Halfling Language

Phonology

Vowels

Vowels may be long or short.
Front Back
Close i u
Mid e o
Open æ ɒ

Diphthongs

Fronting Backing
Closing ɒe ei, ou, æe, ɒo æo
ui, oe iu, eo
Opening io, iɒ

Consonants

Labial Alveolar Velar Glottal
Nasal m n ŋ
Plosive p t k ʔ
Ejective
Aspirate
Fricative f s (x) h
Approximant w l (j)

Syllables

Syllable structure is V, VV, VN, CV, CVV, CVN, CLV, CLVV, CLVN where V is any vowel, C is any consonant, N is any nasal, and L is any approximant, though geminate approximants do not occur, and lw occurs, but wl does not. Geminate fricatives and plain plosives occur word medially.

Orthography

Parn Glyph Roman Phonetic Notes
P.png p /p/
E.png a /æ/
R.png ' /ʔ/
N.png n /n/
G.png ng /ŋ/
O.png o /o/
K.png k /k/
T.png t /t/
IE.png ia /iæ/
W.png w /w/
L.png l /l/
U.png u /u/
Z.png z /s/, [z] used for /s/ between two vowels, realised as [z] in some dialects
EI.png e /e/
M.png m /m/
B.png b /p/, [b] used for /p/ between two vowels, realised as [b] in some dialects
I.png i /i/
D.png d /t/, [d] used for /t/ between two vowels, realised as [d] in some dialects
H.png h /h/
V.png v /f/, [v] used for /f/ between two vowels, realised as [v] in some dialects
F.png f /f/
UO.png å /ɒ/
S.png s /s/
A.png used to mark the preceding vowel as long
Digraphs
P.pngR.png p' /pʼ/
P.pngH.png ph /pʰ/
K.pngR.png k' /kʼ/
K.pngH.png kh /kʰ/, [x] /kʰ/ is realised as [x] between vowels or before /l/ in some dialects
T.pngR.png t' /tʼ/
T.pngH.png th /tʰ/

Morphology

Nouns

Gender

Halfling has four grammatical genders; masculine, feminine, neuter, and common.

Declension

Masculine Nouns

dog Singular Plural
Nom 'eiwa 'eiwani
Acc 'eiwan 'eiwane
Gen 'eiwae 'eiwani
Dat 'eiwam 'eiwami
worm Singular Plural
Nom fompiu fompiuni
Acc fompiubo fompiune
Gen fompiui fompiuni
Dat fompiudo fompiumi

Feminine Nouns

grass Singular Plural
Nom hodu hoduna
Acc hoduba hodune
Gen hodū hodun
Dat hodum hoduma
mouth Singular Plural
Nom mung mungna
Acc mungpa mungne
Gen munga mungna
Dat mungto mungma

Neuter Nouns

head Singular Plural
Nom phe'u phe'ugi
Acc phe'ubi phe'uge
Gen phe'ui phe'ugi
Dat phe'um phe'umi
eye Singular Plural
Nom såm såmki
Acc såmpi såmke
Gen såmi såmki
Dat såmto såmmi

Common Nouns

animal Singular Plural
Nom azla azlaga
Acc azlaba azlana
Gen azlae azlaga
Dat azlam azlami
leaf Singular Plural
Nom phao phaoga
Acc phaoba phaona
Gan phaoi phaoga
Dat phaodo phaomi

Adjectives

Adjectives decline in agreement with the gender, case, and number of nouns they modify. When used as the complement of a copular verb they agree with gender and number and take the accusative case.

Comparatives and Superlatives

the comparative suffix is -lo, and the superlative suffix is -lia

Verbs

Verbs in Halfling agree with the gender and number of the subject.

