Additionally, the following consonants exist: ɧ, ʍ, ʰ, ʷ, ˠ.
Vowels[]
Front
Central
Back
Close
i
y
ɨ
u
Mid-Close
e
ø
ɘ
o
Mid-Open
ɛ
œ
ɜ
ɔ
Open
ɶ
ɑ
ɒ
Orthography[]
Phone(s)
Orthography
p, p̙2
P
b, b̙2
B
t
T
d
D
k, x1
K
g, ɣ1
G
m, ɱ2
M
n
N
ʙ, β5
V
r
RR
ɸ
F
s
S
z
Z
ħ
H
ʋ
W
ɹ
R
ɰ
J
l, ʟ3
L
ɧ
X
ʍ
HW
ʰ
h
ʷ
w
ˠ
j
ɨ, i4
I
ɜ, ɘ4
E
ɛ, e4
Ë
u
U
y
Ü
ɔ, o4
O
œ, ø4
Ö
ɑ, ɒ4
A
ɶ
Ä
Notes[]
Before or after Ä, Ë, Ö, Ü. If K is to remain /k/, it becomes CK (C initially). If G is to remain /g/, it becomes Q.
Before or after W as /ʋ/.
After velars.
Stressed (See Stress below).
As a final consonant.
Phonotactics[]
A standard syllable is of the form (s)(C)(TR/A/LA)(j,w)V(j,w)(N)(C/AF), where the following are true:
C is any consonant
TR is a trill
A is an approximant
LA is a lateral approximant
V is a vowel
N is a nasal
AF is an affricate
(s) is Field 1, (C) is Field 2, and (TR/A/LA) is Field 3.
If Field 2 is a fricative and Field 3 is used, then Field 1 cannot be used (e.g. vl, *svr)
If Field 2 is H, then Fields 1 and 3 cannot be used (e.g. hat, *shler)
Field 2 cannot be a nasal if Field 3 is used (e.g. naf, *nlaf)
If E is used as a final letter, it is either reduced to /ə/ or muted.
Stress[]
Stress falls on:
Monosyllabic words (Drómpf).
The first syllable of disyllabic words (Sckő|lad).
The second syllable of tri- and quadrisyllabic words (A|stér|naf).
Every third syllable but the last, starting from the second, on words of 5+ syllables (Sfar|ján|to|ver|ikk).
Irregular stress is marked with a grave accent (Cől|en|di|ko|re).
Basic Grammar[]
Nouns[]
Nouns are divided into three classes ("Genders") by their final letter:
I: Ends in a consonant (gant - "man")
II: Ends in an unaccented vowel (dampfe - "grass")
III: Ends in an accented vowel (stü - "water")
They decline by case and number as follows:
I
II
III
S
P
S
P
S
P
Nom/Acc
gant
gante
dampfe
dampfes
stü
stün
Dat
ganta
gantaj
dampfi
dampfis
stu
stus
Gen
gants
gantes
dampfa
dampfis
stuj
stujn
There are certain irregularities, namely with words ending in N and S. Both are Class I special cases.
cün - "wind" [modern]
öres - "stone, gem"
S
P
S
P
Nom/Acc
cün
cünne
öres
öres
Dat
cüna
cünna
öra
öraj
Gen
cüns
cüns
örs
ören
Articles[]
Articles must agree with their nouns' class and number.
I
II
III
S
P
S
P
S
P
Definite
het
hete
de
des
dë
dën
Indefinite
en
ene
a
as
e
en
Verbs[]
Verbs conjugate by person, number, gender/formality and tense, with affixes to further augment conjugation. In the third person, the verb must agree with its actor's class. All other persons are Class I.
Infinitive
cöler - "to speak"
Present
I
II
III
1s
cöl
2sI (informal)
cölde
2sII (formal)
Cölen
3sI (masc/neut)
cöl
cöle
cölen
3sII (fem)
cölej
cölja
cölen
1p
cöler
2p
cölend
3pI (masc)
cöler
cölere
cöleren
3pII (fem)
cölerej
cölerja
cöleren
3pIII (neut)
cöleri
cölere
cöllen
Past
I
II
III
1s
cölge
2sI (informal)
cölged
2sII (formal)
Cölgen
3sI (masc/neut)
cölge
cölgë
cölgen
3sII (fem)
cölgej
cölga
cölgen
1p
cölger
2p
cölgend
3pI (masc)
cölger
cölgere
cölgeren
3pII (fem)
cölgerej
cölgera
cölgeren
3pIII (neut)
cölgeri
cölgre
cölgen
Perfect
I
II
III
1s
cölte
2sI (informal)
cölte
2sII (formal)
Cölten
3sI (masc/neut)
cölte
cöltë
cölten
3sII (fem)
cöltej
cölta
cölten
1p
cölter
2p
cöltend
3pI (masc)
cölter
cöltere
cölteren
3pII (fem)
cölterej
cöltera
cölteren
3pIII (neut)
cölteri
cöltre
cölten
Pluperfect
I
II
III
1s
cölgete
2sI (informal)
cölget
2sII (formal)
Cölgeten
3sI (masc/neut)
cölgete
cölgete
cölgeten
3sII (fem)
cölgetej
cölgeta
cölgeten
1p
cölgeter
2p
cölgeted
3pI (masc)
cölgeter
cölgetere
cölgetren
3pII (fem)
cölgetrej
cölgetra
cölgetren
3pIII (neut)
cölgeti
cölgetre
cölgeten
Progressive
[root] + ess[e] + [conjugation]
cöl + ess + er = cölesser
Future
vir + [Present/Perfect]
vir + cöler = vircöler
Supine
[root] + ant
cöl + ant = cölant
Imperative (2sI)
[Pres 2sI] + enti!
