Lesson 11: Letter and Email Writing at B2
Master formal, semi-formal, and informal letter and email writing in Esperanto, including structure, formulaic expressions, and epistolary conventions.
Overview
Written correspondence is a foundational communicative act in Esperanto culture, far more than in most national languages. Before the internet, letters were the primary way Esperantists connected across the world — through pen-pal networks, the Pasporta Servo host system, club correspondence, and letters to magazine editors. That tradition has not disappeared; it has migrated to email while retaining many of the formal conventions of traditional letter-writing. Whether you are writing to a Pasporta Servo host in Japan, to the editorial board of Monato, to an Esperanto association requesting information, or to a pen pal you met at a congress, you need to know the conventions of Esperanto epistolary culture.
This lesson builds directly on the argumentation and reporting vocabulary of L9 and L10, and it draws on the register awareness from L7. It also introduces formulaic phrases that are specifically epistolary — phrases you would never hear in conversation but that appear in virtually every formal Esperanto letter. After this lesson, you will be able to write any letter or email in Esperanto from scratch: from a formal request to a government body to a warm personal letter to a friend made at Universala Kongreso.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you can:
- Write a complete formal Esperanto letter with correct structure (header, salutation, body, closing, signature)
- Use semi-formal email conventions for correspondence with Esperanto associations, clubs, and teachers
- Write an informal personal letter or message to a Pasporta Servo host or pen pal
- Deploy formulaic epistolary expressions (Mi permesas al mi..., Mi havas la honoron..., Bonvolu informi min pri...) naturally and correctly
Vocabulary
| Esperanto | Type | English | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| estimata | adj | esteemed, dear (formal) | Estimata S-ro Hansson, mi dankas vin pro via respondo. |
| kara | adj | dear (informal/semi-formal) | Kara Amelia, longe mi ne skribis al vi! |
| mi skribas al vi | phrase | I am writing to you | Mi skribas al vi por peti informon pri la kongreso. |
| mi permesas al mi | phrase | I take the liberty of | Mi permesas al mi kontakti vin pri la sekva temo. |
| mi havas la honoron | phrase | I have the honor | Mi havas la honoron prezenti al vi nian projekton. |
| bonvolu informi min | phrase | please inform me | Bonvolu informi min pri la datoj de la evento. |
| bonvolu konfirmi | phrase | please confirm | Bonvolu konfirmi vian ĉeeston ĝis la 15a. |
| kun kordaj salutoj | phrase | with cordial greetings | Kun kordaj salutoj, Ana Silva |
| kun respekto | phrase | with respect, respectfully | Kun respekto, mi sentas min devigita klarigi... |
| fratece | adv | fraternally (Esperantist) | Fratece kaj kun esperantistaj salutoj, |
| via sincera | phrase | yours sincerely | Via sincera, Kensuke Tanaka |
| antaŭe dankas | phrase | thanking you in advance | Antaŭe dankas vin por via atento kaj helpo. |
| en respondo al | phrase | in response to | En respondo al via letero de la 3a, mi klarigas... |
| mi permesas aldoni | phrase | I may also add | Mi permesas aldoni, ke la afero estas urĝa. |
| mi turnas al vi | phrase | I turn to you (for help) | Mi turnas al vi kun peto pri informo. |
| loko kaj dato | phrase | place and date (letter header) | Vieno, la 30an de majo 2026 |
| adresato | noun | addressee | La adresato de la letero estis la prezidantо de la organizaĵo. |
| sendanto | noun | sender | La sendanto lasis neniun adreson. |
| poŝtmarko | noun | postage stamp | La letero havis exoteran poŝtmarkon el Brazilo. |
| retadreso | noun | email address | Bonvolu sendi vian retadreson por pliaj informoj. |
| retpoŝto | noun | email (system/message) | Mi ricevis vian retpoŝton kaj dankas vin. |
| aldono | noun | attachment | La aldono enhavas la plena dokumentaro. |
| sendi | verb | to send | Mi sendos la dokumentojn ĝis la fino de la semajno. |
| ricevi | verb | to receive | Mi ricevis vian leteron kun granda plezuro. |
| respondi | verb | to reply | Mi respondos ene de du labortagoj. |
| pripensi | verb | to consider, think over | Mi petas vin pripensi nian proponon. |
| aprobi | verb | to approve | Mi esperas, ke vi aprobos nian peton. |
| peto | noun | request | Mi direktas al vi tiun ĉi peton pro grava afero. |
| gratuli | verb | to congratulate | Mi gratulas vin pro via sukceso en la ekzameno. |
Grammar Focus
Formal Letter Structure in Esperanto
Structure:
- Loko, dato (Place, date — top right or top left)
- Adreso de la adresato (Address of the recipient — top left, formal letters only)
- Salutacio (Salutation)
- Enkonduko (Opening paragraph)
- Ĉefkorpo (Body)
- Fermfrazo (Closing sentence)
- Fermsalutacio (Closing formula)
- Subskribo (Signature)
The header: A formal Esperanto letter begins with the place and date in the locative form: Vieno, la 30an de majo 2026. (Note: the date uses the accusative -n for the day number, since it functions as a temporal accusative: "on the 30th.") The month name is in the genitive of specification: de majo. The year is typically written in full without case inflection.
