Learn Hardcore Esperanto: Saluton!

Saluton is perfectly suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Think of it as similar to Hello in English—it’s a friendly, general-purpose greeting.

How do I pronounce Saluton correctly?

You pronounce Saluton as sah-LOO-ton. Esperanto letters each have a single sound, so there aren’t any silent letters. The stress goes on the second syllable: sah-LOO-ton.

Why does Saluton end with -n?

In Esperanto, the -n can mark a direct object, but it also appears in some set phrases like greetings. You can think of it as I send (you) a greeting, where greeting (saluton) is the direct object.

Do I need to include an exclamation mark when writing Saluton?

You’ll often see Saluton followed by an exclamation mark to convey friendliness or enthusiasm, but it’s not a strict rule. You can write Saluton without one if you prefer a more neutral tone.