-um-

-um-: No Fixed Meaning

Level 5

An -um- word shows a link to its root, and the link changes from word to word.

How It Works

RootWith -um-Meaning
aeroaerumito air, to let air in
brakobrakumito hug
foliofoliumito leaf through
kolokolumocollar
plenaplenumito carry out

There are small groups. Some verbs mean to act with the root: brakumi uses the arms. Some mean to provide with it: aerumi brings in air. Some nouns are parts of clothes, like kolumo.

You cannot guess an -um- word from its parts the way you can with -ej-, so do not make new ones. A reader would have no way to know what you mean.

Examples (5)

  1. Hiro aerumas la ĉambron, ĉar estas varme.

    Hiro airs the room because it is warm.

    Aerumi means to let fresh air into a place.

  2. Greta brakumas sian amikinon ĉe la stacidomo.

    Greta hugs her friend at the station.

    Brakumi is a word of its own: it uses the arms.

  3. Kenji foliumas la gazeton en la trajno.

    Kenji leafs through the newspaper on the train.

    Foliumi means to turn the leaves quickly.

  4. Via ĉemizo havas novan kolumon.

    Your shirt has a new collar.

    Kolumo is the part of a shirt at the neck.

  5. Ni plenumas la planon de la kongreso.

    We carry out the plan of the congress.

    Plenumi has to be learned as a separate word.

How It Connects

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

-um-Level 5-um-: No Fixed Meaning

Learn This First

The ending -um- has no fixed meaning, so it is best met with word parts in mind.