An Esperantist (Esperanto: Esperantisto) is a person who speaks or uses Esperanto. Etymologically, an Esperantist is someone who hopes (from Esperanto esperanto "a hoping one", "someone who hopes", from esperi "to hope"). Although definitions of "Esperantist" vary, according to the Declaration of Boulogne ("Deklaracio pri la esenco de Esperantismo", declaration about the essence of esperantism), a document agreed at the first World Congress of Esperanto, an Esperantist is someone who speaks Esperanto and uses it for any purpose. An Esperantist is also a person who participates in Esperanto culture.

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