# Religion and beliefs in Esperanto: faiths and holidays

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/religion-beliefs/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-11

> Religion is religio, to pray is preĝi, a church is preĝejo: about 100 Esperanto words for faiths, holy places, festivals and clergy, with pronunciation.

**Religion** in Esperanto is ***religio*** (re-li-GI-o), **belief** is ***kredo***, **to believe** is ***kredi*** and **to pray** is ***preĝi***. Religions are often named with *-ism-* "doctrine" and followers with *-an-* "member": *kristanismo*, *kristano*. The words are neutral labels, and the page takes no side on belief or unbelief. Pronunciation guides split words into syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals.

## Belief, faith and prayer

*Kredi* takes *je* for belief in something (*kredi je Dio* "to believe in God") and *ke* for belief that something is so: *Mi kredas, ke vi pravas* "I believe you are right".

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| religion | *religio* | re-li-GI-o | adjective: *religia* |
| belief, believer | *kredo*, *kredanto* | KRE-do, kre-DAN-to | |
| faith, trust | *fido* | FI-do | ReVo: more about trust than *kredo* |
| God; god, goddess | *Dio*; *dio*, *diino* | DI-o; DI-o, di-I-no | capital for the one supreme being |
| holy, saint | *sankta*, *sanktulo* | SANK-ta, sank-TU-lo | |
| to pray, prayer | *preĝi*, *preĝo* | PRE-ĝi, PRE-ĝo | *preĝi al* "pray to" |
| worship, rite | *kulto*, *rito* | KUL-to, RI-to | |
| religious service | *diservo* | di-SER-vo | |
| Bible, Quran, Torah | *Biblio*, *Korano*, *Torao* | bi-BLI-o, ko-RA-no, to-RA-o | capitals |
| soul, spirit | *animo*, *spirito* | a-NI-mo, spi-RI-to | both also mean "mind" |
| prophet, angel | *profeto*, *anĝelo* | pro-FE-to, an-ĜE-lo | |
| miracle, sin | *miraklo*, *peko* | mi-RA-klo, PE-ko | |
| blessing, to bless | *beno*, *beni* | BE-no, BE-ni | |
| heaven, paradise, hell | *ĉielo*, *paradizo*, *infero* | ĉi-E-lo, pa-ra-DI-zo, in-FE-ro | *ĉielo* is also "sky" |
| reincarnation, karma | *reenkarniĝo*, *karmo* | re-en-kar-NI-ĝo, KAR-mo | ReVo: karma in Buddhism and Hinduism |
| fast, to fast | *fasto*, *fasti* | FAS-to, FAS-ti | |
| pilgrimage, pilgrim | *pilgrimo*, *pilgrimanto* | pil-GRI-mo, pil-gri-MAN-to | ReVo warns against mixing them up |
| atheist | *ateisto* | a-te-IS-to | atheism: *ateismo*; ReVo's synonym *sendiulo* "person without a god" |
| agnostic | *agnostikulo* | ag-nos-ti-KU-lo | ReVo: accepts no philosophical or religious creed |

## Religions and their followers

PMEG shows the pattern: *Kristo* gives *kristano* (follower) and *kristanismo* (doctrine). For Buddhism PMEG prefers *budhisto* and *budhismo*, with *budhano* also used; ReVo's main entries are *budaismo* and *budaisto*. Adjectives end in *-a*: *kristana*, *islama*, *juda*, *hinduisma*.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christianity, Christian | *kristanismo*, *kristano* | kris-ta-NIS-mo, kris-TA-no | |
| Roman Catholic | *romkatolika*, *katoliko* | rom-ka-to-LI-ka, ka-to-LI-ko | see the notes below |
| Protestant | *protestanto* | pro-tes-TAN-to | ReVo: e.g. *luterano* |
| Orthodox Christianity | *ortodoksa kristanismo* | or-to-DOK-sa kris-ta-NIS-mo | |
| Islam, Muslim | *islamo*, *islamano* | i-SLA-mo, i-sla-MA-no | |
| Judaism, Jew | *judismo*, *judo* | ju-DIS-mo, JU-do | ReVo marks *judaismo* as rare and better avoided |
| Hinduism, Hindu | *hinduismo*, *hinduo* | hin-du-IS-mo, hin-DU-o | |
| Buddhism, Buddhist | *budhismo*, *budhisto*, *budhano* | bud-HIS-mo, bud-HIS-to, bud-HA-no | ReVo: *budaismo* |
| Shinto | *ŝintoismo* | ŝin-to-IS-mo | ReVo: also *ŝintoo* |
| Taoism | *daŭismo*, *taoismo* | daŭ-IS-mo, ta-o-IS-mo | |
| Confucianism | *konfuceanismo* | kon-fu-ce-a-NIS-mo | PMEG: also *konfuceismo* |
| Sikhism, Sikh | *sikismo*, *siko* | si-KIS-mo, SI-ko | Vikipedio's forms |
| Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'í | *bahaismo*, *bahaano* | ba-ha-IS-mo, ba-ha-A-no | |

