amiko

Amiko is the Esperanto noun meaning "friend." It refers to a person with whom one has a friendly relationship and is one of the most common words in everyday Esperanto. The word is used for both casual and formal contexts and appears in conversation, literature, and language learning materials. The plural form is amikoj, and possession is shown with ordinary adjectives: mia amiko means "my friend," lia amiko means "his/her friend," and via amiko means "your friend." In sentences you can say, for example, Mi konas multajn amikojn (I know many friends) or Li estas mia amiko (He is my friend).

Etymology and morphology: amiko is a standard noun formed within Esperanto’s regular word-building system. Dictionaries list amiko as the basic word for a person who is a friend, and it follows the language’s consistent use of the -o noun ending and simple root-based construction. The form is stable across dialects and regions where Esperanto is used.

Related terms: amikeco means "friendship," amiki means "to befriend" or "to become friends with," and amika means "friendly." These terms share the same semantic field and are common in daily Esperanto speech and writing.

Usage and cultural context: amiko is universally understood among Esperanto speakers and is taught early in language courses. Its neutral, straightforward sense makes it a foundational word for expressing social relationships in Esperanto.