cölde + enti! = cöldenti!
Imperative (2p)
[Pres 2p] + enti!
cöled + enti! = cöledenti!
Imperative (1p)
[Pres 1p] + enti!
cöler + enti! = cölerenti!
Formal Imperative (2sII)
[Pres 2sII] + dikore!
Cölen + dikore! = Cőlendikore!
Subjunctive
[root] + em[e] + [conjugation]
cöl + em + er = cölemer
Gerundive
[root] + desi
cöl + desi = cöldesi
Participle
[root] + endre
cöl + endre = cölendre
"To be"[]
The verb ver ("to be"), and other verbs with monosyllabic infinitives, use a different system of conjugation where the infinitive is the same as the root in most cases (except Pres 1p and 3pI-III). Ver itself conjugates irregularly in the present.
Present
I
II
III
1s
fi
2sI (informal)
vid
2sII (formal)
Vin
3sI (masc/neut)
fi
fe
fen
3sII (fem)
fej
fa
fen
1p
ver
2p
vend
3pI (masc)
ver
vere
veren
3pII (fem)
vej
va
ven
3pIII (neut)
vri
vere
veren
Past
[root] + ge+ [conjugation]
ver + ge + er = verger
Perfect
[root] + te + [conjugation]
ver + te + er = verter
Pluperfect
[root] + gete + [conjugation]
ver + gete + er = vergeter
Progressive
[root] + ess[e] + [conjugation]
ver + ess + er = vesser: veste, veske, vestte
Future
vir + [Present/Perfect]
vir + ver = virer: virde, virge,...
Supine
[root] + ant
ver + ant = verant
Imperative (2sI)
[root] + ti!
ver + ti! = verti!
Imperative (2p)
[root] + denti!
ver + denti! = verdenti!
Imperative (1p)
[root] + enti!
ver + enti! = verenti!
Formal Imperative (2sII)
[root] + dikore!
Ver + dikore! = Verdikore!
Subjunctive
[root] + em[e] + [conjugation]
ver + em + er = vemer: vembe, venge, vempe
Gerundive
[root] + desi
ver + desi = verdesi
Participle
[root] + endre
ver + endre = vendre
Modal Verbs[]
Modal verbs are used conjugated, with the verbs they augment becoming supine.
can
eber
may
derber
should
virimer
must
dikrer
might
veminer
want
varrer
wish
irhaler
ought
nezer
need
ditanter
Pronouns[]
Personal Pronouns[]
Personal Pronouns must agree with the verbs they are agent to, or the nouns they possess.
Nominative
I1
II
III
1s
wa
2sI (informal)
tü
2sII (formal)
Dure
3sI (masc)
hu
huwe
huwen
3sII (fem)
ho
ha
howen
3sIII (neut)2
han
handre
hawen
1p
uris
2p
dure
3pI (masc)
hwer
hwere
hweren
3pII (fem)
hwej
hwera
hweren
3pIII (neut)
hweri
hwere
hwen
Acc/Dat
I1
II
III
1s
bo
2sI (informal)
tü3
2sII (formal)
Dur
3sI (masc)
hun
hunje
huwe
3sII (fem)
hon
han
howe
3sIII (neut)2
hanan
hanade
hawe
1p
üre
2p
dur
3pI (masc)
hweren
hweren
hweren
3pII (fem)
hwejn
hweran
hweren
3pIII (neut)
hwerin
hweren
hwen
Gen/Pos
I1
II
III
1s
ba
2sI (informal)
türe
2sII (formal)
Dure
3sI (masc)
hus
huwes
huwens
3sII (fem)
hos
has
howens
3sIII (neut)2
hans
handres
hawens
1p
üren
2p
dure
3pI (masc)
hweres
hweres
hwerens
3pII (fem)
hwejs
hweras
hwerens
3pIII (neut)
hweris
hweres
hwens
Reflexive
[Accusative] + ger
bo + ger = boger
Exceptions
I1
II
III
3sI (masc)
-
hungerje
hugere
3sII (fem)
hanger
hogere
3sIII (neut)2
hangerade
hagere
3pI (masc)
hwegeren
hwegeren
hwegeren
3pII (fem)
hwegejn
hwegeran
hwegeren
3pIII (neut)
hwegerin
hwegeren
hwegen
Notes[]
Used for unknown subjects.
