Elvish (ˈmoʊ̯pɪ)
Natively known as: moʊpï /ˈmoʊ̯pɪ/
...and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind...
lay hoʊ ïfa iwou hoʊ bayrai lay ïbou hoʊ noubi foufa sï hira
Pronunciation: /leɪ̯ hoʊ̯ ˈɪfa ˈiwaʊ̯ hoʊ̯ ˈbeɪ̯ɾai̯ leɪ̯ ˈɪbaʊ̯ hoʊ̯ ˈnaʊ̯bi ˈfaʊ̯fa sɪ ˈhiɾa/
Moʊpïian word order: and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind
lay hoʊ ïfa iwou hoʊ bayrai lay ïbou hoʊ noubi foufa sï hira
Pronunciation: /leɪ̯ hoʊ̯ ˈɪfa ˈiwaʊ̯ hoʊ̯ ˈbeɪ̯ɾai̯ leɪ̯ ˈɪbaʊ̯ hoʊ̯ ˈnaʊ̯bi ˈfaʊ̯fa sɪ ˈhiɾa/
Moʊpïian word order: and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind
Spelling & Phonology
Consonant inventory: b f h l m n p s w ɾ| ↓Manner/Place→ | Bilabial | Labiodental | Alveolar | Glottal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | n | ||
| Stop | p b | |||
| Fricative | f | s | h | |
| Tap | ɾ | |||
| Lateral approximant | l |
| ↓Manner/Place→ | Labial-velar |
|---|---|
| Approximant | w |
| Front | |
|---|---|
| High | i |
| Near-high | ɪ |
| Low-mid | ɛ |
| Low | a |
Stress pattern: Penultimate — stress is on the second last syllable ? Spelling rules:
| Pronunciation | Spelling |
|---|---|
| ɛ | e |
| ɪ | ï |
| eɪ̯ | ay |
| aʊ̯ | ou |
| ɔɪ̯ | oi |
| ɾ | r |
| ◌̯ |
Grammar
Main word order: Subject Verb Object (Prepositional phrase). “Mary opened the door with a key” turns into Mary opened the door with a key.Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned before the noun.
Adposition: prepositions ?
Nouns
| Singular | No affix lara /ˈlaɾa/ dog |
| Plural | Prefix beɪ̯- baylara /beɪ̯ˈlaɾa/ dogs |
Articles
| Definite | mi /mi/ the |
| Indefinite | e /ɛ/ a, some |
- Used to talk about countable nouns in general: English’s ‘I like cats’ would translate to ‘I like the cats’
- Not used for non-specific countable nouns: non-specific means ‘I am looking for a (any) girl in a red dress’, whereas specific means ‘I am looking for a (particular) girl in a red dress’
Pronouns
| 1st singular | moʊ /moʊ̯/ I, me, mine |
| 2nd singular | si /si/ you, yours |
| 3rd singular | hoʊ /hoʊ̯/ he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its |
| 1st plural | fi /fi/ we, us, ours |
| 2nd plural | se /sɛ/ you all, yours (pl) |
| 3rd plural | a /a/ they, them, theirs |
Possessive determiners
| Possessive | |
|---|---|
| 1st singular | moʊ /moʊ̯/ my |
| 2nd singular | si /si/ your |
| 3rd singular | hoʊ /hoʊ̯/ his, her, its |
| 1st plural | fi /fi/ our |
| 2nd plural | se /sɛ/ your (pl) |
| 3rd plural | a /a/ their |
Verbs
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | Prefix hɪ- hïlïrïri /ˌhɪlɪˈɾɪɾi/ (I/you/he/she/it) learn(s) | Prefix ma- malïrïri /ˌmalɪˈɾɪɾi/ (we/you all/they) learn |
| Past | Prefix sa- salïrïri /ˌsalɪˈɾɪɾi/ (I/you/he/she/it) learned | No affix lïrïri /lɪˈɾɪɾi/ (we/you all/they) learned |
