Breakdown of La vorto “amiko” signifas homon, kiu amas vin.
amiko
the friend
vorto
the word
homo
the person
ami
to love
vin
you
kiu
who
signifi
to mean
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Questions & Answers about La vorto “amiko” signifas homon, kiu amas vin.
Why is the noun homon used with an -n ending instead of remaining in the nominative form?
In Esperanto, the direct object of a verb must end in -n. In this sentence, homon is the direct object of the verb signifas (“means”), so it correctly receives the accusative ending.
What does the word kiu mean, and why doesn’t it have an -n ending like homon?
Kiu is a relative pronoun meaning “who” (or “which”). Although it refers back to homon, it functions as the subject of its own clause (kiu amas vin). Since subjects remain in the nominative case in Esperanto, kiu does not take the accusative ending.
Why are quotation marks used around amiko in the sentence?
The quotation marks indicate that we are discussing the word amiko itself—the term as it appears in the language—rather than its conceptual meaning. This is a common practice in dictionary-like definitions or when introducing vocabulary.
Why is the pronoun vin used instead of vi?
In Esperanto, vi is the subject form of “you,” while vin is the accusative (direct object) form. Here, vin is the object of the verb amas (“loves”), which is why it appears with the -n ending.
What role does the verb signifas play in this sentence?
The verb signifas means “means” or “signifies.” It links the word amiko to its definition, informing us that amiko is defined as “a person who loves you.”