3sIII pronouns take 3sI verbs.
tür in Dative
Indefinite Pronouns[]
Nom/Acc/Dat
A
Gen/Pos
Anes
Reflexive
Ager
Impersonal Pronouns[]
Nom/Acc
Query
Relative
This
That
Every
All
Some/Few
None
Many/Most
which1
un
aren
tin
dan
gön
gon
sem
zen
cön
who1
ur
gör
gor
zer
what1
u
time
dame
gö
ze
where2
egi
egren
awr
dawr
göegi
gog
sembi
zegi
when2
nagi
nagren
gönagi
goni
semagi
si
cöni
why2
ira
raje
draje
göraje
gorje
semira
zejra
how2
ara
aren
arri
darri
görri
gorri
sevi
zerri
cörri
Notes[]
1. The following table shows dative and genitive versions of certain impersonal pronouns.
Dative
[Nom] + [w]a
un + a = una; u + wa = uwa
Genitive
[Nom] + [e]s
un + s = uns; ur + es = ures
2. These pronouns are always dative.
Numbers[]
The Zuraher counting system is base 10. Additionally, numbers ending in 1 or 2 and multiples of powers of ten are declined.
Number
I
II
III
0
zen
1
en
a
e
2
cöt/kod*
cöte/kode*
cöten/koden*
3
kath
4
peder
5
ho
6
sanam
7
adam
8
asi
9
ön
10
ets
etse
etsen
11
ense
ensa
ense
12
cötte
cötte
cötten
13
etkath
17
etadam
20
cötsel
cötselle
cötsellen
21
cötselen
cötsela
cötsele
30
kathsel
kathselle
kathsellen
40
pedersel
pederselle
pedersellen
60
sanamsel
sanamselle
sanamsellen
100
jagir
jagir
jagirne
101
jagiren
jagira
jagire
120
jagir cötsel
jagir cötselle
jagir cötsellen
300
kathagir
kathagir
kathagirne
800
asigir
asigir
asigirne
1000
irohal
irohalle
irohallen
10000
mengel
mengelle
mengellen
100000
adinal
adinalle
adinallen
Note: Kod is an alternate pronunciation of cöt used by some speakers to distinguish 2 from 12.
Numerical Derivations[]
Ordinals
[number] + erid
asi + erid = asierid
EXCEPT:
en + erid = nejrid
Fractions
[numerator]-[denominator] + eth
[en-]ets + eth = etseth
Frequency
[number] + rin
ho + rin = horin
Multiples
[number] -> [plural]
sanam -> saname
EXCEPT:
en -> enham, aham, ejn
cöt -> cöttam, cötes, cötin
Adjectives[]
Adjectives have a nominal (noun) form and a verbal (verb) form. Both forms must agree with the class of the words they modify.
Nominal forms describe nouns, and precede those they adhere to.
Verbal forms are the predicates of nouns that state the description of the object rather than passively describing them.
The following tables describe the decliensions/conjugations of adjectives, using the root garid (big) as an example. Note that there is no participle form of the adjectives; participles themselves are adjectives.
Nominal
I
II
III
S
P
S
P
S
P
Nom/Acc
garid
garde
garde
gardes
gardë
gardën
Dat
garda
gardaj
gardi
gardis
garde
gardes
Gen
garids
gardes
garda
gardis
gardej
gardejn
Verbal (Present)
I
II
III
1s
garid
2sI (informal)
garde
2sII (formal)
Garden
3sI (masc/neut)
garid
garde
garden
3sII (fem)
gardej
gardja
garden
1p
garder
2p
gardend
3pI (masc)
garder
gardere
garderen
3pII (fem)
garderej
garderja
garderen
3pIII (neut)
garderi
gardere
garren
Past
[root] + ig + [conjugation]
garid + ig + er = gardiger
Perfect
[root] + it + [conjugation]
garid + it + er = garditer
Pluperfect
[root] + iget + [conjugation]
garid + iget + er = gardigeter
Progressive
[root] + ess[e] + [conjugation]
garid + ess + er = gardesser
Future
vir + [Present/Perfect]
vir + garder = virgarder
Supine
[root] + ant
garid + ant = gardant
Imperative (2sI)
[Pres 2sI] + enti!
garde + enti! = gardenti!
Imperative (2p)
[Pres 2p] + enti!
gardend + enti! = gáredenti!
