# Music, art and culture in Esperanto: words and phrases

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/music-arts/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-08

> Music is muziko, a painting pentraĵo, a film filmo. Instruments, art, theatre, cinema and books in Esperanto, with pronunciation and phrases.

**Music** in Esperanto is ***muziko***, a **song** is ***kanto***, a **painting** is ***pentraĵo***, a **film** is ***filmo*** and a **book** is ***libro***. You play an instrument with ***ludi***, listen to music with ***aŭskulti*** and watch a play or film with ***spekti***. Words for people, places and works grow from one root: *pentri* "to paint" gives *pentristo* "painter" and *pentraĵo* "painting". Pronunciation guides split words into syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals. Hobby basics such as *ŝati* and *ludi* are on [hobbies and sports](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/hobbies-sports/); this page adds the wider vocabulary.

## Music and singing

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| music | *muziko* | mu-ZI-ko | adjective *muzika* |
| to make music | *muziki* | mu-ZI-ki | with voice or instrument (ReVo) |
| song | *kanto* | KAN-to | |
| to sing | *kanti* | KAN-ti | *kantado* "singing" |
| singer | *kantisto* | kan-TIS-to | |
| songwriter | *kantverkisto* | kant-ver-KIS-to | *kanto* + *verkisto* |
| piece of music | *muzikaĵo* | mu-zi-KA-ĵo | |
| to compose | *komponi* | kom-PO-ni | ReVo: also for poems and novels |
| composer | *komponisto* | kom-po-NIS-to | |
| concert | *koncerto* | kon-CER-to | |
| orchestra | *orkestro* | or-KES-tro | |
| conductor | *dirigento* | di-ri-GEN-to | |
| choir | *ĥoro*, *koruso* | ĤO-ro, ko-RU-so | ReVo defines *koruso* as *ĥoro* |
| music group, band | *muzikgrupo* | mu-zik-GRU-po | |
| opera | *opero* | o-PE-ro | *operejo* "opera house" |
| symphony | *simfonio* | sim-fo-NI-o | |
| jazz | *ĵazo* | ĴA-zo | |
| rock music | *rokmuziko* | rok-mu-ZI-ko | *roko* alone is a large rock (ReVo) |
| rap | *repo* | RE-po | |
| folk song | *popolkanto* | po-pol-KAN-to | |
| lullaby | *lulkanto* | lul-KAN-to | |

## Musical instruments

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| musical instrument | *muzikilo*, *muzikinstrumento* | mu-zi-KI-lo, mu-zi-kin-stru-MEN-to | *instrumento* alone also means a tool |
| piano | *piano* | pi-A-no | player: *pianisto* |
| organ | *orgeno* | or-GE-no | *organo* is a body organ |
| synthesizer | *sintezilo* | sin-te-ZI-lo | |
| guitar | *gitaro* | gi-TA-ro | player: *gitaristo* |
| violin | *violono* | vi-o-LO-no | player: *violonisto* |
| cello | *violonĉelo* | vi-o-lon-ĈE-lo | |
| double bass | *kontrabaso* | kon-tra-BA-so | |
| harp | *harpo* | HAR-po | |
| flute | *fluto* | FLU-to | |
| clarinet | *klarneto* | klar-NE-to | |
| oboe | *hobojo* | ho-BO-jo | |
| bassoon | *fagoto* | fa-GO-to | |
| trumpet | *trumpeto* | trum-PE-to | player: *trumpetisto* |
| trombone | *trombono* | trom-BO-no | |
| saxophone | *saksofono* | sak-so-FO-no | |
| accordion | *akordiono* | a-kor-di-O-no | |
| drum | *tamburo* | tam-BU-ro | drummer: *tamburisto* |

To say you play an instrument, use *ludi* with the object ending *-n*: *Dick ludis pianon kaj Lucy kantis* "Dick played the piano and Lucy sang." A wish works the same way: *Mi ĉiam volis lerni ludi tamburon* "I've always wanted to learn to play the drums." ReVo also quotes *ludi sur la gitaro*; see [the accusative](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/accusative/). A player takes *-ist-*, but ReVo defines *violonisto* as a professional, so for a hobby the verb is safer: *Mi ludas gitaron.*

