Esperanto Language Blog
Menu
Search

Fun with Infixes: -estr- Posted by on Apr 25, 2009 in Esperanto Language

Taken on its own, the word “estro” means a leader (or, more colloquially, a boss or a chief). You can put -estr- into a word to create specific types of leaders.

Sxipestro (sxip- + -estr- + -o) = Ship’s captain
Lernestro (lern- + -estr- + -o) = Principal, professor, etc.
Urbestro (urb- + -estr- + -o) = Mayor

Perhaps your previous Esperanto studies bring to mind the word “fenestro.” We can break it apart to show fen-, -estr-, and the -o suffix. We know that “fenestro” actually means “window” (which Zamenhof probably adapted from the Latin word “fenestra,” from which English derives its oddly specific verb “defenestration” – to eject from a window!). Given what -estr- means, the word “fenestro” doesn’t seem to make much sense. A master of “fenoj?”

It’s likely unintentional, but the etymology of “fenestro” ends up working out quite nicely. The word “feno” in Esperanto means “a chinook,” which is a type of wind. A window controls whether or not one’s room experiences the wind or not – which may well be why “wind” fits into the word in English. With this in mind, perhaps the “fenestro” is meant to be the master of the winds – something that controls them to keep your papers from blowing off of your desk, or to keep insects from flying in your window as you drive to work.

Tags:
Keep learning Esperanto with us!

Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.

Try it Free Find it at your Library
Share this:
Pin it

About the Author: Transparent Language

Transparent Language is a leading provider of best-practice language learning software for consumers, government agencies, educational institutions, and businesses. We want everyone to love learning language as much as we do, so we provide a large offering of free resources and social media communities to help you do just that!