# War and peace in Esperanto: words for news and history

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/war-peace/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-11

> War is milito, peace is paco, a soldier is soldato: about 80 neutral Esperanto words for news and history, with pronunciation and word-building.

War in Esperanto is ***milito*** and peace is ***paco***. A soldier is a ***soldato***, an army an ***armeo*** and a refugee a ***rifuĝinto***. About 80 words are grouped below by topic, followed by word-building and look-alike pairs. The words are neutral labels: the page takes no side, names no current events and follows the dictionary ReVo.

Pronunciation guides split words into syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals. See also [politics and society](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/politics-society/), [law and crime](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/law-crime/) and [geography and the world](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/geography-world/).

## Peace and diplomacy

***Paco*** is the state of a nation that is not at war, and also harmony among people. ReVo's phrase *armita paco* "armed peace" means peace in which each side prepares for war.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| peace | *paco* | PA-co | opposite: *milito* |
| peaceful | *paca* | PA-ca | |
| to pacify, bring peace | *pacigi* | pa-CI-gi | *-ig-* "make" |
| to make peace, reconcile | *paciĝi* | pa-CI-ĝi | *-iĝ-* "become" |
| peace treaty | *packontrakto* | pac-kon-TRAK-to | also *pactraktato* |
| treaty | *traktato* | trak-TA-to | contract between states |
| armistice | *armistico* | ar-mis-TI-co | ends the fighting, but peace needs a treaty |
| agreement | *interkonsento* | in-ter-kon-SEN-to | verb: *interkonsenti* |
| to negotiate | *intertrakti* | in-ter-TRAK-ti | talks: *intertraktado* |
| diplomat | *diplomato* | di-plo-MA-to | |
| diplomacy | *diplomatio* | di-plo-ma-TI-o | official relations between states |
| ambassador | *ambasadoro* | am-ba-sa-DO-ro | top representative of one state in another |
| embassy | *ambasadorejo* | am-ba-sa-do-RE-jo | also *ambasadejo* |
| neutral | *neŭtrala* | neŭ-TRA-la | takes no side |

## War and fighting

ReVo defines ***milito*** as official non-peace between nations or parties, with battles. ***Militi*** is to wage war; ***batali*** is "to fight" in general. To declare war is *deklari militon*.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| war | *milito* | mi-LI-to | |
| to be at war | *militi* | mi-LI-ti | *militi kontraŭ* "to wage war against" |
| military (adj.) | *milita* | mi-LI-ta | |
| battle | *batalo* | ba-TA-lo | to fight: *batali* |
| to attack | *ataki* | a-TA-ki | attack: *atako* |
| to defend | *defendi* | de-FEN-di | protect against attack |
| to invade | *invadi* | in-VA-di | enter a foreign country by force and occupy it; *invado* |
| victory | *venko* | VEN-ko | to win: *venki* |
| defeat | *malvenko* | mal-VEN-ko | to lose: *malvenki* |
| to surrender | *kapitulaci* | ka-pi-tu-LA-ci | surrender: *kapitulaco* |
| enemy | *malamiko* | ma-la-MI-ko | in war usually a side, not a person |
| front line | *fronto* | FRON-to | where the fighting takes place |

## Armed forces

***Armeo*** is the whole organised military force of a state, with its soldiers, officers and weapons.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| army, armed forces | *armeo* | ar-ME-o | |
| land forces | *terarmeo* | te-rar-ME-o | *tero* "land" |
| navy | *mararmeo* | ma-rar-ME-o | *maro* "sea" |
| air force | *aerarmeo* | a-e-rar-ME-o | also *flugarmeo* |
| soldier | *soldato* | sol-DA-to | usually a rankless member of the land army |
| military person | *militisto* | mi-li-TIS-to | fights as a profession or as a conscript |
| the military as a group | *militistaro* | mi-li-tis-TA-ro | |
| officer | *oficiro* | o-fi-CI-ro | any army leader from sub-lieutenant up |
| general | *generalo* | ge-ne-RA-lo | officer above colonel |
| troops | *trupo*, *trupoj* | TRU-po, TRU-poj | organised group of soldiers |
| militia | *milico* | mi-LI-co | see "Look-alike words" |

## Weapons: the basic words

Only everyday words; more are in the [dictionary](https://esperantopedia.org/dictionary/).