| Future | Prefix mɪ- mïlïrïri /ˌmɪlɪˈɾɪɾi/ (I/you/he/she/it) will learn | Prefix mɔɪ̯- moilïrïri /ˌmɔɪ̯lɪˈɾɪɾi/ (we/you all/they) will learn |
Progressive aspect
The ‘progressive’ aspect refers to actions that are happening at the time of speaking, such as I am learning.Moʊpïian uses an affix for progressive:
| Progressive | Prefix pɛ- pelïrïri /ˌpɛlɪˈɾɪɾi/ is learning |
Habitual aspect
The ‘habitual’ aspect refers to actions that happen habitually, such as I learn (something new every day), as opposed to actions that happen once (I learned something).Moʊpïian uses a standalone particle word for habitual:
| Habitual | Particle before the verb: mi - mi lïrïri /mi lɪˈɾɪɾi/ learns |
Numbers
Moʊpïian has a base-10 number system: 1 - sou2 - se
3 - noʊ
4 - may
5 - he
6 - soʊ
7 - ay
8 - pousa
9 - lï
10 - sibï
100 - souray
1000 - mïsï
Derivational morphology
Adjective → adverb = Prefix fai̯-Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = Prefix noʊ̯-
Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = Prefix baʊ̯-
Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = Prefix nɪ-
Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = Prefix li-
Noun to verb = Prefix maʊ̯-
Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = Prefix hi-
Tending to = Prefix na-
Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = Prefix poʊ̯-
Verb → noun that verb produces (e.g. know → knowledge) = Prefix mɛ-
One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = Prefix meɪ̯-
Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = Prefix hai̯-
Diminutive = Prefix maʊ̯-
Augmentative = Prefix meɪ̯-
Vocabulary
| Moupi | Pronunciation | Part of Speech | Common | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | /a/ | adv. | not | |
| afoʊ | /ˈafoʊ̯/ | adv. | quite, rather | |
| ai | /ˈai/ | adv. | either | |
| aipa | /ˈai̯pa/ | v. | remember | |
| aloʊ | /ˈaloʊ̯/ | v. | stab, pierce | |
| apoʊ | /ˈapoʊ̯/ | n. | wine | |
| asa | /ˈasa/ | n. | step (one level of stairs) | |
| awai | /ˈawai̯/ | n. | church, chapel | |
| baay | /ˈbaeɪ̯/ | n. | stand | |
| bairou | /ˈbai̯ɾaʊ̯/ | n. | community, colony | |
| baloi | /ˈbalɔɪ̯/ | prep. | under, below | |
| bape | /ˈbapɛ/ | n. | vocabulary | |
| bawa | /ˈbawa/ | adv. | else | |
| bayma | /ˈbeɪ̯ma/ | n. | cream, milk | |
| beni | /ˈbɛni/ | adj. | left | |
| besi | /ˈbɛsi/ | adj. | cool (fashionable), casual | |
| bibay | /ˈbibeɪ̯/ | v. | try (test out), test | |
| bila | /ˈbila/ | interj. | well | |
| bimoi | /ˈbimɔɪ̯/ | v. | realize | |
| bipoi | /ˈbipɔɪ̯/ | n. | trousers, pants | |
| bïsi | /ˈbɪsi/ | n. | girl | |
| boumi | /ˈbaʊ̯mi/ | n. | plane | |
| bouwaha | /baʊ̯ˈwaha/ | n. | excrement, shit | |
