Formal Letters and Emails

Level 5

Open with Estimata sinjoro, state your matter plainly, close with Kun respekto.

How It Works

PartWords
greetingEstimata sinjoro, / Estimata sinjorino, / Estimataj gesinjoroj,
reasonMi skribas pri ... / Mi skribas al vi pro ...
requestBonvolu ... / Ĉu vi povus ...?
closingKun respekto / Kun koraj salutoj

The greeting is a call (alvoko). PMEG says a call never takes la, a preposition or -n: Estimata prezidanto, mi ŝatus fari jenan proponon.

The closing is a short phrase with kun. A preposition is followed by the plain form, so write Kun koraj salutoj.

Formal Esperanto still uses vi for one person. Politeness comes from bonvolu, ĉu vi povus and complete sentences. Write the date at the top with the -n ending, as in la 15-an de decembro, because it says when the letter was written. A message sent by e-mail follows the same plan, and its subject line is a short noun phrase.

Examples (5)

  1. Estimata sinjorino, mi skribas pri la loĝejo dum la kongreso.

    Dear madam, I am writing about the lodging during the congress.

    The greeting is a call, so it has no la and no -n.

  2. Bonvolu sendi al mi la programon de la kongreso.

    Please send me the program of the congress.

    Bonvolu makes a request polite.

  3. Mi dankas vin pro via rapida respondo.

    I thank you for your quick reply.

    Dankas takes vin as its object, and pro gives the reason.

  4. Mi volonte partoprenos la renkontiĝon la 15-an de decembro.

    I will gladly take part in the meeting on 15 December.

    A date takes -n when it says when something happens.

  5. Kun koraj salutoj, Zainab

    With warm greetings, Zainab

    Kun is followed by the plain form.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting -n on the words after kun.

    Kun korajn salutojn, Zainab
    Kun koraj salutoj, Zainab

    Kun is a preposition and is followed by the plain form. The -n would mark an object, and there is none.

How It Connects

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

Formal Letters and EmailsLevel 5

Learn This First

A formal letter builds on the friendly letter and on polite requests.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.