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| weapon | *armilo* | ar-MI-lo | any tool for attack or defence |
| gun | *pafilo* | pa-FI-lo | any tool for shooting; to shoot: *pafi* |
| bomb | *bombo* | BOM-bo | explosive device used as a weapon |
| tank | *tanko* | TAN-ko | armoured tracked vehicle |
| to arm | *armi* | AR-mi | armed: *armita* |
| to disarm | *malarmi* | ma-LAR-mi | *mal-* "opposite"; also *senarmigi* |

## After the fighting

***Rifuĝinto*** is *rifuĝ·int·o*, "one who took refuge"; the plain verb for "flee" is ***fuĝi***. *Humanitara helpo* is "humanitarian aid".

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| refugee | *rifuĝinto* | ri-fu-ĜIN-to | *-int-* "who did it" |
| shelter, refuge | *rifuĝejo* | ri-fu-ĜE-jo | *-ej-* "place" |
| to flee | *fuĝi* | FU-ĝi | flight: *fuĝo* |
| victim | *viktimo* | vik-TI-mo | one who suffers because of something |
| wounded person | *vundito* | vun-DI-to | *vundi* "to wound" + *-it-* "who was done to" |
| to destroy | *detrui* | de-TRU-i | destruction: *detruo* |
| ruins | *ruinoj* | ru-I-noj | what remains of a collapsed town |
| to rebuild | *rekonstrui* | re-kons-TRU-i | *re-* "again" + *konstrui* "build" |
| help, aid | *helpo* | HEL-po | to help: *helpi* |
| humanitarian | *humanitara* | hu-ma-ni-TA-ra | relieving human suffering, e.g. in war |

## Wars in history

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| world war | *mondmilito* | mond-mi-LI-to | involves many states worldwide |
| First World War | *la unua mondmilito* | la u-NU-a mond-mi-LI-to | 1914–1918; ReVo notes the dates vary by country |
| Second World War | *la dua mondmilito* | la DU-a mond-mi-LI-to | 1939–1945; ReVo notes the dates vary by country |
| civil war | *civita milito* | ci-VI-ta mi-LI-to | between citizens of one state |
| pre-war, post-war | *antaŭmilita*, *postmilita* | an-taŭ-mi-LI-ta, post-mi-LI-ta | *antaŭ-* "before", *post-* "after" |

## Building words from *milit-* and *pac-*

Both are roots, so endings and affixes build whole families; see [word building](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/word-building/), [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/) and [prefixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/prefixes/). *Mal-* does not give the opposite of *paco*: PMEG lists *paco* – *milito* as a pair without it, and *malpaco* means discord.

| Word | Parts | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| *militisto* | milit·ist·o | person who fights as a profession or conscript |
| *militistaro* | milit·ist·ar·o | the military as a group |
| *militema* | milit·em·a | inclined to war |
| *kontraŭmilita* | kontraŭ·milit·a | anti-war |
| *militkrimo* | milit·krim·o | war crime: act against the law of war |
| *pacema* | pac·em·a | peace-loving: favouring peace, avoiding fights |
| *interpaciĝo* | inter·pac·iĝ·o | reconciliation: both sides give up war or quarrel |
| *pacisto* | pac·ist·o | pacifist, follower of *pacismo*; ReVo also has the international *pacifisto* |

PMEG says *-ist-* is a person who often does something, perhaps professionally, and often a supporter of an *-ismo*, as in *pacisto*. *-An-* is a member of a group: *armeano* "army member", *milicano* "militia member". *-Ar-* makes a group: *militistaro*.

Words that already name a person take no *-ist-*; PMEG lists *soldato*, *generalo* and *diplomato*.