HO Verbs

Infinitive afweho "to see"
Stem afwe-
Active Participle afwede
Passive Participle afweku
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present afwei afwē afweo afwe afweve afweva afwevo afweng
Past afweïm afweäm afweüm afweme afwewi afwewa afwewo afweöng
Imperfective afwengi afwenga afwengo afwengå afwevim afwevam afwevum afwengme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present afwehi afweha afwehu afwehå afwethe afwetha afwetho afwehång
Imperfective afwehing afwehang afwehung afwehǻng afwethevo afwethavo afwethovo afwehångme
Infinitive åswoho "to wash"
Stem åswo-
Active Participle åswode
Passive Participle åswoku
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present åswoe åswō åswou åswo åswove åswova åswovo åswong
Past åswoïm åswoäm åswoüm åswome åswowi åswowa åswowo åswoöng
Imperfective åswongi åswonga åswongo åswongå åswovim åswovam åswovum åswongme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present åswohi åswoha åswohu åswohå åswothe åswotha åswotho åswohång
Imperfective åswohing åswohang åswohung åswohǻng åswothevo åswothavo åswothovo åswohångme
Infinitive åho "to breathe"
Stem å-
Active Participle åde
Passive Participle åku
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present åe ǻ åo å åve åva åvo ång
Past åïm åäm åüm åme åwi åwa åwo åöng
Imperfective ångi ånga ångo ångå åvim åvam åvum ångme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present åhi åha åhu åhå åthe åtha åtho åhång
Imperfective åhing åhang åhung åhǻng åthevo åthavo åthovo åhångme
Infinitive fengiho "to bite"
Stem fengi-
Active Participle fengide
Passive Participle fengiku
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present fengī fengia fengiu fengi fengive fengiva fengivo fenging
Past fengiïm fengiäm fengiüm fengime fengiwi fengiwa fengiwo fengiöng
Imperfective fengingi fenginga fengingo fengingå fengivim fengivam fengivum fengingme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present fengihi fengiha fengihu fengihå fengithe fengitha fengitho fengihång
Imperfective fengihing fengihang fengihung fengihǻng fengithevo fengithavo fengithovo fengihångme
Infinitive fuduho "to play"
Stem fudu-
Active Participle fudude
Passive Participle fuduku
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present fudui fudū fudū fudu fuduve fuduva fuduvo fudung
Past fuduïm fuduäm fuduüm fudume fuduwi fuduwa fuduwo fuduöng
Imperfective fudungi fudunga fudungo fudungå fuduvim fuduvam fuduvum fudungme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present fuduhi fuduha fuduhu fuduhå fuduthe fudutha fudutho fuduhång
Imperfective fuduhing fuduhang fuduhung fuduhǻng fuduthevo fuduthavo fuduthovo fuduhångme
Infinitive kithaho "to scratch"
Stem kitha-
Active Participle kithade
Passive Participle kithaku
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present kithae kithā kithao kitha kithave kithava kithavo kithang
Past kithaïm kithaäm kithaüm kithame kithawi kithawa kithawo kithaöng
Imperfective kithangi kithanga kithango kithangå kithavim kithavam kithavum kithangme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present kithahi kithaha kithahu kithahå kithathe kithatha kithatho kithahång
Imperfective kithahing kithahang kithahung kithahǻng kithathevo kithathavo kithathovo kithahångme
Infinitive fōho "to know"
Stem fō-
Active Participle fōde
Passive Participle fōku
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present fōï fōä fōå fōve fōva fōvo fōång
Past fōïm fōäm fōüm fōme fōwi fōwa fōwo fōöng
Imperfective fōngi fōnga fōngo fōngå fōvim fōvam fōvum fōångme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present fōhi fōha fōhu fōhå fōthe fōtha fōtho fōhång
Imperfective fōhing fōhang fōhung fōhǻng fōthevo fōthavo fōthovo fōhångme
Infinitive ångkhwo "to drink"
Stem ångkw-
Active Participle ångkwia
Passive Participle ångkwao
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present ångkwi ångkwa ångkwo ångkwå ångkwive ångkwiva ångkwivo ångkwång
Past ångkwim ångkwam ångkwum ångkwåm ångkwawi ångkwawa ångkwawo ångkwong
Imperfective ångkwongi ångkwonga ångkwongo ångkwongå ångkwivim ångkwivam ångkwivum ångkwångme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present ångkhwi ångkhwa ångkhwu ångkhwå ångkwåthe ångkwåtha ångkwåtho ångkhwång
Imperfective ångkhwing ångkhwang ångkhwung ångkhwǻng ångkwåthevo ångkwåthavo ångkwåthovo ångkhwångme

