist-*, such as ***kelnero*** "waiter", ***ŝoforo*** "driver" and ***inĝeniero*** "engineer". Pronunciation guides split words into syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals.

## How job words are built

| Word part | Meaning | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| *-in-* | female | *instruistino* | female teacher |
| *-an-* | member, inhabitant | *kamparano* | countryside dweller |
| *-ul-* | person with a quality | *senlaborulo* | unemployed person |
| *-ant-*, *-it-* | one who is doing it, one who had it done to them | *laboranto*, *dungito* | worker, employee |
| *-estr-* | leader, head | *urbestro* | mayor |
| *-ej-* | place | *oficejo* | office |

These are ordinary [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/) and [participles](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/participles/). They stack as in any [word building](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/word-building/): *lern·ej·estr·o* is "learn + place + leader", a head teacher.

## What -ist- means, and where it is not used

The reference grammar PMEG defines *-ist-* as a person who often takes part in something, perhaps professionally. So *instruisto* teaches for a living, but *biciklisto* "cyclist" is anyone who often rides a bike, and *esperantisto* is anyone who knows and uses Esperanto. For a precise job, use a compound: instead of the vague *fiŝisto*, PMEG suggests *fiŝkaptisto* "fisherman", *fiŝbredisto* "fish breeder" or *fiŝvendisto* "fishmonger".

Many job words are complete roots and take no *-ist-*. PMEG lists *ĥirurgo* "surgeon", *barbiro* "barber", *kelnero* "waiter", *aktoro* "actor", *soldato* "soldier", *profesoro* "professor" and *ŝoforo* "driver", and says not to say *ĥirurgisto*. ReVo likewise has *inĝeniero*, *advokato* and *sekretario* as ordinary words without *-ist-*. No rule predicts which jobs are which, so learn each one as it is. *Fizikisto* "physicist" does need *-ist-*, because *fiziko* is the science itself.

## Common jobs by field

### Education and health

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| teacher | *instruisto* | in-stru-IS-to | |
| professor | *profesoro* | pro-fe-SO-ro | plain root |
| doctor | *kuracisto* | ku-ra-CIS-to | from *kuraci* "to treat" |
| dentist | *dentisto* | den-TIS-to | |
| nurse | *flegisto* | fle-GIS-to | from *flegi* "to nurse" |
| surgeon | *ĥirurgo* | ĥi-RUR-go | plain root |
| pharmacist | *farmaciisto* | far-ma-ci-IS-to | |
| veterinarian | *veterinaro* | ve-te-ri-NA-ro | plain root |

### Food, shops and services

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| cook | *kuiristo* | ku-i-RIS-to | from *kuiri* "to cook" |
| baker | *bakisto* | ba-KIS-to | |
| waiter | *kelnero* | kel-NE-ro | plain root |
| seller | *vendisto* | ven-DIS-to | from *vendi* "to sell" |
| cashier | *kasisto* | ka-SIS-to | from *kaso* "cash desk" |
| barber | *barbiro* | bar-BI-ro | plain root |
| tailor | *tajloro* | taj-LO-ro | plain root |
| mail carrier | *poŝtisto* | poŝ-TIS-to | |

### Office, business, law and state

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| office worker | *oficisto* | o-fi-CIS-to | |
| secretary | *sekretario* | se-kre-ta-RI-o | plain root |
| banker | *bankisto* | ban-KIS-to | |
| merchant | *komercisto* | ko-mer-CIS-to | |
| director, manager | *direktoro* | di-rek-TO-ro | plain root |
| lawyer | *advokato* | ad-vo-KA-to | plain root |
| judge | *juĝisto* | ju-ĜIS-to | |
| police officer | *policisto* | po-li-CIS-to | |
| soldier | *soldato* | sol-DA-to | plain root |

### Technical, building and transport

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| engineer | *inĝeniero* | in-ĝe-ni-E-ro | plain root |
| architect | *arĥitekto* | ar-ĥi-TEK-to | also written *arkitekto* |
| programmer | *programisto* | pro-gra-MIS-to | |
| carpenter | *ĉarpentisto* | ĉar-pen-TIS-to | |
| driver | *ŝoforo* | ŝo-FO-ro | plain root, neutral for any sex |
| pilot | *piloto* | pi-LO-to | ships or aircraft; *aviadisto* is "aircraft pilot" |
| sailor | *maristo* | ma-RIS-to | from *maro* "sea" |