## Art, painting and museums

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| art | *arto* | AR-to | *belarto* "fine art" |
| artist | *artisto* | ar-TIS-to | |
| to paint (a picture) | *pentri* | PEN-tri | shows something in lines and colours |
| painting | *pentraĵo* | pen-TRA-ĵo | |
| painter | *pentristo* | pen-TRIS-to | |
| paint | *farbo* | FAR-bo | *farbi* "to colour with paint" |
| brush | *peniko* | pe-NI-ko | |
| to draw | *desegni* | de-SEG-ni | |
| drawing | *desegnaĵo* | de-seg-NA-ĵo | |
| to sculpt | *skulpti* | SKULP-ti | |
| sculpture | *skulptaĵo* | skulp-TA-ĵo | the art: *skulptarto* |
| sculptor | *skulptisto* | skulp-TIS-to | |
| statue | *statuo* | sta-TU-o | |
| picture, image | *bildo* | BIL-do | |
| portrait | *portreto* | por-TRE-to | |
| landscape | *pejzaĝo* | pej-ZA-ĝo | |
| photo | *foto* | FO-to | ReVo: now used more than *fotaĵo* |
| to photograph | *fotografi* | fo-to-GRA-fi | camera: *fotilo* |
| museum | *muzeo* | mu-ZE-o | |
| gallery | *galerio* | ga-le-RI-o | art gallery (ReVo) |
| exhibition | *ekspozicio* | eks-po-zi-CI-o | |

*Desegni* draws forms with lines, *pentri* uses colours, and *farbi* covers a surface, as in ReVo's *blankfarba muro* "a white-painted wall".

## Theatre, film and television

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| theatre | *teatro* | te-A-tro | |
| play | *teatraĵo* | te-a-TRA-ĵo | |
| actor, actress | *aktoro*, *aktorino* | ak-TO-ro, ak-to-RI-no | *-in-* makes it female |
| role | *rolo* | RO-lo | *ludi la rolon de Hamleto* (ReVo) |
| stage | *scenejo* | sce-NE-jo | |
| scenario, screenplay | *scenaro* | sce-NA-ro | ReVo: outline of a play or film |
| director | *reĝisoro* | re-ĝi-SO-ro | |
| performance, show | *spektaklo* | spek-TA-klo | |
| viewer, spectator | *spektanto* | spek-TAN-to | |
| drama, comedy, tragedy | *dramo*, *komedio*, *tragedio* | DRA-mo, ko-me-DI-o, tra-ge-DI-o | |
| ticket | *bileto* | bi-LE-to | |
| to applaud | *aplaŭdi* | a-PLAŬ-di | *aplaŭdo* "applause" |
| film | *filmo* | FIL-mo | *filmi* "to film" |
| cinema (the art) | *kino* | KI-no | "the movies" |
| cinema (the building) | *kinejo* | ki-NE-jo | ReVo also lists *kinoteatro* |
| filmmaker | *filmisto* | fil-MIS-to | |
| cartoon | *desegnofilmo* | de-seg-no-FIL-mo | |
| television | *televido* | te-le-VI-do | |

## Books and literature

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| book | *libro* | LI-bro | |
| novel | *romano* | ro-MA-no | also "a Roman" (ReVo) |
| short story | *novelo* | no-VE-lo | ReVo: usually under 50 pages |
| story | *rakonto* | ra-KON-to | |
| fairy tale | *fabelo* | fa-BE-lo | |
| poem | *poemo* | po-E-mo | |
| poetry | *poezio* | po-e-ZI-o | |
| poet | *poeto* | po-E-to | |
| verse, rhyme | *verso*, *rimo* | VER-so, RI-mo | |
| to write (a work) | *verki* | VER-ki | *verko* "a work" |
| writer, author | *verkisto*, *aŭtoro* | ver-KIS-to, aŭ-TO-ro | |
| chapter | *ĉapitro* | ĉa-PI-tro | |
| to read | *legi* | LE-gi | *legado* "reading" |
| library | *biblioteko* | bi-bli-o-TE-ko | |
| bookshop | *librejo* | li-BRE-jo | |
| publisher | *eldonejo* | el-do-NE-jo | *eldoni* "to publish" |

## Verbs for listening, watching and making

| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| *kanti* | to sing | *Ĉu vi povas kanti tiun kanton?* – Can you sing this song? |
| *aŭskulti* | to listen | *Mi aŭskultas muzikon en la aŭto.* – I listen to music in the car. |
| *aŭdi* | to hear | *Mi aŭskultis sed mi aŭdis nenion.* – I listened, but I heard nothing. |
| *spekti* | to watch a show | *Ni spektis novan elsendon en televido.* – We watched a new programme on television. |
| *pentri* | to paint | *Mia ŝatokupo estas pentri sovaĝajn florojn.* – My hobby is painting wild flowers. |
| *komponi* | to compose | *Kiom da simfonioj komponis Betoveno?* – How many symphonies did Beethoven write? |
| *verki* | to write a work | *Ĉu tiun ĉi libron verkis vi?* – Did you write this book? |
| *legi* | to read | *Dum la manĝo mi legis libron.* – I read a book during the meal. |

ReVo defines *aŭskulti* as paying attention in order to hear, and *aŭdi* as perceiving with the ears. *Spekti* is for something performed or shown: ReVo describes watching and listening to what is presented in a theatre, cinema or circus. *Rigardi* is to direct your eyes at something.