| boʊna mïrï | /ˈboʊ̯na ˈmɪɾɪ/ | n. | copyright | |
| boihoʊ | /ˈbɔɪ̯hoʊ̯/ | v. | jerk | |
| e | /ɛ/ | art. | a, some | |
| ehï | /ˈɛhɪ/ | n. | series | |
| ayli | /ˈeɪ̯li/ | n. | candle | |
| ayri | /ˈeɪ̯ɾi/ | n. | beer | |
| eli | /ˈɛli/ | n. | god | |
| ena | /ˈɛna/ | n. | arrow (sign) | |
| erï | /ˈɛɾɪ/ | adj. | fragile | |
| faboʊ | /ˈfaboʊ̯/ | adj. | wide, broad | |
| faiboi | /ˈfai̯bɔɪ̯/ | n. | steam | |
| failasehi | /ˌfai̯laˈsɛhi/ | adv. | quickly | |
| faipouroʊ | /fai̯ˈpaʊ̯ɾoʊ̯/ | adv. | exactly | |
| fana | /ˈfana/ | n. | thunder | |
| fasa | /ˈfasa/ | v. | respond, answer, reply | |
| fayfai | /ˈfeɪ̯fai̯/ | n. | spirit | |
| faysoi | /ˈfeɪ̯sɔɪ̯/ | n. | station (railroad, bus) | |
| fi | /fi/ | v. | know (be acquainted with) | |
| fïbay | /ˈfɪbeɪ̯/ | v. | destroy | |
| fïle | /ˈfɪlɛ/ | n. | message, note | |
| fimou | /ˈfimaʊ̯/ | n. | elbow | |
| fira | /ˈfiɾa/ | n. | city, metropolis | |
| fïwa | /ˈfɪwa/ | n. | horizon, panorama | |
| foulelï | /faʊ̯ˈlɛlɪ/ | n. | belly | |
| foʊbe | /ˈfoʊ̯bɛ/ | v. | fix, mend, repair | |
| foi | /fɔɪ̯/ | prep. | in, within | |
| hafi | /ˈhafi/ | n. | detail | |
| haiila | /hai̯ˈila/ | n. | grocer | |
| haisemi | /hai̯ˈsɛmi/ | n. | drugstore | |
| hapi | /ˈhapi/ | n. | flesh | |
| hawou | /ˈhawaʊ̯/ | v. | freeze | |
| haybi safi | /ˈheɪ̯bi ˈsafi/ | n. | rainbow | |
| heri | /ˈhɛɾi/ | n. | economy | |
| hiai | /ˈhiai̯/ | n. | file, folder | |
| hifoi | /ˈhifɔɪ̯/ | n. | corner | |
| hilï | /ˈhilɪ/ | n. | equipment, fixture | |
| hinï | /ˈhinɪ/ | adv. | again | |
| hipou | /ˈhipaʊ̯/ | n. | rank (military), rank (position) | |
| hïwï | /ˈhɪwɪ/ | adj. | exotic | |
| hoʊbï | /ˈhoʊ̯bɪ/ | n. | soil, clay | |
| hoʊnï | /ˈhoʊ̯nɪ/ | v. | behave | |
| iba | /ˈiba/ | v. | miss (long for) | |
| ïbi | /ˈɪbi/ | v. | like, love, admire, enjoy | |
| ïfa | /ˈɪfa/ | v. | stand, situate | |
| ïhairoʊ | /ɪˈhai̯ɾoʊ̯/ | adv. | ever | |
| iï | /ˈiɪ/ | n. | shape, pattern | |
| ïma | /ˈɪma/ | n. | resident | |
| ïne mini | /ˈɪnɛ ˈmini/ | n. | lipstick | |
| ïpay | /ˈɪpeɪ̯/ | n. | area | |
| ïray | /ˈɪɾeɪ̯/ | adj. | ready | |
| ïsi | /ˈɪsi/ | v. | cry, moan, sob | |
| ïwoʊ | /ˈɪwoʊ̯/ | adj. | ancient, antique | |
| lafa | /ˈlafa/ | n. | rod, shaft, bar, axle | |
| laifay | /ˈlai̯feɪ̯/ | v. | hide | |
| laiwi | /ˈlai̯wi/ | n. | collar | |
| lapi | /ˈlapi/ | n. | hallway, corridor, lobby | |
| lara | /ˈlaɾa/ | n. | dog | |
| lasehi | /laˈsɛhi/ | adj. | quick, swift | |
| leba | /ˈlɛba/ | v. | suggest, hint, imply | |
| layfay | /ˈleɪ̯feɪ̯/ | n. | cloth, fabric, textile, napkin | |
| lena | /ˈlɛna/ | n. | information | |
| lera | /ˈlɛɾa/ | v. | experience | |
| lï | /lɪ/ | num. | nine | |
| lïfou | /ˈlɪfaʊ̯/ | v. | starve | |
| lila | /ˈlila/ | n. | feather | |
| lïna | /ˈlɪna/ | v. | flow, leak | |