Notes on choosing words:

- **Muslim.** Use *islamano*. ReVo says *mahometano* (Zamenhof's and PIV's word) should be avoided in neutral contexts, because Muslims consider it offensive.
- **Islam.** For the religion say *islamo*; ReVo defines *islamismo* as politics aiming at a strict form of Islamic society.
- **Catholic.** *Romkatolika* is the exact adjective; ReVo notes that plain *katolika* also appears in the names of other churches.
- **Jewish.** ReVo defines *judo* as a member of the people descended from the ancient Hebrews or of their religion. The sport is *ĵudo* (ĴU-do).

## Places of worship

PMEG explains that *preĝejo* is traditionally used mostly for Christian churches, but can serve any religion; to be exact, add an adjective: *islama preĝejo*, *hinduisma preĝejo*.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| church, place of worship | *preĝejo* | pre-ĜE-jo | *preĝi* + *-ej-* "place" |
| Christian church | *kirko* | KIR-ko | PMEG: very rare |
| cathedral | *katedralo* | ka-te-DRA-lo | a bishop's church |
| mosque, minaret | *moskeo*, *minareto* | mos-KE-o, mi-na-RE-to | |
| synagogue | *sinagogo* | si-na-GO-go | |
| temple | *templo* | TEM-plo | |
| pagoda | *pagodo* | pa-GO-do | ReVo: an Asian temple |
| monastery | *monaĥejo* | mo-na-ĤE-jo | *monaĥo* + *-ej-* |
| chapel, altar | *kapelo*, *altaro* | ka-PE-lo, al-TA-ro | |
| holy place | *sanktejo* | sank-TE-jo | |

## Festivals and holy days

PMEG treats festival names as proper names: capital letter, normally no *la* (*Kristnasko*, *Pasko*). Dates shift between calendars, so the table gives only what ReVo and Vikipedio state. Greetings are on the [wishes and celebrations](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/wishes-celebrations/) page.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas | *Kristnasko* | krist-NAS-ko | ReVo: 25 December in most churches; 6 January for Armenians |
| Advent | *Advento* | ad-VEN-to | the four weeks before Christmas |
| Epiphany | *Epifanio* | e-pi-fa-NI-o | 6 January |
| Lent | *Karesmo* | ka-RES-mo | ReVo: Western name of the Great Fast |
| Easter, Passover | *Pasko* | PAS-ko | ReVo lists both meanings |
| Passover | *Pesaĥo* | pe-SA-ĥo | Vikipedio: also *juda Pasko* |
| Pentecost | *Pentekosto* | pen-te-KOS-to | ReVo: Jewish and Christian festival |
| Jewish New Year | *Roŝ Haŝana* | roŝ ha-ŜA-na | Vikipedio |
| Yom Kippur | *Jomkipuro* | jom-ki-PU-ro | ReVo: day of repentance |
| Hanukkah | *Ĥanuko* | ĥa-NU-ko | ReVo: eight-day Jewish winter festival |
| Ramadan | *Ramadano* | ra-ma-DA-no | ReVo: ninth Islamic month, fasting in daylight |
| pilgrimage to Mecca | *haĝo* | HA-ĝo | the Hajj |
| Diwali | *Divalo* | di-VA-lo | Vikipedio: a major festival of India |
| Saturday, Sunday | *sabato*, *dimanĉo* | sa-BA-to, di-MAN-ĉo | ReVo: the holy day of Judaism and of Christianity; see [days and months](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/days-months/) |