Imperative (1p)
[Pres 1p] + enti!
garder + enti! = gárderenti!
Formal Imperative (2sII)
[Pres 2sII] + dikore!
Garden + dikore! = Gárdendikore!
Subjunctive
[root] + em[e] + [conjugation]
garid + em + er = gardemer
Gerundive
[root] + ens
garid + ens = gardens
Adverbial
[root] + ig
garid + ig = gardig
Comparative
[root] + ir + [conj/decl]
garid + ir + e = gardire
Superlative
[root] + iner + [conj/decl]
garid + iner + e = gardinere
Misc. Derivations[]
Causative
[root] + dapf
garid + dapf = gardapfer
Transitive/Self-Causative
ger + [causative]
ger + gardapfer = gergardapfer
Material
[root] + agra
dujk + agra = dujkagra -> dukag
Actor
[root] + eni
cöl + eni = cöleni
Feminine (honorary)
[root] + erge
cënd + erge = cënderge
Lack
[root] + zen
cün + zen = cünzen
Diminutive
[root] + pik
cün + pik = cümpik
Augmentative
[root] + gar
moj + gar = mojgar
Opposite
zë + [root]
zë + sine = zësine
Noun Participle
[root] + irin
gant + irin = gantirin
Grouping
[root] + cön
dampfe + cön = dampfecön
Specialist
[root] + er
zurah + er = zuraher
Essence/Adj. Gerundive
[root] + ens
moj + ens = mojens
Prepositions[]
Prepostions may take different cases based on context.
English
Zuraher
Accusative
Dative
Genitive
through
ö
✔
for
ver
✔
against
gig
✔
without
zege
✔
with
gesse
✔
around
oran
✔
about
jan
✔
until
tink
✔
✔
since
sën
✔
out
oz
✔
in
gren
✔
outside
ozirel
✔
inside
grenirel
✔
from
nag
✔
✔
except
exe
✔
by
an
✔
✔
at
er
✔
✔
toward
rejirel
✔
to
[rej]
✔
of
fan
✔
opposite
koge
✔
adjacent
are
✔
on (horiz.)
frad
✔
on (vert.)
wal
✔
off
hand
✔
behind
enter
✔
after
luj
✔
✔
up/over/above
awr
✔
✔
down/under/below
ur
✔
✔
before
nedre
✔
between
ni
✔
among (3-5)
mi
✔
among (6+)
gi
✔
as
wije
✔
Conjunctions[]
The class of the last conjuncted word determines that of the overall phrase.
and
i
but
var
or
do
if
hwe
else
hwezen
while
irend
yet
vajr
first
nerig
also
jern
then
algrig
last
lawig
instead
stal
Word Order and Sentence Structure[]
Basic Sentences[]
Subject-Predicate Sentences[]
For subject-predicate sentences, the word order is SVO (as in English).
E.g. Wa sker de thoma.
1s.NOM read.1s.PRES the.IIs book.ACC.
"I read the book."
Sentences with Indirect Objects and Subordinate Clauses[]
For sentences with indirect objects (such as Time, Manner, Place,...) and subordinate clauses, the word order is SOV, as in German.
E.g. Hu Kronfalka igite.
3sI.NOM Kronfalk.DAT go.3sI.PERF.
"He went to Kronfalk (Greenwood)."
Wa videmet en gant hu ho galdis nag nedre dange.
1s.NOM see.1s.SBJ.PERF a.Is man.ACC who.3sI five cat.Ip.ACC from before have.3sI.PAST.
"I may have seen a man who once had five cats."
Questions[]
Yes-No questions have the word order VSO. If a specific answer is needed, a query pronoun can be used.
E.g. Vin Dure en zuraherge?
be.2sII.PRES 2sII.NOM a.Is magician.female.ACC?
"Are you a sorceress?"
Eben Dure u vürrant?
can.2sII.PRES 2sII.NOM what.ACC cast.SPN
"What can you cast?"
Relative Clauses[]
Relative clauses are formed with either use of the relative pronoun aren, or a comma delimiting it from the main sentence.
E.g. Uris hejer, gowen i arev aredinere fan rutes vri.
1p.NOM believe.1p.PRES, air.NOM and sun.NOM holy.Ip.SPRL of element.PL.ACC be.3pI.PRES.
"We believe [that] air and sun are the holiest of elements."
Negation[]
Sentences can be negated by inserting the word ze before the word. If the verb is ver, it is simply replaced with the appropriately conjugated form of zer (to not be/do).
E.g. Wa ze a vorge!
1s.NOM not.1s.PRES a.IIs bird.ACC!
"I am not a bird!"
Noun Phrases[]
Noun phrases are head final, unless a subordinate clause is used; said clause then follows the head.
E.g. Des cötte searis hwerge timewa aredhejma awrgoptere....