## From root to person, place and work

| Suffix | Meaning (PMEG) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| *-ist-* | a person often busy with it, perhaps as a job | *pentristo*, *skulptisto*, *kantisto*, *verkisto* |
| *-aĵ-* | a concrete thing | *pentraĵo*, *desegnaĵo*, *teatraĵo*, *muzikaĵo* |
| *-ej-* | a place made for it | *koncertejo*, *kinejo*, *scenejo*, *librejo* |
| *-il-* | a tool or instrument | *muzikilo*, *fotilo*, *sintezilo* |
| *-ar-* | a whole made of many | *verkaro* "all works of one author", *kantaro* "songbook" |
| *-ad-* | a continuing action | *kantado*, *legado*, *pentrado* |
| *-ind-* | deserves to be done | *vidinda* "worth seeing", *leginda* "worth reading" |

Learn one root and you get the family: *kanti* gives *kanto*, *kantisto* and *kantado*. See [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/) and [word building](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/word-building/).

## Useful phrases

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *Kian muzikon vi ŝatas?* | What kind of music do you like? |
| *Mi ŝatas ĵazon, sed mi ne ŝatas rokmuzikon.* | I like jazz, but I don't like rock music. |
| *Mi ludas gitaron.* | I play the guitar. |
| *Kiom kostas bileto por la koncerto?* | How much is a ticket for the concert? |
| *Kie estas la plej proksima muzeo?* | Where is the nearest museum? |
| *Mi ŝatas pentri pejzaĝojn.* | I like painting landscapes. |
| *Ĉu la ekspozicio plaĉis al vi?* | Did you like the exhibition? |
| *Ĉu vi iras al la kinejo?* | Are you going to the cinema? |
| *Kiu estas via plej ŝatata aktoro?* | Who is your favourite actor? |
| *Kion vi legas nun?* | What are you reading now? |
| *Tiu libro estas leginda.* | That book is worth reading. |

*Kian muzikon?* asks for the kind of music; *Kiun muzikon?* would ask which one out of a known set (see [correlatives](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/correlatives/)). In *Ĉu la ekspozicio plaĉis al vi?* the exhibition is the subject and the person comes after *al*; see [feelings](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/feelings/) for *plaĉi* and *ŝati*.

## Esperanto's own music, films and books

Esperanto has a culture of its own. The record label Vinilkosmo has published Esperanto albums since 1990, the festival KEF began in 1986, and *Angoroj* (1964) is the first feature film made entirely in Esperanto. Zamenhof's translation *Hamleto* appeared in 1894, and Claude Piron's *Gerda malaperis!* (1983) is a detective novel written for learners. Read more on [music and film](https://esperantopedia.org/about/music-film/) and [Esperanto literature](https://esperantopedia.org/about/literature/). To start a conversation: *Ĉu vi konas grupon, kiu kantas en Esperanto?* – "Do you know a band that sings in Esperanto?"

## Common questions

### How do you say "I play the guitar" in Esperanto?

*Mi ludas gitaron.* Use *ludi* with *-n* for every instrument: *ludi pianon*, *ludi violonon*. The form with *sur* also exists: *ludi sur la gitaro*.

### What is the difference between aŭskulti and aŭdi?

*Aŭskulti* is to listen on purpose; *aŭdi* is to hear. *Mi aŭskultis sed mi aŭdis nenion* means "I listened, but I heard nothing."

### How do you say "painter", "painting" and "sculptor" in Esperanto?

*Pentristo*, *pentraĵo* and *skulptisto*. Add *-ist-* to the root for the person and *-aĵ-* for the thing made.

### What is "cinema" in Esperanto?

*Kinejo* is the building where films are shown; *kino* is the art of film, as in *Vi ŝatas kinon, ĉu ne?* "You like the movies, don't you?"

### What is the Esperanto word for "novel"?

*Romano*. A short story is *novelo*, a story *rakonto* and a poem *poemo*. The author is a *verkisto* or *aŭtoro*.

