# Computer and internet in Esperanto: words and phrases

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/technology-internet/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-11

> A computer is komputilo, the internet interreto, email retpoŝto: Esperanto words for devices, the web and apps, and how ret-, -il-, el-, al- build them.

A computer is ***komputilo***, the internet is ***interreto***, a website is ***retejo*** and email is ***retpoŝto***. Most tech words are built from a few parts: *-il-* "tool" (*komputi* "compute" gives *komputilo*), *ret-* "internet" (from *reto* "net") and the direction prefixes *el-* and *al-*. Pronunciation guides split words into syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals.

## Computers and phones

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| computer | *komputilo* | kom-pu-TI-lo | *komputi* "compute" + *-il-*; an Official Addition; ReVo calls older *komputoro*, *komputero* archaic |
| laptop | *tekkomputilo*, *tekokomputilo* | tek-kom-pu-TI-lo, te-ko-kom-pu-TI-lo | One ReVo entry lists both; *teko* is a case or briefcase |
| tablet | *tabulkomputilo*, *platkomputilo* | ta-bul-kom-pu-TI-lo, plat-kom-pu-TI-lo | Both in ReVo: a flat portable computer, larger than a phone |
| mobile phone | *poŝtelefono* | poŝ-te-le-FO-no | *poŝo* "pocket"; ReVo also lists *ĉeltelefono* and *sendrata telefono* |
| smartphone | *lerta telefono*, *inteligenta telefono* | LER-ta te-le-FO-no, in-te-li-GEN-ta te-le-FO-no | Both in ReVo; the short form *kompufono* is marked as best avoided |
| phone number | *telefonnumero* | te-le-fon-nu-ME-ro | |
| server | *servilo* | ser-VI-lo | A computer or program that serves other computers |

## Parts and devices

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| keyboard | *klavaro* | kla-VA-ro | *klavo* "key" (KLA-vo) + *-ar-* "set" |
| mouse | *muso* | MU-so | The animal's name; ReVo lists the device as sense 2 |
| screen | *ekrano* | e-KRA-no | |
| touchscreen | *tuŝekrano* | tuŝ-e-KRA-no | *tuŝi* "touch" + *ekrano* |
| printer | *presilo*, *printilo* | pre-SI-lo, prin-TI-lo | Both in ReVo; *presilo* also means a printing press |
| scanner | *skanilo* | ska-NI-lo | Official Addition |
| camera | *fotilo*, *kamerao* | fo-TI-lo, ka-me-RA-o | *fotilo* takes photos; *kamerao* records image sequences |
| microphone | *mikrofono* | mi-kro-FO-no | |
| loudspeaker | *laŭtparolilo* | laŭt-pa-ro-LI-lo | ReVo also lists *laŭtilo* |
| headphones | *kapaŭdilo* | ka-paŭ-DI-lo | A device worn on the head or in the ears |
| rechargeable battery | *akumulatoro* | a-ku-mu-la-TO-ro | |
| charger | *ŝargilo* | ŝar-GI-lo | *ŝargi* "to charge" |

## Using a computer

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| program | *programo* | pro-GRA-mo | |
| software | *programaro* | pro-gra-MA-ro | ReVo contrasts it with *aparataro* "hardware" |
| app | *aplikaĵo* | a-pli-KA-ĵo | ReVo has the short *apo* but suggests *aplikaĵo* or *programeto* |
| file | *dosiero* | do-si-E-ro | |
| folder | *dosierujo* | do-si-e-RU-jo | *dosiero* + *-uj-* "container" |
| window | *fenestro* | fe-NES-tro | ReVo sense 3: a part of the screen |
| to switch on | *ŝalti* | ŜAL-ti | Official Addition |
| to switch off | *malŝalti* | mal-ŜAL-ti | |
| to click | *klaki* | KLA-ki | ReVo: intransitive |
| to click on | *alklaki* | al-KLA-ki | ReVo: transitive, "click on a screen object" |
| to install | *instali* | in-STA-li | |
| to update | *ĝisdatigi* | ĝis-da-TI-gi | |
| backup copy | *savkopio* | sav-ko-PI-o | |

