The Abunese Language

This is an excerpt from the book "*Languages of our world. How the most important civilizations communicate*" written by the Abunese phylosopher and linguist Athtas Verdan of the Sayis clan, former court interpreter of king Mudah Elmves VIII of the Iagee clan.

The Abunese language is quite complex in its structure. Its alphabet consists in hundreds of different symbols, and while it may seem difficult for the beginners, it is quite fluent to speak, as it has a simpler grammar structure than the Zonizan, an example of another complex language. [...] Most of the Abunese words don't have sexes or refer to both the sexes, but what could be considered tricky for beginners are the verbs. We Abunese use the same verbs to represent different contexts, and this requires translators to verify which translation is more accurate to the sentence. While it's not a problem for us, native speakers, it could be problematic for foreigners. [...]

[...] What I am going to illustrate now, is a table of the most common Abunese words and their translation, in order to substain a basic conversation. Abunese words and verbs have very little conjugations, which makes it easy to learn but requires time and efforts in order to master it.

## Personal Pronouns

These are the personal pronouns in Abunese language. They are neutral so they can be used for both male and female subjects.

## Verbs

These are the basic verbs with their conjugations. Their negative forms are listed below.

Negative form: Is'Ath (I don't)

Present

Anwath rakan - I am

Najed rakan - you are

Kell rakan - he/she/it is

As'Iry rakan - we are

Belr rakan - you are

Delnt rakan - they are

Negative form: Rakan'Ath (I'm not)

Past

Anwath sulath - I was

Najed sulath - you were

Kell sulath - he/she/it was

As'Iry sulath - we were

Belr sulath - you were

Delnt sulath - they were

Negative form: Sulathee (I wasn't)

Future

Anwath age'tan - I will be

Najed age'tan - you will be

Kell age'tan - he/she/it wil be

As'Iry age'tan - we will be

Belr age'tan - you will be

Delnt age'tan - they will be

Negative form: Age'Tanee (I won't)

Other verbs

Rat'In - To live

Sayzat - To work

Yehin - To meet

Uhatu - To get/take

Yera'Hin - To spit (Hin means "To Shoot" in Abunese)

Hab'Ur - To travel

Other essential basics

Ageh: The

Tyn: Of

Nyr: By

Zal: From

Jih: To

Osat: Who

Orotha: What

Ustas: When

Hialt: Why

Kaltan: Because

Ykat: Before

Emb: After

Taikel: Can - Negative form: Taikel'Ath (Cannot)

Hon: A (article)

Kelish: Mainly, mostly

Kohuk: In, inside

Kohuka: Out, outside

Nas'Aya: Much

Nees: Other, others

Nural: Some

Na'Hid: Very, really

Lewar: Nice

Tan: This, these

Tan'hee: That, those

Ris: But

Ser: With

Common Words

This category lists the most common words in Abunese language. The words are followed by their translation.

General Words

Ash'Ewa: Sir/Lord

Ashath'Ewa: Lady

Sayther: Yes

Seren: No

Tay: Good

Kalykin: Bad

Kaly'Nird: Loss

Isnys: Get/Gain (negative form Isnys'Tanee)

Habur'Ash: Traveler (Male)

Habur'Ashath: Traveler (Female)

People

Ash: Man

Ashath: Woman

Ashkimet: Boy

Ashathkimet: Girl

Ashenust: male child

Ashathenust: female child

Tanhoo: Together

Xehucu: Aggressive, violent

Aenu: Species, clan, race

Politics, Religion and Military

Hodura: Citizen (i.e. to say "Abunese citizen" people say Abun'Hodura)

Ton'Uadh: Queen (literally Pure Grace)

Ton'Iri: King (literally Pure Master)

Ton'Irech: Prince

Ton'Iradi: Princess

Honuth'Her: Priest/priestess (literally Holy Figure)

Ver'Saya: Soldier/guard

Ale'Nyu: General/Commander

Zoson: War

Emrit: Peace

Em'Hran: Armistice (literally Compromise Peace)

Moments of the Day

Sakel: Morning

Draban: Afternoon

Moyep: Evening

Burak: Night

Rat: Life/Day

Family and Relatives

Ir'Kim: Orphan (both male and female)

Asum: Father

Lacha (Pronouned Las-Ha): Mother

Nyage'Asum: Grandfather

Nyage'Lacha: Grandmother

Nel'Ash: Brother

Nel'Ashath: Sister

Tad'Ash: Cousin (male)

Tad'Ashath: Cousin (female)

Ban'Issi: Nephew/Niece/Grandchild

Os'Ash: Uncle

Os'Ashath: Aunt

Numbers and Maths

We Abunese have our words to indicate numbers.