Salutations by formality level:
- Estimata S-ro [Surname], — most formal (Sir/Mr.)
- Estimata S-ino [Surname], — most formal (Madam/Ms.)
- Estimata redakcio, — to an editorial board (no personal name)
- Estimata gesinjoroj, — Dear all (gender-neutral formal plural)
- Kara [First name], — semi-formal, familiar
- Amika [First name], — informal, friendly
- Karega / Plej kara [name], — very warm, personal
Opening paragraphs by purpose:
- Requesting information: Mi skribas al vi por peti informon pri...
- Responding: En respondo al via letero de la [dato], mi klarigas...
- Introducing yourself: Mi permesas al mi prezenti min: mi estas [name], [description]...
- Formal business: Mi havas la honoron kontakti vin pri...
- After meeting: Post nia agrabla renkontiĝo ĉe [kongreso], mi deziras...
Closing formulas by formality level:
- Formal: Kun kordaj salutoj, / Kun respekto, / Via sincera,
- Semi-formal: Kun amikaj salutoj, / Kun bonaj deziroj,
- Informal/Esperantist: Fratece, / Kun esperantistaj salutoj, / Ĝis revido,
- Warm informal: Viaj / Vian / Ĉiuj bonaj deziroj,
| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| Vieno, la 30an de majo 2026. | Vienna, 30 May 2026. |
| Estimata S-ro Nakamura, | Dear Mr. Nakamura, |
| Mi skribas al vi por peti informon pri la venonta kongreso. | I am writing to request information about the upcoming congress. |
| Bonvolu informi min pri la dateoj kaj la reĝistra proceduro. | Please inform me of the dates and the registration procedure. |
| Antaŭe dankas vin por via atento. | Thanking you in advance for your attention. |
| Kun kordaj salutoj, | With cordial greetings, |
Common mistake: ❌ Estimata gesinjoro Nakamura, (mixing gesinjoro with a specific surname unnecessarily) → ✓ Estimata S-ro Nakamura, — When the person's gender and name are known, use S-ro (Sinjoro) or S-ino (Sinjorino). Gesinjoroj is for plural mixed or unknown-gender groups.
Semi-Formal Email Conventions
Email to an Esperanto association, club, or teacher occupies a middle register between formal letter and informal personal message. The structure is more flexible, but certain conventions apply.
Subject line (Temo): Always include a specific subject. Temo: Demando pri la aŭtuna seminario or Temo: Registrado por la junulara kongreso.
Opening: Can be slightly less formal: Saluton, (Hello) is acceptable for semi-formal emails, or Estimata [name/title], for more formal.
Body: Write in clear paragraphs. One idea per paragraph. Keep it shorter than a formal letter. Use bullet points (• or -) for lists.
Closing: Kun salutoj, (With greetings) or Ĝis baldaŭ, (Until soon) for semi-formal. Add your full name and contact information below the closing.
Attachments: Mi aldonas la dokumenton kiel aldonaĵon. (I am attaching the document as an attachment.) or Vidu la aldonaĵon por pliaj detaloj. (See the attachment for further details.)
Informal Letter: Pasporta Servo and Pen Pals
Structure: Salutation + news/personal update + main message + question for the other person + warm closing
Informal Esperanto letters are warmer, more personal, and use colloquial vocabulary. The Pasporta Servo (PS) is an Esperanto network where Esperantists offer free accommodation to traveling fellow Esperantists. Writing to a PS host before a visit is a classic context for informal Esperanto correspondence.
Key features of informal letters:
- Open with news or a warm remark: Longe mi ne skribis al vi! (It's been a long time since I wrote to you!) or Saluton el varma [city]!
- Share personal news: Post la kongreso en Lisbono, mi revenis enhejme pli entuziasma ol iam.
- Ask questions showing genuine interest: Kiel vi fartas? Ĉu vi ankoraŭ aktive partoprenas en via loka grupo?
- Close warmly: Ĝis revido, espereble baldaŭ! / Fratece, / Via amiko,
| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| Longe mi ne skribis! Pardonu mian silenton. | It's been a long time since I wrote! Forgive my silence. |
| Mi planas viziti vian urbon en julio kaj esperas eble renkontiĝi kun vi. | I am planning to visit your city in July and hope to perhaps meet with you. |
| Ĉu vi ankoraŭ aktivas en la loka Esperanto-grupo? | Are you still active in the local Esperanto group? |
| Bonvolu skribi baldaŭ — mi ĝojas ĉiam ricevi viajn leterojn. | Please write soon — I always enjoy receiving your letters. |
| Fratece kaj kun esperantistaj salutoj, | Fraternally and with Esperantist greetings, |
Authentic Text
Formal letter (to the editor of Monato):
Kolonjo, la 15an de aprilo 2026.