ZO/SO Verbs

Infinitive hwåzo "to fly"
Stem hwå-
Active Participle hwåzia
Passive Participle hwåzao
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present hwåe hwǻ hwåo hwå hwåbe hwåba hwåbo hwång
Past hwåhim hwåham hwåhum hwåme hwåswi hwåswa hwåswo hwåhong
Imperfective hwångi hwånga hwångo hwångå hwåbim hwåbam hwåbum hwångme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present hwåzi hwåza hwåzu hwåzå hwåde hwåda hwådo hwåzång
Imperfective hwåzing hwåzang hwåzung hwåzǻng hwådevo hwådavo hwådovo hwåzångme
Infinitive hozo "to hear"
Stem ho-
Active Participle hozia
Passive Participle hozao
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present hoe hou ho hobe hoba hobo hong
Past hohim hoham hohum home hoswi hoswa hoswo hohong
Imperfective hongi honga hongo hongå hobim hobam hobum hongme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present hozi hoza hozu hozå hode hoda hodo hozång
Imperfective hozing hozang hozung hozǻng hodevo hodavo hodovo hozångme
Infinitive eflezo "to push"
Stem efle-
Active Participle eflezia
Passive Participle eflezao
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present eflei eflē efleo efle eflebe efleba eflebo efleng
Past eflehim efleham eflehum efleme efleswi efleswa efleswo eflehong
Imperfective eflengi eflenga eflengo eflengå eflebim eflebam eflebum eflengme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present eflezi efleza eflezu eflezå eflede efleda efledo eflezång
Imperfective eflezing eflezang eflezung eflezǻng efledevo efledavo efledovo eflezångme
Infinitive hak'åezo "to split"
Stem hak'åe-
Active Participle hak'åezia
Passive Participle hak'åezao
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present hak'åeï hak'åeä hak'åeö hak'åe hak'åebe hak'åeba hak'åebo hak'åeång
Past hak'åehim hak'åeham hak'åehum hak'åeme hak'åeswi hak'åeswa hak'åeswo hak'åehong
Imperfective hak'åengi hak'åenga hak'åengo hak'åengå hak'åebim hak'åebam hak'åebum hak'åeångme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present hak'åezi hak'åeza hak'åezu hak'åezå hak'åede hak'åeda hak'åedo hak'åezång
Imperfective hak'åezing hak'åezang hak'åezung hak'åezǻng hak'åedevo hak'åedavo hak'åedovo hak'åezångme
Infinitive heïmso "to throw"
Stem heïm-
Active Participle heïmsia
Passive Participle heïmsao
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present heïmi heïma heïmo heïm heïmbe heïmba heïmbo heïmång
Past heïmhim heïmham heïmhum heïmme heïmswi heïmswa heïmswo heïmhong
Imperfective heïmngi heïmnga heïmngo heïmngå heïmbim heïmbam heïmbum heïmångme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present heïmsi heïmsa heïmsu heïmså heïmde heïmda heïmdo heïmsång
Imperfective heïmsing heïmsang heïmsung heïmsǻng heïmdevo heïmdavo heïmdovo heïmsångme

Irregular Verbs

Infinitive pho "to be"
Active Participle pia
Passive Participle oku
Indicative ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present im am um me pwi pwa pwo ong
Future si sa su phe pha phu sång
Past pim pam pum påm pawi pawa pawo pong
Imperfective ongi onga ongo ongå ovim ovam ovum ongme
Subjunctive ms fs ns cs mpl fpl npl cpl
Present phi pha phu phå othe otha otho phång
Future osi osa osu oså ode oda odo osång
Imperfective phing phang phung phång othevo othavo othovo phångme

