Ekzistoj

Ekzistoj is the Esperanto term for existents or beings that have being. The singular form is ekzisto, meaning existence or an existent thing; ekzistoj is the plural referring to multiple existing entities. In ordinary language ekzisto can denote the state of existing or the fact of being, while ekzistoj focuses on the individual things that exist—objects, living beings, or abstract entities—depending on context.

Etymology and grammar: ekzistoj is formed from the verb ekzisti (to exist) with the noun suffix -o, and the plural suffix -j yields ekzistoj. The word is commonly used in philosophical and ontological discussions to name the referents of existence statements.

Philosophical usage: In ontology and metaphysics, ekzistoj are the entities that possess being. Debates may address which kinds of things count as ekzistoj (for example, physical objects, ideas, numbers, or possible worlds) and how their mode or status of existence is understood. The term appears in Esperanto translations of standard philosophical terms such as existence, being, and ontological categories. Writers may contrast ekzistoj with non-existent things or discuss the difference between actual ekzistoj and potential or necessary existence.

Relation to related terms: Ekzisto (existence) refers to the state or fact of being, whereas ekzistoj names the actual existing entities. In some Esperanto philosophical texts, entoj is used as a broader synonym for entities or beings, with ekzistoj serving a more specific ontological role.

See also: ekzisto, entoj, ontologio.