-em-

-em-: Inclined to

Level 4

The root before -em- is an action that the person tends to do.

How It Works

VerbWith -em-Meaning
paroliparolematalkative
scivoliscivolemacurious
laborilaboremahard-working
timitimematimid
dormidormemasleepy

The root before -em- is normally an action, as the verb forms show. Most -em- words describe a lasting tendency of a person, as in parolema. Some describe a feeling of the moment, as in dormema, which means sleepy right now.

Use -em- for a tendency, and the plain verb for one action. Ŝi parolas says that she is speaking now, and Ŝi estas parolema describes her nature. An -em- word is an adjective, so it agrees with its noun: scivolemaj infanoj.

Examples (5)

  1. Katarzyna estas tre parolema, kaj ŝi ĉiam havas ion por rakonti.

    Katarzyna is very talkative, and she always has something to tell.

    Parolema describes someone who tends to talk.

  2. La scivolemaj infanoj demandas multe.

    The curious children ask a lot.

    Scivolemaj agrees with infanoj, so it has -j.

  3. Mia nevo estas laborema, kaj li helpas ĉiutage.

    My nephew is hard-working, and he helps every day.

    Laborema describes someone inclined to work.

  4. Kenji ne estas timema, kaj li parolas Esperanton kun ĉiuj.

    Kenji is not timid, and he speaks Esperanto with everyone.

    Timema means inclined to be afraid.

  5. La infano estas dormema post la longa vojaĝo.

    The child is sleepy after the long trip.

    Here -em- shows a feeling of the moment.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-em-Level 4-em-: Inclined to

Learn This First

The ending -em- describes someone who tends to do something.