Petanto demandas pri la stampo.

Petanto is built from:

• peti = to request, ask for, apply for
• -ant- = present active participle, meaning doing the action
• -o = noun ending

So petanto literally means a person who is requesting / applying. Depending on context, it can mean applicant, petitioner, or requester.

Because demandi and peti mean different kinds of ask.

• demandi = to ask a question, inquire
• peti = to ask for something, request something

So:

• demandi pri la stampo = ask about the stamp
• peti la stampon = ask for the stamp

This is important because demandi is a kind of false friend for English speakers: it does not usually mean demand in the English sense.

Pri means about, concerning, or regarding.

So demandi pri la stampo means to ask about the stamp.

This is a very common pattern in Esperanto:

• paroli pri io = talk about something
• demandi pri io = ask about something
• scii pri io = know about something

La is the definite article, meaning the.

So la stampo means the stamp: a specific stamp that is known from the situation or context.

If you said just stampo, it would sound more like a stamp or stamp(s) in general, depending on context.

Because it is not the direct object of the verb. It is part of the prepositional phrase pri la stampo.

In Esperanto, nouns usually do not take -n after a preposition.

• Mi parolas pri la libro.
• Ŝi demandas pri la stampo.

The accusative -n is mainly used for:

• direct objects
• direction toward something in certain expressions

Here, la stampo is simply the topic being asked about.

Without la, petanto means an applicant / a requester, or simply introduces the person without emphasizing that they are already known.

If you said La petanto demandas pri la stampo, that would mean the applicant is asking about the stamp, with a more clearly identified applicant.

So both are possible, but they differ in how specific the person is.

The ending -as shows present tense.

So demandas means asks or is asking.

Esperanto verb endings are very regular:

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

So:

• demandas = asks
• demandis = asked
• demandos = will ask

Yes, Esperanto word order is fairly flexible, because endings and prepositions show the grammatical relationships.

However, Petanto demandas pri la stampo is the most neutral and natural order:

• subject
• verb
• prepositional phrase

A different order is possible for emphasis, but it may sound more marked or literary. For a learner, the given order is the safest choice.

Esperanto stress is always on the second-to-last syllable of each word.

So the stress is:

• pe-TAN-to
• de-MAN-das
• PRI
• LA
• STAM-po

A rough pronunciation guide:

• petanto = peh-TAHN-toh
• demandas = deh-MAHN-dahs
• pri = pree
• la = lah
• stampo = STAHM-poh

Yes. Because Esperanto word-building is very regular, petanto literally means someone who is requesting.

Depending on context, it might be:

• applicant
• requester
• petitioner
• even someone asking for something

So the best English word depends on the situation, not just the dictionary form.