Estimata redakcio¹,
Mi skribas al vi por esprimi mian opinion² pri la artikolo de Martino García pri la rolo de artefarita inteligenteco en lingvoinstruado, aperinta en la marta numero. La aŭtoro argumentas, ke AI-bazitaj iloj povas anstataŭi tradician klasĉambran instruadon. Mi permesas al mi malkonsentir³.
Laŭ mia sperto kiel esperantisto nun dum dek jaroj, la plej kerna aspekto de lingvolernado estas ne gramatiko aŭ vortprovizo, sed homa kontakto⁴ — la vivanta komunumo, kiu donas al la lingvo sian sencon. Neniu algoritmo povas anstataŭi la momenton, kiam oni unuafoje parolas Esperanton kun nekonato el alia kontinento kaj sentas, ke ili vere komprenas unu la alian.
Antaŭe dankas vin⁵ por via atento, kaj mi esperas, ke vi trovos lokon por ĉi tiu letero en via "Leteroj al la redakcio".
Kun kordaj salutoj, [Subskribo]
Cologne, 15 April 2026. Dear editorial board, I am writing to you to express my opinion about Martino García's article on the role of artificial intelligence in language teaching, which appeared in the March issue. The author argues that AI-based tools can replace traditional classroom instruction. I take the liberty of disagreeing. In my experience as an Esperantist for ten years now, the most essential aspect of language learning is not grammar or vocabulary, but human contact — the living community that gives the language its meaning. No algorithm can replace the moment when one first speaks Esperanto with a stranger from another continent and feels that they truly understand each other. Thanking you in advance for your attention, and I hope you will find a place for this letter in your "Letters to the Editor." With cordial greetings, [Signature]
¹ Estimata redakcio — formal salutation to an editorial board (no personal name) ² mi skribas al vi por esprimi mian opinion — standard formal opening: purpose of writing ³ mi permesas al mi malkonsentir — "I take the liberty of disagreeing" — formal epistolary phrase softening disagreement ⁴ homa kontakto — key argument, unpacked in the following sentence ⁵ antaŭe dankas vin — pre-closing phrase: "thanking you in advance"
Practice
Exercise 1: Transform the sentences Rewrite each phrase in the register indicated.
- Saluton! Ĉu vi povas sendi al mi info? → Formal letter register
- Estimata S-ro Martino, mi havas la honoron prezenti al vi nian peton... → Informal email to a friend
- Antaŭe dankas vin, Kun respekto → Adapt for an email to a language club
- Mi turnas al vi kun demando: → Start a semi-formal email with this phrase, completing the sentence
- Write the date "17 June 2026" in correct Esperanto formal letter format.
Exercise 2: Translate to Esperanto
- I am writing to inquire about the registration process for the upcoming summer seminar.
- Please confirm your attendance by the 20th of this month.
- In response to your letter of the 5th, I am pleased to inform you that your application has been approved.
- I take the liberty of suggesting a small modification to the proposed plan.
- With Esperantist greetings, and hoping to meet you at the congress.
Exercise 3: Write your own Choose one of the following tasks and write a complete letter or email in Esperanto: (a) Formal: Write a letter to the board of a fictional Esperanto organization, requesting a grant to organize a local event. Use full formal letter structure: header, formal salutation, body with at least two paragraphs, formal closing. (b) Semi-formal: Write an email to an Esperanto language school inquiring about their advanced courses, their prices, and whether online options are available. Use semi-formal email conventions. (c) Informal: Write a letter to your Pasporta Servo host three weeks before your planned visit, introducing yourself, explaining your travel plans, and asking one or two questions about local Esperanto activities. Use informal register throughout.
Cultural Note
The Pasporta Servo (literally "Passport Service") was founded in 1974 and is one of the most beloved institutions in the Esperanto world. It is a global directory of Esperantists who offer free accommodation in their homes to traveling Esperantists — the only condition is that both parties communicate in Esperanto. At its peak, it listed hosts in over ninety countries. Writing to a Pasporta Servo host was, for decades, a young Esperantist's first experience of writing a real letter in Esperanto to a real stranger — and receiving a warm, detailed reply from someone on the other side of the world. Many lifelong Esperanto friendships began with a Pasporta Servo letter.
The tradition of letters to Esperanto magazine editors is also culturally significant. Monato, La Ondo de Esperanto, and Literatura Foiro all maintain "letters" sections where readers comment on articles, disagree with each other, share experiences, and propose ideas. The quality of these letters — often written by learners who are not professional writers — is remarkably high, because the formality conventions of Esperanto letter-writing push writers to organize their thoughts carefully. Reading the letters sections of these magazines is an excellent B2 reading exercise, and submitting your own letter is a concrete B2 production challenge.