### Science, media and art

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| scientist | *sciencisto* | sci-en-CIS-to | |
| journalist | *ĵurnalisto* | ĵur-na-LIS-to | |
| writer | *verkisto* | ver-KIS-to | from *verki* "to compose" |
| translator | *tradukisto* | tra-du-KIS-to | |
| actor | *aktoro* | ak-TO-ro | plain root |
| musician | *muzikisto* | mu-zi-KIS-to | |
| painter | *pentristo* | pen-TRIS-to | |

### Land and sea

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| farmer | *terkulturisto* | ter-kul-tu-RIS-to | "earth-cultivator" |
| gardener | *ĝardenisto* | ĝar-de-NIS-to | |
| fisherman | *fiŝkaptisto* | fiŝ-kap-TIS-to | |
| countryside dweller, peasant | *kamparano* | kam-pa-RA-no | built with *-an-* |

## -ist-, -an- or -ul-?

| Suffix | What comes before it | The person is... | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| *-ist-* | what they do | busy with it, often as a job | *verkisto* "writer" |
| *-an-* | the group or place | a member, a resident | *klubano* "club member" |
| *-ul-* | a quality | someone with it | *junulo* "young person" |

PMEG says that when two suffixes fit, speakers pick the one that gives the more international form: *kristano*, not *krististo*. Compare *ŝipano* "person who serves on a ship" with *maristo* "person who lives from the sea".

Do not add *-ul-* to a word that already names a person. PMEG gives *parolanto*, not *parolantulo*. The same goes for *laboranto* and *dungito*.

## Female forms with -in-

According to PMEG, *-in-* adds female sex. After a male root it is required: *patrino*, *fratino* (see [family words](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/family/)). After a sex-neutral root, which includes most job words, it is optional: PMEG writes *Ŝi estas aktor(in)o* and says *Ŝi estas ŝoforo* is correct.

| English | Esperanto | Female form |
|---|---|---|
| teacher | *instruisto* | *instruistino* |
| doctor | *kuracisto* | *kuracistino* |
| waiter | *kelnero* | *kelnerino* |
| actor | *aktoro* | *aktorino* |

Tradition adds *-in-* routinely, so the bare word can sound male next to its partner, but the plural *kuracistoj* normally includes everyone. PMEG notes that since the late 20th century more speakers have stopped adding *-in-* by default, and calls both habits correct. To stress that a person is male, say *vira aktoro* "male actor".

## Workplaces with -ej-

PMEG describes *-ej-* as a place meant for something. What comes before it is what happens there or who works there: *tajlorejo* is where a tailor works.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| workplace | *laborejo* | la-bo-RE-jo |
| office | *oficejo* | o-fi-CE-jo |
| school | *lernejo* | ler-NE-jo |
| shop | *vendejo* | ven-DE-jo |
| kitchen | *kuirejo* | ku-i-RE-jo |
| tailor's workshop | *tajlorejo* | taj-lo-RE-jo |
| hospital | *malsanulejo*, *hospitalo* | mal-sa-nu-LE-jo, hos-pi-TA-lo |
| factory | *fabriko* | fa-BRI-ko |

*Fabriko* is a separate root. For factories PMEG recommends clear compounds such as *ŝtalfabriko* or *ŝtalejo* "steelworks" and *tabakfarejo* "tobacco factory", because *tabakejo* is a place where tobacco is grown. An *-ej-* word can also stand for the people who work there: *Nia oficejo ŝanĝis la regulojn* – "Our office changed the rules."

## Bosses, colleagues and work words

PMEG defines *-estr-* as a person who leads and decides; what comes before it is the place or matter the person is in charge of. The table also uses the [prefixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/prefixes/) *mal-* "opposite" and *eks-* "out of office" (*eksministro* "former minister").

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| boss, leader | *estro* | ES-tro | |
| chief, head | *ĉefo* | ĈE-fo | |
| mayor | *urbestro* | ur-BES-tro | *urbo* "town" + *-estr-* |
| colleague | *kolego* | ko-LE-go | same job or trade |
| to work | *labori* | la-BO-ri | takes no direct object |
| work, job | *laboro* | la-BO-ro | |
| worker | *laboranto* | la-bo-RAN-to | anyone who works |
| job, post | *posteno* | pos-TE-no | ReVo: *laborloko* is a fixed job in a company |
| to hire | *dungi* | DUN-gi | |
| employee, employer | *dungito*, *dunganto* | dun-GI-to, dun-GAN-to | "one hired", "one who hires" |
| to fire | *maldungi* | mal-DUN-gi | *mal-* + *dungi* |
| to dismiss, to resign | *eksigi*, *eksiĝi* | ek-SI-gi, ek-SI-ĝi | *eksiĝi*: to leave a post or job |
| salary | *salajro* | sa-LAJ-ro | |
| unemployed person | *senlaborulo* | sen-la-bo-RU-lo | *sen-* "without" |
| to retire | *emeritiĝi* | e-me-ri-TI-ĝi | |

