-il-

-il-: Tool

Level 3

-il- turns an action into the tool that does it.

How It Works

ActionWith -il-Meaning
tranĉi (cut)tranĉiloknife
skribi (write)skribilopen
ŝlosi (lock)ŝlosilokey
komputi (calculate)komputilocomputer

Say what the tool does with per: Mi tranĉas panon per tranĉilo.

Not every tool has -il-. Many tools are whole words, such as kulero (spoon), forko (fork), biciklo (bicycle) and martelo (hammer). You do not add -il- to them.

Read the parts: skrib (write) + -il- (tool) + -o (noun) gives skribilo (pen).

The root can also give a person. Skribisto is a writer, but skribilo is the pen the writer uses.

Examples (4)

  1. Mi tranĉas panon per tranĉilo.

    I cut bread with a knife.

    Tranĉilo is the tool for tranĉi; per shows the tool.

  2. Kie estas mia skribilo?

    Where is my pen?

    Skribilo is a tool for writing.

  3. Ana perdis la ŝlosilon de sia ĉambro.

    Ana lost the key to her room.

    Ŝlosilo is the tool you lock with; la ŝlosilon is the object.

  4. Priya skribas leteron per sia komputilo.

    Priya is writing a letter on her computer.

    Komputilo is a device for computing.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding -il- to a word that is already a tool.

    Mi manĝas supon per kulerilo.
    Mi manĝas supon per kulero.

    Kulero is already the word for a spoon, so it needs no -il-.

How It Connects

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

-il-Level 3-il-: Tool

Learn This First

The ending -il- names a tool.