Lexicon

A
afweho /æˈfweho/ v see
ǻhu /ˈɒːhu/ f wife
akǻ /ˈækɒː/ f tree bark
åmui /ˈɒmui/ c child
ām /ˈæːm/ pron nom we
ångkhwo /ˈɒŋˈkʰwo/ v drink
angom /ˈæŋom/ f fat
apwū /ˈæpwuː/ adj green
åswoho /ɒˈswoho/ v wash
athia /ˈætʰiæ/ adj narrow
azla /ˈæslæ/ c animal
åho /ˈɒho/ v breathe
E
eflezo /eˈfleso/ v push
elen /ˈelen/ adj long
elwå /ˈelwɒ/ num six
eweni /eˈweni/ c spouse
F
fak'e /ˈfækʼe/ n bird
fåne /ˈfɒne/ n skin
fånfwabeo /fɒnˈfwæpeo/ adj left
fehe /ˈfehe/ adj dry
Felinsam /feˈlinsæm/ n the Halfling homeland in Scoeras
fengiho /feˈŋiho/ v bite
fo /ˈfo/ f sun
fompiu /ˈfompiu/ m worm
fōho /ˈfoːho/ v know
fu /ˈfu/ adj far
fuduho /fuˈtuho/ v play
fwihea /fwiˈhe.æ/ c steep slope, escarpment
H
ha /ˈhæ/ c egg
hae /ˈhæe/ adj sharp
hak'åezo /hæˈkʼæeso/ v split
/ˈheː/ num two
heïmso /heˈimso/ v throw
/ˈhiː/ prep out
hīåzo /hiːˈɒso/ v blow
hinga /ˈhiŋæ/ f louse
hodu /ˈhotu/ f grass
hong /ˈhoŋ/ n mountain
honna /ˈhonnæ/ n earth
hozo /ˈhoso/ v hear
huzum /ˈhusum/ adj other
hwåzo /ˈhwɒso/ v fly
'
/ˈʔɒ/ prep with
'åkhao /ˈʔɒkʰæo/ adj correct
'ålong /ˈʔɒloŋ/ n day
'aoswåozo /ʔæoˈswɒoso/ v burn
'åp'lōzo /ʔɒˈpʼloːso/ v sew
'åt'ang /ˈʔɒtʼæŋ/ c tongue
'eiwa /ˈʔewæ/ m dog
'ia /ˈʔiæ/ conj if
'ingoe /ˈʔiŋoe/ n person, adult nonbinary (halfling)
'oda /ˈʔotæ/ pron nom that
'uphazo /ʔuˈpʰæso/ v cut
I
ikling /ˈikliŋ/ n ash
in /ˈin/ num one
inwåzo /iˈnwɒso/ v fight
ivi /ˈifi/ adj small
K
kång /ˈkɒŋ/ adj big
kåphåzo /kɒˈpʰɒso/ v fear
kezå /ˈkeså/ f cause
kezǻ /ˈkesåː/ conj because
khådi /ˈkʰɒti/ adj warm
khåhåho /kʰɒˈhɒho/ v swim
khåmo /ˈkʰɒmo/ m toe
khåmothwa /kʰɒˈmotʰwæ/ n toenail
khaosli /ˈkʰæosli/ adj straight
khaozo /ˈkʰæoso/ v stand
khaving /ˈkʰæfiŋ/ m nose
khēmwå /ˈkʰeːmwɒ/ c river
khle /ˈkʰle/ m salt
khlini /ˈkʰlini/ m stick
khuna /ˈkʰunæ/ c parent
khwå /ˈkʰwɒ/ adj new
k'åe /ˈkʼɒe/ adj near
k'ǻwå /ˈkʼɒːwɒ/ n root
k'e /ˈkʼe/ prep at
k'iå /ˈkʼiɒ/ adj some
k'okhao /ˈkʼokʰæo/ f tree
k'ong /ˈkʼoŋ/ num seven
k'ube /ˈkʼupe/ c dust
k'uzozo /kʼuˈsoso/ v sing
kia /ˈkiæ/ pron nom this
kiatlå /ˈkiætlɒ/ adj full
kibån /ˈkipɒn/ c (halfling) person
kithaho /kiˈtʰæho/ v scratch
kithozo /kiˈtʰoso/ v rub
klozo /ˈkloso/ v sleep
kongkwazo /koŋˈkwæso/ v squeeze
kuppa /ˈkuppæ/ f night
kuzozo /kuˈsoso/ v hunt
L
låkho /ˈlɒkʰo/ v eat
lat'ungfwu /læˈtʼuŋfwu/ adj rotten
lepho /ˈlepʰo/ v lie, rest
Leda /ˈletæ/ f Feminine personal name
lengso /ˈleŋso/ v die
lothazo /loˈtʰæso/ v think
lum /ˈlum/ f heart
M
/ˈmɒ/ num four
meii /ˈmei.i/ n honey
menazo /meˈnæso/ v tie, bind
meolå /ˈmeolɒ/ m horn
mim /ˈmim/ n smoke
mokko /ˈmokko/ n blood
mung /ˈmuŋ/ f mouth
mwåe /ˈmwɒe/ adv where
mwång /ˈmwɒŋ/ adv how
mwi /ˈmwi/ adv when
mwom /ˈmwom/ pron nom what
mwu /ˈmwu/ pron nom who
N
na /ˈnæ/ num five
nåeozo /nɒˈeoso/ or /nɒeˈoso/ v flow
nanu /ˈnænu/ m husband