## The internet and the web

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| internet | *interreto* | in-ter-RE-to | *inter-* "between" + *reto*; also written *Interreto* |
| the Web | *Tut-Tera Teksaĵo*, *TTT* | tut-TE-ra tek-SA-ĵo | ReVo: the hypertext system on the internet |
| website | *retejo* | re-TE-jo | *ret-* + *-ej-* "place" |
| web page | *retpaĝo* | ret-PA-ĝo | |
| link | *ligilo* | li-GI-lo | *ligi* "tie, connect" + *-il-* |
| web address | *retadreso* | ret-a-DRE-so | ReVo: for pages and email addresses |
| to browse the web | *retumi* | re-TU-mi | ReVo: to spend time on the internet |
| browser | *retumilo*, *foliumilo* | re-tu-MI-lo, fo-li-u-MI-lo | Both in ReVo; Vikipedio's article is titled *TTT-legilo* |
| search engine | *serĉilo* | ser-ĈI-lo | *serĉi* "search" + *-il-* |
| to download | *elŝuti* | el-ŜU-ti | |
| to upload | *alŝuti* | al-ŜU-ti | |
| to connect | *konekti* | ko-NEK-ti | Official Addition; *konekto* "connection" |
| Wi-Fi | *vifio* | vi-FI-o | ReVo: the brand name, also any such wireless network |

## Email, messages and accounts

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| email | *retpoŝto* | ret-POŜ-to | Vikipedio lists *retletero*, *retmesaĝo*, *e-poŝto* as synonyms |
| message | *mesaĝo* | me-SA-ĝo | Official Addition |
| to message | *mesaĝi* | me-SA-ĝi | ReVo: to send a message somewhere |
| instant messenger | *tujmesaĝilo* | tuj-me-sa-ĜI-lo | |
| spam | *spamo* | SPA-mo | ReVo: unwanted bulk advertising by email; also suggests *trudmesaĝo*, *rubmesaĝo* |
| virus | *viruso* | vi-RU-so | ReVo sense 2: a self-copying program |
| user | *uzanto* | u-ZAN-to | *uzi* "use" + *-ant-* |
| account | *konto* | KON-to | |
| username | *uzantnomo*, *salutnomo* | u-zant-NO-mo, sa-lut-NO-mo | Both in ReVo |
| password | *pasvorto* | pas-VOR-to | |
| to log in | *ensaluti* | en-sa-LU-ti | *saluti* "greet" |
| to log out | *elsaluti* | el-sa-LU-ti | |
| profile | *profilo* | pro-FI-lo | ReVo sense 4: a user's stored information |

## Social networks, blogs and apps

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| social network site | *socia retejo* | so-CI-a re-TE-jo | Vikipedio also writes *sociaj medioj* |
| Facebook | *Fejsbuko*, *Vizaĝlibro* | fejs-BU-ko, vi-zaĝ-LI-bro | Both in ReVo: a sound adaptation and a translation |
| YouTube | *Jutubo* | ju-TU-bo | ReVo also notes *JuTubo* |
| Twitter | *Tvitero* | tvi-TE-ro | Renamed X in 2023 (Vikipedio); *pepi* can mean "to tweet" |
| blog | *blogo* | BLO-go | ReVo: a neologism, "internet diary" |
| forum | *forumo* | fo-RU-mo | ReVo sense 3 also gives *diskutejo* |
| podcast | *podkasto* | pod-KAS-to | |
| comment | *komento* | ko-MEN-to | Official Addition |

## How tech words are built

| Part | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| *ret-* | internet, online | *retpoŝto*, *retmesaĝo*, *retejo*, *retpaĝo*, *retbutiko* "online shop", *retkamerao* "webcam" |
| *-il-* | tool, device | *komputilo*, *ligilo*, *serĉilo*, *retumilo*, *ŝargilo*, *presilo* |
| *-ar-* | set, collection | *klavaro*, *programaro*, *aparataro* |
| *-ej-* | place | *retejo*, *retkafejo* "internet café" |
| *el-*, *al-* | out of, to | *elŝuti* "download", *alŝuti* "upload", *elsaluti*, *ensaluti* (with *en-* "in") |

PMEG notes that *ret* is often a prefix meaning "of the internet", as in *poŝto* → *retpoŝto*, and lists *komputilo* among the *-il-* devices. The suffix *-um-* has no fixed meaning, so *retumi* (*ret-* + *-um-*) and *foliumi* "to leaf through" are learned as whole words. See [prefixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/prefixes/), [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/) and [word building](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/word-building/).