## Talking about your job

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *Kie vi laboras?* | Where do you work? |
| *Kio estas via profesio?* | What is your profession? |
| *Pri kio vi okupiĝas?* | What do you do? (literally: What are you busy with?) |
| *Mi estas instruisto.* | I am a teacher. |
| *Mi laboras kiel kuracisto.* | I work as a doctor. |
| *Mia patrino estas advokato.* | My mother is a lawyer. |
| *Mi laboras por malgranda entrepreno.* | I work for a small company. |
| *Mi laboras de lundo ĝis vendredo.* | I work from Monday to Friday. |
| *Miaj kolegoj estas ĝentilaj.* | My colleagues are polite. |

Esperanto has no word for "a": *Mi estas instruisto* is simply "I am a teacher". The [article](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/article/) *la* is for something specific: *Li estas la direktoro* "He is the director".

After *kiel* "as", a noun naming the subject's role keeps its basic form. A noun naming the object's role takes *-n*: *La entrepreno dungis ŝin kiel kasiston* – "The company hired her as a cashier" (PMEG's parallel: *Ili elektis ŝin kiel kasiston*). See the [accusative](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/accusative/) and the question words *kie* and *kio* in the [correlatives](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/correlatives/).

## Looking for a job

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *Mi serĉas laboron.* | I am looking for a job. |
| *Mi estas senlabora kaj serĉas laboron kiel tradukisto.* | I am out of work and looking for work as a translator. |
| *Mi kandidatiĝas al la posteno de programisto.* | I am applying for the post of programmer. |
| *Morgaŭ mi havas intervjuon.* | Tomorrow I have an interview. |
| *Ili dungis min.* | They hired me. |
| *Mi enposteniĝos en Novembro.* | I will take up the post in November. |

*Kandidatiĝi* means to become a candidate; ReVo's example is a candidate "al la posteno de direktoro". *Enposteniĝi* is "to get a post", and *dungiĝi* "to get hired" is the *-iĝ-* partner of *dungi*.

## Common questions

### How do you say "teacher" in Esperanto?

*Instruisto*, female *instruistino*, from *instrui* "to teach" plus *-ist-*. A university teacher can be a *profesoro*.

### How do you say "doctor" in Esperanto?

A medical doctor is *kuracisto* (female *kuracistino*). *Doktoro* is first of all the academic degree "doctor"; ReVo adds that it is also an informal polite title for medical doctors, as in *sinjoro doktoro*.

### How do you say "I am a teacher" or "I work as a teacher"?

*Mi estas instruisto* or *Mi laboras kiel instruisto*. Esperanto has no word for "a", so nothing comes before the job.

### What is the difference between -isto and -ano?

*-ist-* names what a person does, often as a job (*verkisto* "writer"). *-an-* names what a person belongs to or where they live (*klubano* "club member"). When both fit, usage decides: *kristano*, not *krististo*.

### Do you add -ino to women's jobs?

After male roots such as *patro* you must. After neutral job words such as *kuracisto* it is optional: *Ŝi estas kuracisto* and *Ŝi estas kuracistino* are both correct.

### How do you ask "What do you do for a living?"

Say *Kio estas via profesio?* "What is your profession?", *Kio estas via laboro?* or *Kie vi laboras?* "Where do you work?".

## Sources

- [PMEG: IST](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ist.html), [AN](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/an.html), [UL](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ul.html), [IN](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/in.html), [EJ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ej.html), [ESTR](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/estr.html), [EKS](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/prefiksoj/eks.html)
- [PMEG: Seksa signifo de O-vortoj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/o-vortoj/seksa_signifo.html)
- [PMEG: Perverba priskribo de objekto](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/specialaj_priskriboj/perverba/objekto.html)
- ReVo: [instruisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/instru.html), [kuracisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kurac.html), [ĥirurgo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hxirurg.html), [advokato](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/advoka.html), [inĝeniero](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ingxen.html), [arĥitekto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/arhxitekt.html), [piloto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pilot.html), [maristo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/mar.html), [kamparano](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kamp.html)
- ReVo: [labori](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/labor.html), [dungi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/dung.html), [eksiĝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/eks.html), [kolego](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/koleg.html), [posteno](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/posten.html), [kandidato](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kandid.html), [doktoro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/doktor.html)
- Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, sentences [#487741](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/487741), [#1623598](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/1623598), [#3263101](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/3263101), [#530379](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/530379), [#933450](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/933450)