nåmso /ˈnɒmso/ v come
nåonweho /nɒoˈnweho/ v suck
nevåm /ˈnefɒm/ n finger
nevåmthwa /neˈfɒmtʰwæ/ n fingernail
nonge /ˈnoŋe/ adj heavy
noplīho /noˈpliːho/ v float
nothu /ˈnotʰu/ adj red
nowo /ˈnowo/ adj black
nuä /ˈnu.æ/ c dirt
nungso /ˈnuŋso/ v hit
nuzå /ˈnusɒ/ adj dull
nwako /ˈnwæko/ adj dirty
nwi /ˈnwi/ prep in
nwiwåmmwoni /nwiwɒmˈmwoni/ mpl guts
NG
ngaïn /ˈŋæ.in/ adj good
ngikki /ˈŋikki/ n neck
ngo /ˈŋo/ pron nom you
nguhi /ˈŋuhi/ n breast
O
ō /ˈoː/ pron nom I
o'åho /oˈʔɒho/ v stab
om /ˈom/ n leg
ophengso /oˈpʰeŋso/ v pull
Othlo /ˈotʰlo/ m Masculine personal name
P
påezo /ˈpɒeso/ v say
pā'i /ˈpæːʔi/ m feather
peïm /ˈpe.im/ n sky
pema /ˈpemæ/ f mother
pemfeho /pemˈfeho/ v dig
peza /ˈpesæ/ m fog
pezen /ˈpesen/ f meat
pha /ˈpʰæ/ conj and
phao /ˈpʰæo/ c leaf
phåone /ˈpʰɒone/ m moon
phe /ˈpʰe/ adv not
phe'u /ˈpʰeʔu/ n head
pho /ˈpʰo/ v be
phomu /ˈpʰomu/ adj round
phop'o /ˈpʰopʼo/ m fire
phuba /ˈpʰupæ/ adj bad
phum /ˈpʰum/ n knee
phunne /ˈpʰunne/ f stone
phuthu /ˈpʰutʰu/ adj cold
phutlimso /pʰuˈtlimso/ v swell
phwån /ˈpʰwɒn/ adj old
phwao /ˈpʰwæo/ n flower
p'a /ˈpʼæ/ adj few
p'åzo /ˈpʼɒso/ v turn
p'ēvaka /pʼeːˈfækæ/ f liver
p'engu /ˈpʼeŋu/ n hand
p'iho /ˈpʼiho/ v live
p'lia /ˈpliæ/ n year
p'othezo /pʼoˈtʰeso/ v spit
piho /ˈpiho/ v give
plio /ˈplio/ m wing
poïn /ˈpo.in/ c sand
pong /ˈpoŋ/ n lake
pwåe /ˈpwɒe/ adv here
pwoe /ˈpwoe/ f ice
S
sa /ˈsæ/ num three
såe /ˈsɒe/ adv there
såm /ˈsɒm/ n eye
sakhå /ˈsækʰɒ/ f seed
seophabeo /seoˈpʰæpeo/ adj right, dexter
sibuk'å /siˈpukʼɒ/ n fish
sotha /ˈsotʰæ/ adj wide
suhō /ˈsuhoː/ adj white
swingou /ˈswiŋou/ adj thick
T
tadizo /tæˈtiso/ v walk
taukwu /ˈtæukwu/ f woman, adult female (halfling)
tåzo /ˈtɒso/ v sit
temnu /ˈtemnu/ f ear
temp'oe /ˈtempʼoe/ f tooth
thåe /ˈtʰɒe/ f back
thangso /ˈtʰæŋso/ v laugh
theå /ˈtʰe.ɒ/ adj thin
thek'ong /ˈtʰekʼoŋ/ f bone
thet'uho /tʰeˈtʼuho/ v freeze
thing /ˈtʰiŋ/ m snow
thiho /ˈtʰiho/ v snow
thoba /ˈtʰopæ/ m father
thop'e /ˈtʰopʼe/ m man, adult male (halfling)
thwama /ˈtʰwæmæ/ c tail
t'aewo /ˈtæewo/ f wind
t'āhlonso /tʼæːhlonso/ v wipe
t'aki /ˈtæki/ c sea
t'ångo /ˈtʼɒŋo/ adj yellow
t'åt'i /ˈtʼɒtʼi/ c star
t'et'åo /ˈtʼetʼɒo/ m water
t'et'ui /ˈtʼetʼui/ adj wet
t'uwa /ˈtʼuwæ/ n foot
t'uiho /ˈtʼuiho/ v count
ti'un /ˈtiʔun/ c hair
tizozo /tiˈsoso/ v kill
tohiba /toˈhipæ/ m snake
tomwa /ˈtomwæ/ m belly
tung /ˈtuŋ/ n name
tutha /ˈtutʰæ/ adj smooth
twelwe /ˈtwelwe/ m road
twokhwazo /twoˈkʰwæso/ v vomit
U
umiå /ˈumiɒ/ pron all
umphi /ˈumpʰi/ n fruit
ump'e /ˈumpʼe/ c rain
ump'inso /umˈpʼinso/ v rain
uphlu /ˈupʰlu/ f forest
W
wåpho /ˈwɒpʰo/ v fall
wångso /ˈwɒŋso/ v smell
wapha /ˈwæpʰæ/ n parent
wap'azo /wæˈpʼæso/ v hold
wedo /ˈweto/ m cloud
weia /ˈwe.iæ/ pron many
weng /ˈweŋ/ adj short
wōngē /ˈwoːŋeː/ f rope
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