| liouhi | /liˈaʊ̯hi/ | adj. | technological | |
| lipiri | /liˈpiɾi/ | adj. | cultural | |
| lïsa | /ˈlɪsa/ | v. | want, need (lack), desire, prefer, choose | |
| liwoi | /ˈliwɔɪ̯/ | adj. | similar | |
| louna | /ˈlaʊ̯na/ | n. | shade, hue, umbrella | |
| loʊha | /ˈloʊ̯ha/ | n. | carcass | |
| loʊra | /ˈloʊ̯ɾa/ | n. | prostitute | |
| loipou | /ˈlɔɪ̯paʊ̯/ | n. | tear | |
| ma lourayre | /ma laʊ̯ˈɾeɪ̯ɾɛ/ | adv. | tonight | |
| mafï | /ˈmafɪ/ | n. | mouse | |
| maimay | /ˈmai̯meɪ̯/ | n. | prison, jail | |
| mama | /ˈmama/ | det. | both | |
| marï | /ˈmaɾɪ/ | n. | nature, environment (natural world), essence | |
| me | /mɛ/ | prep. | for (the purpose of) | |
| meha | /ˈmɛha/ | v. | would | |
| maybaypoi | /meɪ̯ˈbeɪ̯pɔɪ̯/ | n. | painter | |
| mayhaire | /meɪ̯ˈhai̯ɾɛ/ | n. | trunk (large box) | |
| maylisou | /meɪ̯ˈlisaʊ̯/ | n. | vendor | |
| maymoi | /ˈmeɪ̯mɔɪ̯/ | v. | chase | |
| maymoibï | /meɪ̯ˈmɔɪ̯bɪ/ | n. | warrior | |
| mayoʊpe | /meɪ̯ˈoʊ̯pɛ/ | n. | runner | |
| maypoulai | /meɪ̯ˈpaʊ̯lai̯/ | v. | feel (examine by touch) | |
| maysaipou | /meɪ̯ˈsai̯paʊ̯/ | n. | ruler | |
| mela | /ˈmɛla/ | n. | distance | |
| meli | /ˈmɛli/ | n. | city | |
| mepa | /ˈmɛpa/ | v. | hiss | |
| mesi | /ˈmɛsi/ | adv. | yet | |
| mïa | /ˈmɪa/ | adj. | dry | |
| mifari | /miˈfaɾi/ | n. | bird | |
| mïhïre | /mɪˈhɪɾɛ/ | n. | career | |
| milayre | /miˈleɪ̯ɾɛ/ | n. | leader | |
| mini | /ˈmini/ | n. | lip | |
| mïra | /ˈmɪɾa/ | n. | doctor | |
| mïrï | /ˈmɪɾɪ/ | n. | right, entitlement | |
| misi sïwama | /ˈmisi sɪˈwama/ | n. | glacier | |
| moubasa | /maʊ̯ˈbasa/ | v. | rate | |
| moulara | /maʊ̯ˈlaɾa/ | n. | puppy | |
| mounaybi | /maʊ̯ˈneɪ̯bi/ | v. | drain | |
| moure | /ˈmaʊ̯ɾɛ/ | n. | ground | |
| moʊ | /moʊ̯/ | prep. | like | |
| moʊ | /moʊ̯/ | det. | my | |
| moʊpe | /ˈmoʊ̯pɛ/ | adv. | never | |
| moila | /ˈmɔɪ̯la/ | v. | clear | |
| moiray | /ˈmɔɪ̯ɾeɪ̯/ | n. | use | |
| nabe | /ˈnabɛ/ | n. | wound, scar | |
| naiba | /ˈnai̯ba/ | n. | hole | |
| name | /ˈnamɛ/ | n. | theater, arena | |
| nara | /ˈnaɾa/ | n. | fact | |
| nase loʊ | /ˈnasɛ loʊ̯/ | n. | future | |
| nebibi | /nɛˈbibi/ | n. | room (of house) | |
| naylai | /ˈneɪ̯lai̯/ | v. | listen, hear | |
| nelï | /ˈnɛlɪ/ | n. | question | |
| nepousoʊ | /nɛˈpaʊ̯soʊ̯/ | adj. | buxom | |
| nïba | /ˈnɪba/ | adj. | gentle | |
| nïfalï | /nɪˈfalɪ/ | adj. | sad | |
| niha | /ˈniha/ | v. | catch, capture, seize, grab | |
| nila | /ˈnila/ | n. | mouth | |
| nïma | /ˈnɪma/ | adv. | most | |
| nïmoipi | /nɪˈmɔɪ̯pi/ | adj. | bloody | |
| nipe | /ˈnipɛ/ | v. | deserve | |
| nipï | /ˈnipɪ/ | n. | cat | |
| nïre | /ˈnɪɾɛ/ | n. | servant | |
| nïse | /ˈnɪsɛ/ | n. | life (living organism) | |
| nïwï | /ˈnɪwɪ/ | n. | skeleton, hull, fossil | |
| noula | /ˈnaʊ̯la/ | adj. | mean | |