## Sources

- ReVo: [muziko, muziki, muzikisto, muzikaĵo, muzikilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/muzik.html), [kanto, kanti, kantisto, kantado](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kant.html), [komponi, komponisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kompon.html), [koncerto, koncertejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/koncer1.html), [orkestro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/orkest.html), [dirigento](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/dirigent.html), [ĥoro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hxor.html), [koruso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/korus.html), [grupo (muzikgrupo)](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/grup.html), [simfonio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/simfon.html), [ĵazo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jxaz.html), [repo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rep.html), [roko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rok.html), [lulkanto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kant.html)
- ReVo: [instrumento](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/instru2.html), [piano](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pian.html), [orgeno](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/orgen.html), [organo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/organ.html), [sintezilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sintez.html), [gitaro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gitar.html), [violono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/violon.html), [violonĉelo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/violon1.html), [kontrabaso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kontra1.html), [harpo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/harp.html), [fluto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/flut.html), [klarneto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/klarne.html), [hobojo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hoboj.html), [fagoto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fagot.html), [trumpeto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trumpe.html), [trombono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trombo.html), [saksofono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/saksof.html), [akordiono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/akordi.html), [tamburo, tamburisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tambur.html)
- ReVo: [arto, artisto, belarto, skulptarto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/art.html), [pentri, pentraĵo, pentristo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pentr.html), [farbo, farbi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/farb.html), [peniko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/penik.html), [desegni, desegnaĵo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/desegn.html), [skulpti, skulptaĵo, skulptisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/skulpt.html), [statuo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/statu.html), [bildo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bild.html), [portreto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/portre.html), [pejzaĝo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pejzag.html), [foto, fotilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fot.html), [fotografi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fotogr.html), [muzeo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/muze.html), [galerio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/galeri.html), [ekspozicio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ekspoz1.html)
- ReVo: [teatro, teatraĵo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/teatr.html), [aktoro, aktorino](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/aktor.html), [rolo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rol.html), [scenejo, scenaro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/scen.html), [reĝisoro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/regxis.html), [spekti, spektanto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/spekt.html), [spektaklo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/spekta.html), [dramo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/dram.html), [komedio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/komedi.html), [tragedio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/traged.html), [bileto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bilet.html), [aplaŭdi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/aplaux.html), [filmo, filmi, filmisto, desegnofilmo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/film.html), [kino, kinejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kin.html), [televido](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/televid.html)
- ReVo: [libro, librejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/libr.html), [romano](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/roman.html), [novelo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/novel.html), [rakonto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rakont.html), [fabelo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fabel.html), [poemo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/poem.html), [poezio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/poezi.html), [poeto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/poet.html), [verso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/vers.html), [rimo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rim.html), [verki, verko, verkisto, verkaro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/verk.html), [aŭtoro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/auxtor.html), [ĉapitro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/cxapit.html), [legi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/leg.html), [biblioteko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/biblio1.html), [eldoni, eldonejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/don.html), [aŭskulti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/auxsku.html), [aŭdi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/auxd.html), [rigardi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rigard.html), [ludi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/lud.html)
- PMEG: [IST](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ist.html), [AĴ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ajh.html), [EJ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ej.html), [IL](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/il.html), [AR](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ar.html), [AD](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ad.html), [IND](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ind.html), [tabelvortoj (kia, kiu)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/tabelvortoj/bazaj_reguloj.html), [similsignifaj verboj (ŝati, plaĉi)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj_frazroloj/similsignifaj.html)
- [Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/428624) (CC BY 2.0 FR), sentences quoted or adapted: #428624 *Dick ludis pianon kaj Lucy kantis*, #2060708 *Mi ĉiam volis lerni ludi tamburon*, #429962 *Ĉu vi povas kanti tiun kanton?*, #517894 *Mi aŭskultis sed mi aŭdis nenion*, #482125 *Ni spektis novan elsendon en televido*, #704693 *Mia ŝatokupo estas pentri sovaĝajn florojn*, #4507392 *Kiom da simfonioj komponis Betoveno?*, #720003 *Ĉu tiun ĉi libron verkis vi?*, #428583 *Dum la manĝo mi legis libron*, #520223 *Kie estas la plej proksima muzeo?*, #5790666 *Ĉu la ekspozicio plaĉis al vi?*, #453495 *Ĉu vi iras al la kinejo?*, #447166 *Kiu estas via plej ŝatata aktoro?*, #3494231 *Vi ŝatas kinon, ĉu ne?*; adapted from #451182 *Kiom kostas enirbileto por la koncerto?*
- Wikipedia, [Vinilkosmo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinilkosmo), [Angoroj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angoroj); Vikipedio, [Kultura Esperanto-Festivalo](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kultura_Esperanto-Festivalo), [Gerda malaperis!](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerda_malaperis!); Project Gutenberg, [Hamleto](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37279)