Why *elŝuti* and *alŝuti*? *Ŝuti* means to pour loose things such as sand or grain. ReVo explains that the prefixes show the direction relative to a big "bit container", a server: *alŝuti* pours bits into it, *elŝuti* pours them out for your own use.

## Saying an email address aloud

| Symbol | Esperanto | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| @ | *ĉe* (the symbol is called *heliko* "snail") | ĈE, he-LI-ko |
| . | *punkto* | PUNK-to |
| - | *streketo* | stre-KE-to |
| _ | *substreko* | sub-STRE-ko |
| / | *oblikvo* | ob-LIK-vo |

The address maria@ekzemplo.org is read *maria ĉe ekzemplo punkto org*. Many email programs once handled only plain ASCII or Latin-1 text, so Vikipedio notes that a substitute spelling, such as the [x-system](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/alphabet/), is still sometimes needed in email.

## Useful phrases

### Phones and computers

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *Ĉu vi havas poŝtelefonon?* | Do you have a mobile phone? |
| *Kio estas via telefonnumero?* | What is your phone number? |
| *Mi devas ŝargi mian poŝtelefonon.* | I have to charge my phone. |
| *Bonvolu malŝalti la poŝtelefonon.* | Please switch off your phone. |
| *Mia komputilo estas tre malrapida.* | My computer is very slow. |

### Email and messages

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *Kio estas via retpoŝta adreso?* | What is your email address? |
| *Mia retpoŝta adreso estas maria@ekzemplo.org.* | My email address is maria@ekzemplo.org. |
| *Sendu al mi mesaĝon.* | Send me a message. |
| *Mi sendos al vi retmesaĝon.* | I will send you an email. |
| *Mi ne ricevis vian mesaĝon.* | I did not receive your message. |
| *Ĉu vi povas sendi al mi la dosieron per retpoŝto?* | Can you send me the file by email? |

### Online

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *La interreto ne funkcias.* | The internet is not working. |
| *Ĉu ĉi tie estas vifio?* | Is there Wi-Fi here? |
| *Kio estas la pasvorto de la vifio?* | What is the Wi-Fi password? |
| *Mi forgesis mian pasvorton kaj ne povas ensaluti.* | I forgot my password and cannot log in. |
| *Alklaku la ligilon kaj elŝutu la dosieron.* | Click the link and download the file. |
| *Mi serĉas informojn en la interreto.* | I am looking for information on the internet. |

In *Alklaku la ligilon* the verb ends in *-u* (a request, see [verbs](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/verbs/)) and the objects *ligilon* and *dosieron* take *-n* (see the [accusative](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/accusative/)).

## Esperanto on the internet

The Esperanto Wikipedia, *Vikipedio*, had about 390,000 articles on 8 October 2026. In 2015 one researcher even estimated the number of speakers from Facebook users, as [how many people speak Esperanto](https://esperantopedia.org/about/speakers/) explains. To type ĉ, ĝ, ĥ, ĵ, ŝ and ŭ on a computer or phone, see the [alphabet page](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/alphabet/). Free courses and practice partners are in [learning resources](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/resources/).

## Common questions

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

*Komputilo*, from *komputi* "to compute" and *-il-* "tool"; the plural is *komputiloj*. The older *komputoro* and *komputero* are archaic in ReVo.

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

*Interreto*, from *inter-* "between" and *reto* "net": ReVo defines it as a set of interconnected computer networks. Vikipedio gives both *interreto* and *Interreto*.

### How do you say "email" and "email address"?

"Email" is *retpoŝto* or *retletero*; "email address" is *retpoŝta adreso*. ReVo's *retadreso* covers web and email addresses. *E-poŝto* is short for *elektronika poŝto* (Vikipedio).