## People and roles

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| priest, priestess | *pastro*, *pastrino* | PAS-tro, pas-TRI-no | |
| Protestant minister | *pastoro* | pas-TO-ro | ReVo: *pastro* of a Protestant church |
| bishop, pope | *episkopo*, *papo* | e-pis-KO-po, PA-po | |
| monk, nun | *monaĥo*, *monaĥino* | mo-NA-ĥo, mo-na-ĤI-no | |
| imam, muezzin | *imamo*, *muezino* | i-MA-mo, mu-e-ZI-no | the muezzin calls the hours of prayer |
| rabbi | *rabeno* | ra-BE-no | |
| lama, guru | *lamao*, *guruo* | la-MA-o, gu-RU-o | ReVo: Tibetan Buddhism; Hinduism |
| preacher, clergy | *predikisto*, *klerikaro* | pre-di-KIS-to, kle-ri-KA-ro | |

## Word parts for faith words

| Word part | Meaning | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| *-ism-* | doctrine, system | *kristanismo* | Christianity |
| *-an-* | follower, member | *islamano*, *samreligiano* | Muslim; person of the same religion (PMEG) |
| *-ist-* | person busy with something | *budhisto* | Buddhist |
| *-ej-* | place for | *preĝejo*, *monaĥejo* | church, monastery |
| *-ul-* | person with a quality | *sanktulo*, *sendiulo* | saint, person without a god |
| *-in-* | female | *pastrino*, *diino* | priestess, goddess |
| *-iĝ-* | become | *kristaniĝi*, *islamiĝi* | to become a Christian, to join Islam |

Religion names take a small letter. See [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/), [prefixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/prefixes/) and [word building](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/word-building/).

## Sentences

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *Mia avino preĝas ĉiutage.* | My grandmother prays every day. |
| *Ni iras al la preĝejo ĉiun dimanĉon.* | We go to church every Sunday. |
| *Kie estas la plej proksima moskeo?* | Where is the nearest mosque? |
| *Je kioma horo komenciĝas la diservo?* | What time does the service begin? |
| *Li estas ateisto, sed li respektas la kredon de aliaj.* | He is an atheist, but he respects other people's beliefs. |
| *Dum Ramadano multaj islamanoj fastas de la sunleviĝo ĝis la sunsubiro.* | During Ramadan many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. |
| *Ĥanuko daŭras ok tagojn.* | Hanukkah lasts eight days. |
| *En multaj landoj oni festas Kristnaskon la 25-an de Decembro.* | In many countries people celebrate Christmas on 25 December. |

Direct objects take *-n* (*festas Kristnaskon*), and so do time expressions without a preposition (*ĉiun dimanĉon*, *ok tagojn*): see the [accusative](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/accusative/).

## Esperanto and religion

Esperanto itself has no religion. Since the Declaration of Boulogne in 1905 the movement has defined it as a neutral language that anyone may use for any purpose. In Brazil, Spiritists (*spiritismo*, spi-ri-TIS-mo) have promoted it since the Brazilian Spiritist Federation opened a free course in 1912: see [Esperanto and Spiritism](https://esperantopedia.org/about/spiritism/). Zamenhof's philosophy of equal peoples, *homaranismo* (ho-ma-ra-NIS-mo), was kept apart from the language on purpose: see [Homaranismo](https://esperantopedia.org/about/homaranismo/).

## Common questions

### How do you say "religion" and "I believe" in Esperanto?

*Religio* and *Mi kredas*. Add *je* for what you believe in (*Mi kredas je Dio*) or *ke* for what you think is true (*Mi kredas, ke vi pravas*).

### How do you say "I am a Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or atheist" in Esperanto?

*Mi estas kristano*, *islamano*, *judo*, *budhisto*, *hinduo* or *ateisto*. These are ordinary nouns: no article, no capital letter. Add *-in-* for a woman: *kristanino*, *judino*.

