-isto

From Latin -ista.

• IPA^(key): [ˈisto]
• Rhymes: -isto
• Hyphenation: is‧to

-isto

1. a person who is occupied with, often but not necessarily implying a professional occupation

   ‎ŝteli (“to steal”) + ‎-isto → ‎ŝtelisto (“thief”)

   ‎kuraci (“to treat, heal”) + ‎-isto → ‎kuracisto (“doctor, physician”)

   ‎maro (“sea”) + ‎-isto → ‎maristo (“sailor”)

   ‎scienco (“science”) + ‎-isto → ‎sciencisto (“scientist”)

   ‎Esperanto + ‎-isto → ‎esperantisto (“Esperantist”)

2. a person who follows an ideology or doctrine (often following a corresponding -ismo)

   ‎anarĥio (“anarchy”) + ‎-isto → ‎anarĥiisto (“anarchist”)

   ‎Budho (“Buddha”) + ‎-isto → ‎budhisto (“Buddhist”)

   ‎fundamento (“foundation”) + ‎-isto → ‎fundamentisto (“fundamentalist”)

It is important to distinguish between an -anto, someone who is doing something at the moment, and an -isto, someone whose occupation it is to do something. For example, if you are cooking dinner, you are a kuiranto (“cook (someone who is cooking)”). If you are employed as a chef, you are a kuiristo (“cook (by occupation)”). This often implies a professional occupation, but not necessarily. E.g. artisto (“artist”) and verkisto (“author, writer”) also frequently refer to hobbyists.

Also note that in Esperanto, membership is denoted by -ano. For example, a colonist is a koloniano, whereas koloniisto would signify an advocate of colonialism (koloniismo).

• -ismo (doctrine, ideology):