Ni parolas pri la ekonomio.

Ni is the Esperanto subject pronoun meaning we.

Some basic subject pronouns are:

• mi = I
• vi = you
• li = he
• ŝi = she
• ĝi = it
• ni = we
• ili = they

So in Ni parolas pri la ekonomio, ni tells you that the speaker is included: we are the ones speaking.

In Esperanto, all present-tense verbs end in -as.

So:

• paroli = to speak
• parolas = speak / am speaking / are speaking / is speaking

A very important point for English speakers: Esperanto verbs do not change depending on the subject.

So you get:

• mi parolas = I speak
• vi parolas = you speak
• ni parolas = we speak
• ili parolas = they speak

The verb form stays the same.

It can mean either, depending on context.

Esperanto present tense often covers both:

• we speak
• we are speaking

So Ni parolas pri la ekonomio could mean:

• We speak about the economy
• We are speaking about the economy
• We talk about the economy

The exact English translation depends on context.

The dictionary form is paroli, which means to speak.

Esperanto verbs are usually learned in the infinitive form ending in -i:

• paroli = to speak
• legi = to read
• skribi = to write

Then you change the ending for tense:

• parolas = speak / are speaking
• parolis = spoke
• parolos = will speak

Pri is a preposition meaning about, concerning, or regarding.

So:

• paroli pri io = to speak about something

In this sentence:

• pri la ekonomio = about the economy

English speakers often need to learn which preposition goes with a verb, and paroli pri is a very common combination in Esperanto.

Because paroli pri is the normal way to say to speak about something.

Although de can sometimes relate to about in certain contexts, with paroli the usual and expected preposition is pri.

So:

• Ni parolas pri la ekonomio = correct and natural

A learner should remember this as a set phrase:

• paroli pri = to talk about

La is the definite article, meaning the.

So:

• ekonomio = economy
• la ekonomio = the economy

Esperanto has only one article: la. It does not change for gender, number, or case in the basic form.

In this sentence, la ekonomio refers to a specific economy or to the economy as a known concept, just like in English.

Because all Esperanto nouns end in -o.

So:

• ekonomio = economy
• libro = book
• urbo = city

This makes parts of speech very easy to recognize. If you see a word ending in -o, it is a noun.

Because la ekonomio is not the direct object of the verb. It is part of a prepositional phrase: pri la ekonomio.

In Esperanto, the -n ending is mainly used for:

• direct objects
• motion toward something in some cases

But after a normal preposition like pri, you usually do not add -n.

So:

• Ni parolas pri la ekonomio = correct

Not:

• Ni parolas pri la ekonomion

The normal word order here is very straightforward:

• Ni = subject
• parolas = verb
• pri la ekonomio = prepositional phrase

So the standard order is:

• Ni parolas pri la ekonomio.

Esperanto word order is more flexible than English because the grammar endings make roles clearer. But this sentence is already in the most neutral, natural order.

You could move things for emphasis, for example:

• Pri la ekonomio ni parolas.

That is still understandable, but the original sentence is the most ordinary way to say it.

A helpful approximation is:

• e-ko-no-MI-o

Esperanto stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable, so here the stress is on mi.

Also, Esperanto spelling is very regular, so words are usually pronounced as written.

It is singular.

In Esperanto:

• singular nouns end in -o
• plural nouns end in -oj

So:

• ekonomio = economy
• ekonomioj = economies

Here, la ekonomio means the economy, singular.

Normally, Esperanto keeps the subject pronoun when it is needed.

So you usually say:

• Ni parolas = We speak

rather than just:

• Parolas

Because parolas by itself does not tell you who is speaking. The verb ending shows the tense, but not the person or number.

That is different from some languages where the verb form changes more and the subject can often be dropped.

It is neutral and standard.

Nothing in Ni parolas pri la ekonomio is especially formal, literary, or slangy. It is just a normal everyday Esperanto sentence.

That makes it a good example for learning basic sentence structure:

• subject: ni
• verb: parolas
• prepositional phrase: pri la ekonomio