### How do you say "download" and "upload"?

*Elŝuti* is "to download" and *alŝuti* "to upload"; ReVo defines them as opposites, relative to a server.

### What is the Esperanto word for "mobile phone" or "smartphone"?

A mobile phone is *poŝtelefono*. A smartphone is *lerta telefono* or *inteligenta telefono*; ReVo marks the short form *kompufono* as best avoided.

### What is the difference between retumilo and foliumilo?

Both name a web browser in ReVo: *retumilo* is a program for *retumi*, *foliumilo* a reader for exploring pages and files in any order. Vikipedio names the strict term *TTT-legilo* and says *retumilo*, strictly a wider set of internet programs, is often used for it.

## Sources

- [ReVo: komputilo, tekkomputilo, tabulkomputilo, platkomputilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/komput.html), [komputoro, komputero](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/komputor.html), [kompufono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kompufon.html)
- [ReVo: telefono, poŝtelefono, lerta telefono, telefonnumero](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/telefo.html), [servilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/serv.html)
- [ReVo: klavaro, klavo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/klav.html), [muso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/mus.html), [ekrano, tuŝekrano](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ekran.html), [presilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pres.html), [printilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/print.html), [skanilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/skan.html)
- [ReVo: fotilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fot.html), [kamerao, retkamerao](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kamera.html), [mikrofono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/mikrof1.html), [laŭtparolilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/lauxt.html), [kapaŭdilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/auxd.html), [akumulatoro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/akumul1.html), [ŝargilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxarg.html)
- [ReVo: programo, programaro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/progra.html), [aparataro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/aparat.html), [aplikaĵo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/aplik.html), [apo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ap.html), [dosiero, dosierujo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/dosier.html), [fenestro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fenest.html)
- [ReVo: ŝalti, malŝalti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxalt.html), [klaki, alklaki](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/klak.html), [instali](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/instal.html), [ĝisdatigi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/dat.html), [savkopio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kopi.html), [ŝuti, elŝuti, alŝuti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxut.html)
- [ReVo: reto, interreto, retejo, retumi, retumilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ret.html), [Tut-Tera Teksaĵo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/teks.html), [retpaĝo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pagx.html), [retadreso, adreso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/adres.html), [ligilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/lig.html), [foliumilo, foliumi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/foli.html), [serĉilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sercx.html), [konekti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/konekt.html), [vifio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/vifi.html)
- [ReVo: retpoŝto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/posxt.html), [retletero](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/leter.html), [mesaĝo, mesaĝi, retmesaĝo, tujmesaĝilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/mesagx.html), [spamo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/spam.html), [viruso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/virus.html)
- [ReVo: uzanto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/uz.html), [konto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kont.html), [pasvorto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/vort.html), [ensaluti, elsaluti, salutnomo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/salut.html), [uzantnomo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/nom.html), [profilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/profil.html)
- [ReVo: Fejsbuko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fejsbuk.html), [Jutubo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jutub.html), [Tvitero](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tviter.html), [pepi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pep.html), [blogo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/blog.html), [forumo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/forum.html), [podkasto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/podkast.html), [komento](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/koment1.html)
- [ReVo: heliko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/helik.html), [punkto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/punkt.html), [streketo, substreko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/strek.html), [oblikvo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/oblikv.html), [teko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tek.html)
- [PMEG: IL](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/il.html), [UM](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/um.html), [AR](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ar.html), [EJ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ej.html), [UJ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/uj.html), [RET as a prefix](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/afiksecaj_elementoj/radikoj_kunmetajhoj.html)
- Vikipedio: [Interreto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interreto), [Retpoŝto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retpo%C5%9Dto), [Retumilo](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retumilo), [Facebook](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook), [@](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/@), [TTT-legilo](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/TTT-legilo), [Socia retejo](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socia_retejo), [X (mikrobloga servo)](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_(mikrobloga_servo)), [Statistikoj](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speciala%C4%B5o:Statistikoj) (389,591 articles on 8 October 2026)
- [Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/search?query=retpo%C5%9Dta+adreso&from=epo) (CC BY 2.0 FR), used only to check that these words occur in real sentences