Asalin Dictionary

Please know that I am in no way an expert of language and conlangs. There will probably be errors in how things work, but this is fiction, so it doesn’t matter!

Syntax: Subject-verb-object-adjective. Example: I love dogs black

There are no articles (a/the)

The male pronoun is the default for mixed groups and objects.

Basic rules:

Suffix -si to pluralise (only -i to endings of ‘s’, only -s to endings of ‘i’)
Suffix -sa to negate
Prefix la- to make commands/greeting polite (to exclude is rude or familiar. Just l- to words beginning with l or a vowel)

Noun/verb-modifier
Example: They were talking loudly

Tenses can be tricky!

Pronouns (male/female)

First person (eg. I): ra/ta
First person inclusive (we/us): ngai
First person exclusive (we/us- excludes person being spoken to): ngasai

Pronouns:

Second person (you): ri/ti

Third person (she, he, they): rai/tai

Possessive pronouns

First (mine, our): ena
First (plural): enas (inclusive), ella (exclusive)

Second person (yours): eyan

Third person (theirs): elai

This: rilan/tilan

These: reyani/teyani

That: (determiner): rayni/tayni
That (pronoun): rayini/tayini
(male/female)

Tenses:

The tense goes before the copula (more on those later). If there is none, it goes before the verb/auxiliary.

Not used with names or things that don’t change

Past: nga
Present: ayn
Future: eka

Possession:

Can be alienable or inalienable (able to lose or not).
Goes after the object it affects.
Used with third person possessive pronouns (some exceptions)

Alienable: ama
Inalienable (not used with present tense): eka

Agent Nouns:

The noun completing an action
Doesn’t use tenses

Add the prefix pa-

Not to be confused with the verb pa

Verbs:

Commands: (add prefix la- to make polite)

There is no Asalin word for please. Rather the polite prefix acts in its place.

Give: irrin
Take: culla
Come: pin
Go: mina
Stop: kim
Help: ira

Auxiliary verbs:

See suffixes above to negate.

Tenses change have to had etc.

Be/been: arin
Do/does: mila
Have: ulsee

Modal auxiliary verbs:

Not paired with tense other than past.

See suffixes above to negate.

Can/could/may/might: zetayn
Must/should/shall/will/would: sela
Need (paired with past or future tense, copula not usually needed): sulan

Prepositions:

Note that some can be adverbs so check usage.

At/against/towards/upon/to: kli
Near/around/in/next to: seya
On/into: mai
Above: pire
Beneath/below/under: keni
Beside: zun
From/with/by: zali
About/regarding/because of: lazi
For/of: mayi

Copulas:

Use depends on action and subject.

Negative suffix -sa used to negate.

Is/am/are/was (with nouns and adjectives): nai
Is/am/are/was (with verbs that aren’t passive or progressive): len
Is/am/are/was (passive verbs): las
Is/am/are/was (progressive verbs): lasai
Is/am/are/was (adverbs): kas

Conjunctions:

And: punnahs
Because: tammen
But: neppa
If: pam
As: uti
Or: runga

Who/which (no tense required unless specifically at that moment): zruh

Miscellaneous:

Welcome/hello (pair with la- prefix): ayzun
Goodbye/farewell (pair with la- prefix): ayzulla
What (does not require tense when by itself): inna
Where: talyn
Why: sazi
How: usila
Here/there: kehya
Too: e

Numbers:

There is no word for ‘few.’ The word for three is used instead.

One: cunga
Two: isalan
Three: kalsi
Four: munahs
Five: reni

Miscellaneous:

Yes: mir
No: sa
Up: sunilli
Down: tutin
Right: myssas
Wrong: sare
Now: itts

Nouns:

People

Husband/wife: ngapara/ngaparta
Father/mother: Zharin/zhatin
Woman: liparteh
Man: ariez
Girl: lilyars
Boy: utez
Son/daughter: anira/anita
Person/people: artimai/artiuh
Warrior: ullarn

Dragon: zearla

Nature:

Tree: calin
Forest: narcali
Flower: likaln
Fire: ippan
Ash: kar
Rock: illaz
Mountain: tillah
Water: klusin
Lake: lusinata
Sea: masee
Sky: easa
Light: pepyan
Sun: nalliyan
Life: peree

Miscellaneous:

City: pensa
Forever/eternity: nallina
Blood: peraka
Poison: myan
Mid-day meal: sallar

Other:

Speak/talk: pluyin
Walk/move: uppa
Step: pa
Fly: zeno
Swim: kluppan
Shine: karn
Continue: palla
Return: air
Heal: laree
Help: ira
Care: iri

Adjectives:

Colours:

White/pale: pilarn
Black: nalipi
Green: san
Blue: sees
Red: paka
Yellow: etar

Other:

Light (not to be confused with the noun): un
Dark: milyn
Many/several: narin
Big: atah

Other:

May the sun continue to shine on you: Zetayn nalliyan ayn palla kli ayn karn mai ris/tis

???: Zetayn eyan pepyan eka ayn air kli nalliyan