## Look-alike words

| Pair | Difference |
|---|---|
| *militisto* / *soldato* | anyone who fights / usually a rankless member of the land army |
| *milito* / *milico* | war / a non-permanent, often volunteer force for defending national territory (ReVo); not the police, which is *polico* |
| *armistico* / *packontrakto* | ends the fighting / makes peace (ReVo) |
| *negoci* / *intertrakti* | to do business / to hold talks between sides |
| *neŭtrala* / *neŭtra* | say *neŭtrala*; ReVo marks *neŭtra* in this sense "to avoid" |
| *rifuĝi* / *fuĝi* | take shelter / run away; ReVo advises against *rifuĝi* for plain "flee" |
| *sankcio* / *sankciumo* | official approval / punishment for a misdeed; ReVo marks *sankcio* so used "to avoid" |

## Sentences from the news

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *La du landoj subskribis packontrakton.* | The two countries signed a peace treaty. |
| *La delegacioj intertraktas dum tri tagoj.* | The delegations are negotiating for three days. |
| *La armistico komenciĝos morgaŭ.* | The armistice will begin tomorrow. |
| *La soldatoj defendis la ponton.* | The soldiers defended the bridge. |
| *La neŭtrala lando akceptis multajn rifuĝintojn.* | The neutral country took in many refugees. |
| *Humanitara helpo alvenis hieraŭ.* | Humanitarian aid arrived yesterday. |
| *Post la milito oni rekonstruis la urbon.* | After the war the town was rebuilt. |

Direct objects take *-n*: *packontrakton*, *ponton*, *rifuĝintojn*, *urbon*; see the [accusative](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/accusative/).

## Peace in Zamenhof's writing

Peace is a theme of Zamenhof's poem *La Espero* (1890), which promises *sanktan harmonion* "holy harmony" to a world *eterne militanta* "forever at war"; read more about [Zamenhof](https://esperantopedia.org/about/zamenhof/) and about [homaranismo](https://esperantopedia.org/about/homaranismo/), his idea of humanity as one family.

## Common questions

### How do you say "war" and "peace" in Esperanto?

*Milito* and *paco*. The adjectives are *milita* "military" and *paca* "peaceful".

### What is the difference between *militisto* and *soldato*?

*Militisto* is anyone who fights as a profession or conscript. *Soldato* usually means a rankless member of the land army, though ReVo also glosses it as *militisto*.

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

*Intertrakti* is to negotiate and *intertraktado* the talks. *Negoci* means to do business.

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

*Rifuĝinto*, from *rifuĝi* "to take shelter". A *rifuĝejo* is a place of refuge.

## Sources

- ReVo, peace and diplomacy: [pac-](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pac.html), [pacifismo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pacifi.html), [pacifisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pacifi1.html), [armistico](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/armistic.html), [kontrakto and packontrakto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kontra3.html), [traktato](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trakta.html), [intertrakti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trakt.html), [interkonsento](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/konsen.html), [negoci](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/negoc.html), [neŭtrala](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/neuxtr1.html), [neŭtra](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/neuxtr.html), [diplomato](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/diplom1.html), [diplomatio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/diplom2.html), [ambasadoro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ambasa1.html)
- ReVo, war and the military: [milit-](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/milit.html), [soldato](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/soldat.html), [armeo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/arme.html), [oficiro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/oficir.html), [generalo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/genera1.html), [trupo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trup.html), [milico](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/milic.html), [fronto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/front.html), [batali](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/batal.html), [venki](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/venk.html), [ataki](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/atak.html), [defendi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/defend.html), [invadi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/invad.html), [kapitulaci](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kapitu.html), [malamiko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/amik.html), [sankcio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sankci.html), [militkrimo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/krim.html)
- ReVo, weapons and aftermath: [armi and armilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/arm.html), [pafilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/paf.html), [bombo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bomb.html), [tanko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tank.html), [rifuĝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rifugx.html), [fuĝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fugx.html), [viktimo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/viktim.html), [vundi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/vund.html), [detrui](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/detru.html), [ruino](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ruin.html), [rekonstrui](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/konstr.html), [helpo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/help.html), [humanitara](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/humanitar.html)
- PMEG: [IST](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ist.html), [AN](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/an.html), [AR](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ar.html), [EM](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/em.html), [MAL](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/prefiksoj/mal.html)
- Zamenhof, *La Espero*, in *Fundamenta Krestomatio* (1903): [Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8224); Vikipedio, [La Espero](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Espero)