Radun: 0

Darcha: 1

Dyn: 2

Iume: 3

Ar'Gara: 4

Bel'Os: 5

Achnal: 6

Tyb'Idu: 7

Etem: 8

Tanet: 9

Daikton: 10

Chald: 100

Rhaphat: 1000

Hinrak: 10000

Lyekal: 1 million

Nysther: 1 billion

Numbers beyond Daikton are made with the union of the single number words with the daikton, chald, rhaphat, hinrak, lyekal or nysther. For example to say "12" we say "Daikton'Dyn", combining the words we use for single numbers. Long numbers are spelt in a couple of two digits.

Basic Maths

Meet: Add

Inat: Subtract

Enir: Multiply

An'En: Divide

Fauna

This category contains the most common word we use for animals. Most of the words listed below are gender neutral.

Imudar: Cat

Enper'Dan: Dog

Isytan: Bird

En'Au: Horse

En'Achy: Donkey

En'Nusoly: Pony

En'Niad: Stallion

En'Isav: Mare

Achum: Fish

Taiss: Chicken

Or'Ryn: Cock

Oomu: Rat/Mouse

Os'Eru: Bug/Roach/Cockroach

Tanebur: Caterpillar

War'Asha: Butterfly (it also means soul)

Banr: Fly

Burah: Bat

Quetai: Snake

Miradu: Reptile, reptiles

Miscellaneous

This category covers some words that do not fit in any other category.

Yer'Ir: Also/Too

Su'Ar: Love

Tun'Ag: Hate

Todohu: Indifferent

Torih: Right

Tyhi: Wrong

Wom: Equal/Equals (both as a noun and a verb)

Adyet: Large/Big

Samyt: Small

Seris: Thin

Oatu: Thick

Tasd: Hot

Ild'Ran: Cold

Lahalin: Fire

Irul'Rat: Water

Sam: Host

Civilizations (Partial list)

Ineel: Zonizans (Mountaineers)

Ash'Sesir: (pronounced "As-Eesir"): Skree-Gore (People of the Burrows)

Ash'Tairad: Aldites (People of the Swamps)

Ash'Tiz: Nylusians (People of the Coast)

Ash'Hetor: Issadites (People of the Above)

Hirannal: Tyrinese (Kingless)

The list is partial because only few civilizations have names in our language. For other civilizations we use their original language names.

Jewelry

Tonis'Radem: Ring

Ler'Os Radem: Earring

Fohya: Piercing (often coupled with body part name)

Rhiviss: Bracelet

As'Hadi: Anklet

Dhar'Sha: Belly chain

The human body

This category covers the human body and the words we Abunese use to indicate our parts.

Ute'Ek: Head

Watid: Neck

Ny'Sen: Shoulders

Darisa: Chest/Breasts

Serskel: Arms

Tas'At: Hands

Aughescha: Thighs

Ris'Shya: Vagina

Ar'Huma: Male Member

Neiz: Legs

Neph: Feet

Tonis: Finger

Yohoz: Toes

Ler'Os: Ears

Inar: Nose

Teest: Mouth

Yera: Lips

Issh: Tongue

Lan: Nail

Lynehu: Hair

Ute'Ek Lynehu: Beard/Mustache

Enad: Eyes

Enad Lynehu: Eyebrows

Weather

This category covers the words used for the weather and everything related to it.

Hatara or Say'Rada: Sun (we also use the name of the goddess Say'Rada to refer to the Sun)

Kuhon or Hesut: Moon (we also use the name of the goddess Hesut to refer to the Moon)

Him: Sky

Iashu: Clouds

Siek: Rain

Ineet: Wind

Hatara'Nee: Sunny

Iashu'Nee: Cloudy

Siek'Nee: Rainy/StormyMad