### Is it *islamano* or *mahometano*?

*Islamano*. ReVo marks *mahometano* as a form to avoid in neutral contexts, because Muslims find it offensive.

### What is the difference between *preĝejo* and *kirko*?

*Preĝejo* is any place of prayer, though traditionally a Christian church. *Kirko* means a Christian church only and is very rare. For other faiths use *moskeo*, *sinagogo* or *templo*.

### Is Esperanto a religion, or tied to one?

No. It is a neutral language, and the movement has said so since 1905. Brazilian Spiritists have promoted it, and Zamenhof's *homaranismo* was his own philosophy, not part of Esperanto.

## Sources

- PMEG: [ISM](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ism.html), [AN](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/an.html), [IST](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ist.html), [EJ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ej.html), [UL](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ul.html), [Majuskloj kaj minuskloj ĉe propraj nomoj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/propraj_nomoj/majuskloj.html)
- ReVo: [religio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/religi.html), [kredi, kredo, kredanto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kred.html), [fido](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fid.html), [Dio, diino](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/di.html), [sankta, sanktulo, sanktejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sankt.html), [preĝi, preĝejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pregx.html), [kulto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kult.html), [rito](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rit.html), [diservo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/serv.html), [Biblio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bibli.html), [Korano](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/koran.html), [Torao](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tora.html)
- ReVo: [animo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/anim.html), [spirito, spiritismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/spirit.html), [profeto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/profet.html), [anĝelo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/angxel.html), [miraklo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/mirakl.html), [peko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pek.html), [beno](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ben.html), [ĉielo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/cxiel1.html), [paradizo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/paradi1.html), [infero](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/infer.html), [reenkarniĝo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/karn.html), [karmo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/karm.html), [fasto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fast.html), [pilgrimo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pilgri.html), [ateisto, ateismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ateist.html), [agnostikulo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/agnost.html)
- ReVo, religions: [kristanismo, kristano, kristaniĝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/krist.html), [katolika, katoliko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/katoli.html), [protestanto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/protes1.html), [luterano](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/luter.html), [ortodoksa](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ortodo.html), [islamo, islamano, islamismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/islam.html), [mahometano](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/mahome.html), [judismo, judo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jud.html), [judaismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/judais.html), [ĵudo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jxud.html), [hinduismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hindu.html), [budaismo, budao](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/buda.html), [ŝintoismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxinto.html), [daŭismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/daux.html), [konfuceanismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/konfuce.html), [bahaismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/baha.html)
- ReVo, places, festivals, people: [kirko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kirk.html), [katedralo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/katedr1.html), [moskeo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/moske.html), [minareto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/minare.html), [sinagogo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sinago.html), [templo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/templ.html), [pagodo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pagod.html), [monaĥejo, monaĥo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/monahx.html), [kapelo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kapel.html), [altaro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/altar.html), [Kristnasko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/krist.html), [Advento](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/advent.html), [Epifanio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/epifan.html), [Karesmo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/karesm.html), [Pasko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pask.html), [Pentekosto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pentek.html), [Jomkipuro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jomkipur.html), [Ĥanuko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hxanuk.html), [Ramadano](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ramadan.html), [haĝo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hagx.html), [sabato](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sabat.html), [dimanĉo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/dimanc.html), [pastro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pastr.html), [pastoro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pastor.html), [episkopo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/episko.html), [papo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pap.html), [imamo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/imam.html), [muezino](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/muezin.html), [rabeno](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/raben.html), [lamao](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/lama.html), [guruo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/guru.html), [predikisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/predik.html), [klerikaro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/klerik.html), [homaranismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hom.html)
- Vikipedio: [Divalo](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divalo), [Pesaĥo](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesa%C4%A5o), [Roŝ Haŝana](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ro%C5%9D_Ha%C5%9Dana), [Karesmo](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karesmo), [Sikismo](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikismo)
- Akademio de Esperanto, [Deklaracio pri la Esenco de la Esperantismo](https://www.akademio-de-esperanto.org/fundamento/bulonja_deklaracio.html) (9 August 1905)