Ni ĉiuj volas pacon.

Breakdown of Ni ĉiuj volas pacon.

ni
we
voli
to want
ĉiu
everyone
paco
peace

Questions & Answers about Ni ĉiuj volas pacon.

Why is it ni ĉiuj and not just ĉiuj?

Ni means we, and ĉiuj means all or all of us in this sentence.

Esperanto often uses both:

  • Ni ĉiuj = we all
  • literally, we, all

Using both words makes the meaning very clear and natural.
If you said only ĉiuj, that would usually mean everyone or all people, not specifically we all.

So:

  • Ni ĉiuj volas pacon. = We all want peace.
  • Ĉiuj volas pacon. = Everyone wants peace.
What exactly does ĉiuj mean here?

Here, ĉiuj means all in the sense of all of us.

It is the plural form of ĉiu, which means each, every, or everyone, depending on context.

In this sentence:

  • ni = we
  • ĉiuj = all

So together:

  • ni ĉiuj = we all

Because ni is plural, ĉiuj is also plural.

Why does paco become pacon?

The -n ending marks the direct object in Esperanto.

The direct object is the thing that receives the action of the verb. In this sentence, the action is volas = want, and the thing wanted is peace.

So:

  • paco = peace
  • pacon = peace, as the direct object

This is one of the most important grammar rules in Esperanto:

  • nouns end in -o
  • direct objects add -n

More examples:

  • Mi vidas la hundon. = I see the dog.
  • Ŝi amas muzikon. = She loves music.
  • Ni volas pacon. = We want peace.
Why isn’t ĉiuj marked with -n too?

Because ĉiuj is not the direct object. It goes with ni and helps describe the subject.

The subject is the one doing the action:

  • Ni ĉiuj = we all → the people doing the wanting

The direct object is:

  • pacon = peace → the thing being wanted

So only pacon gets the -n.

What form is volas?

Volas is the present-tense form of the verb voli, which means to want.

Esperanto verb endings are very regular:

  • -as = present
  • -is = past
  • -os = future
  • -us = conditional
  • -u = command/wish
  • -i = infinitive

So:

  • voli = to want
  • volas = want / wants / am wanting / is wanting, depending on context

In Esperanto, the verb form does not change depending on the subject:

  • mi volas = I want
  • vi volas = you want
  • li volas = he wants
  • ni volas = we want
Why is there no word for do or to as in English We all do want peace or We all want to have peace?

Esperanto usually says things more directly than English.

Ni ĉiuj volas pacon already means exactly what is needed: We all want peace.

English sometimes adds helper words like do, but Esperanto usually does not need them unless there is a special reason for emphasis.

Also, Esperanto often uses a simple noun where English might use a longer phrase:

  • volas pacon = want peace

There is no need to say something like volas havi pacon unless you specifically mean want to have peace in a more literal or special sense.

Can the word order change?

Yes, Esperanto word order is fairly flexible because the grammar endings show what each word is doing.

The most neutral order is:

  • Ni ĉiuj volas pacon.

But other orders are possible, for example:

  • Ĉiuj ni volas pacon.
  • Pacon ni ĉiuj volas.

These can sound more emphatic or stylistically different. Because pacon has the -n ending, we still know it is the object.

For a learner, it is best to use the normal, straightforward order:

  • Ni ĉiuj volas pacon.
How is ĉ pronounced in ĉiuj?

Ĉ is pronounced like ch in church.

So ĉiuj is pronounced approximately like:

  • CHEE-ooy

Very roughly broken down:

  • ĉi sounds like chee
  • uj sounds somewhat like ooy

A more careful pronunciation is:

  • ĈI-uj

Esperanto spelling is very regular, so ĉ always has that ch sound.

Why is ĉiuj plural?

Because it refers to more than one person.

In Esperanto, words ending in -j are plural.
So:

  • ĉiu = each / every / everyone
  • ĉiuj = all / all people / everyone in the plural sense

Since ni means we, which is plural, ĉiuj must also be plural:

  • ni ĉiuj = we all
Could this sentence also be Ni volas ĉiujn pacon?

No, that would be wrong.

The word ĉiujn would be accusative plural, meaning it is functioning as a direct object. But in this sentence, all is describing we, not peace.

So the structure is:

  • Ni ĉiuj = subject
  • volas = verb
  • pacon = object

Correct:

  • Ni ĉiuj volas pacon.

Not correct:

  • Ni volas ĉiujn pacon.

That incorrect version would mix up the roles of the words.

Is pacon singular or plural, and why?

Pacon is singular.

Breakdown:

  • paco = peace
  • pacon = peace + direct object ending

There is no -j, so it is not plural.

That makes sense, because peace here is an abstract noun. In English and Esperanto, abstract nouns are often singular:

  • paco = peace
  • libereco = freedom
  • justeco = justice

So Ni ĉiuj volas pacon means that all of us want the state or condition of peace, not several separate peaces.

Could I translate we all as ĉiuj ni instead of ni ĉiuj?

Yes, ĉiuj ni is possible, but ni ĉiuj is usually the more straightforward and common choice for learners.

Both can mean we all:

  • ni ĉiuj
  • ĉiuj ni

The difference is mostly about style or emphasis.
Ni ĉiuj feels more neutral in many contexts.

So if you are unsure, use:

  • Ni ĉiuj volas pacon.

That is simple, natural, and easy to understand.

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