| noʊbarou | /noʊ̯ˈbaɾaʊ̯/ | n. | truth | |
| noʊlaila | /noʊ̯ˈlai̯la/ | n. | health | |
| noʊmïhay | /noʊ̯ˈmɪheɪ̯/ | n. | subtlety | |
| noʊsayhï | /noʊ̯ˈseɪ̯hɪ/ | n. | fun | |
| noilay | /ˈnɔɪ̯leɪ̯/ | n. | restaurant, diner | |
| ouli | /ˈaʊ̯li/ | det. | enough | |
| oura | /ˈaʊ̯ɾa/ | n. | coffee | |
| oʊbï | /ˈoʊ̯bɪ/ | prep. | across | |
| oʊnï | /ˈoʊ̯nɪ/ | n. | service | |
| oʊrï | /ˈoʊ̯ɾɪ/ | v. | wave (salutation) | |
| oʊwa | /ˈoʊ̯wa/ | v. | rest, nap | |
| oihi | /ˈɔɪ̯hi/ | v. | train | |
| oira | /ˈɔɪ̯ɾa/ | n. | rule (law, regulation), law | |
| paba | /ˈpaba/ | n. | life (lifetime), life (soul) | |
| pai | /pai̯/ | v. | give, donate, present, provide, cater, contribute, supply | |
| pala | /ˈpala/ | n. | recipe | |
| papa loʊnï | /ˈpapa ˈloʊ̯nɪ/ | n. | geography | |
| pawe | /ˈpawɛ/ | n. | heart, soul | |
| payhi | /ˈpeɪ̯hi/ | n. | idiot | |
| pepou | /ˈpɛpaʊ̯/ | n. | storm, turmoil | |
| pewou | /ˈpɛwaʊ̯/ | n. | dish | |
| pïfoi | /ˈpɪfɔɪ̯/ | n. | leaf, sheet, petal, foliage | |
| pilï | /ˈpilɪ/ | adj. | smooth, sleek | |
| pïmai | /ˈpɪmai̯/ | n. | list, catalog | |
| pini | /ˈpini/ | v. | matter | |
| pïsa | /ˈpɪsa/ | n. | north | |
| pisai | /ˈpisai̯/ | adj. | big, great (very large), huge | |
| pïwï | /ˈpɪwɪ/ | n. | chance, odds, luck | |
| pousoʊ | /ˈpaʊ̯soʊ̯/ | n. | breast | |
| poʊboʊ | /ˈpoʊ̯boʊ̯/ | n. | tree, plant | |
| poʊhaira | /poʊ̯ˈhai̯ɾa/ | n. | analysis | |
| poʊïoi | /poʊ̯ˈɪɔɪ̯/ | n. | recognition | |
| poʊlïnï | /poʊ̯ˈlɪnɪ/ | n. | discovery | |
| poʊne | /ˈpoʊ̯nɛ/ | n. | action (movement) | |
| poʊoila | /poʊ̯ˈɔɪ̯la/ | n. | division | |
| poʊse | /ˈpoʊ̯sɛ/ | n. | place, point, venue | |
| poiri | /ˈpɔɪ̯ɾi/ | n. | instrument, appliance, device, gadget, fixture | |
| safi | /ˈsafi/ | n. | arch, arc | |
| saii | /ˈsai̯i/ | v. | bite, chew | |
| salï | /ˈsalɪ/ | n. | snow | |
| saoʊ | /ˈsaoʊ̯/ | n. | soap | |
| sarïli | /saˈɾɪli/ | n. | return | |
| sasoi | /ˈsasɔɪ̯/ | n. | target | |
| sebïrï | /sɛˈbɪɾɪ/ | n. | sock | |
| sei | /ˈsɛi/ | v. | drag, tow | |
| saysoʊ | /ˈseɪ̯soʊ̯/ | adj. | sharp, acute | |
| sene | /ˈsɛnɛ/ | adj. | warm | |
| sesa | /ˈsɛsa/ | n. | battle | |
| si | /si/ | pron. | you, yours | |
| sïbi | /ˈsɪbi/ | n. | country (nation), state (province, country) | |
| sïhi | /ˈsɪhi/ | adj. | late | |
| silïri | /siˈlɪɾi/ | n. | pool | |
| simoʊ | /ˈsimoʊ̯/ | n. | group, gang, bunch, flock, crowd, bundle | |
| sipay | /ˈsipeɪ̯/ | n. | canvas | |
| siresa | /siˈɾɛsa/ | adj. | cool (slightly cold) | |
| sisai | /ˈsisai̯/ | v. | review | |
| sïwi | /ˈsɪwi/ | n. | stream | |
| soupou | /ˈsaʊ̯paʊ̯/ | prep. | including | |
| soʊsa | /ˈsoʊ̯sa/ | n. | shit | |
| soipi | /ˈsɔɪ̯pi/ | n. | tomb |
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