An interactive dictionary for Láadan.
love (of inanimates only)
wave of water, whether ocean or not
from visual/aural analog
to ejaculate
from aálá (spray) + thon (seed)
curl, ruffle
from aáláan (wave)
parsley
from aále (curl) + thesh (herb)
love for one both liked and respected
love for one liked but not respected
to be fragrant
tarragon
from aba (be fragrant) + thesh (herb)
month: June
see OBS Athesh
from bath (number: 6)
clitoris
from aba (be fragrant) + thede (jewel)
month: April
see OBS Athil
from bim (number: 4)
month: March
see OBS Ahesh
from boó (number: 3)
cinnamon
from a (love:inanim) + boshoya (bark)
month: September
see OBS Ahede
from bud (number: 9)
love for one respected but not liked
to laugh
to tickle
from ada (laugh) + dama (touch)
to sew
from back-formation from "nohadal" (hem)
dandruff
from delith (hair)
to land (as a plane or a ship); to make landfall; landing (as in plane or ship)
from doni (earth, ground, land)
chocolate
from a (love of inanimates) + ana (food)
cocoa
from ahana (chocolate) + mezh (powder)
month: July
from um (number: 7)
toilet, W.C.
rhythm
from alehale (music) + aáláan (wave)
to "art"; to make art
from alehale (music)
artist; one who does or makes art
from alehala (art) + -á (doer)
to "music"; to make music (to sing, to whistle, to play a musical instrument)
musician; one who does or makes music
from alehale (music) + -á (doer)
marsh, swamp
mallow (the herb)
from alu (marsh) + thesh (herb)
love for one related by blood
to dance
to know (of people); to be acquainted with (of places or topics)
food
a meal (lunch, etc)
from ana (food) + dal (thing)
cook; chef
from anadal (meal) + -á (doer)
feminist angel
from loanword: Greek/Akkadian
agar (a seaweed)
from ana (food) + lel (seaweed)
food store; market; grocery store
from ana (food) + wehe (store)
month: January
see OBS Alel
from nede (number: 1)
month: November
see OBS Athon
from nedethab (number: 11)
month: August
see OBS Adalatham
from nib (number: 8)
Arkansas
from loanword
Arkansas, "pet" name, short form
from short form of Arahanesha (loanword: Arkansas)
Auxiliary: future
Auxiliary: far future, long ahead
from aril (future)
star
month: May
see OBS Amahina
from shan (number: 5)
month: February
see OBS Ayáanin
from shin (number: 2)
month: December
see OBS Adol
from shinethab (number: 12)
love for one not related by blood, but kin of the heart
benison; blessing
month: October
see OBS Ayu
from thab (number: 10)
love that is unwelcome and a burden
love for one sexually desired now
to menopause uneventfully
from zháadin (menopause)
lover
from azh (love for one sexually desired now)
Suffix (any): agent suffix (akin to -er or -ist in English); doer; one who�
Life-Stage Prefix (person or creature): infant
see háa-, yáa-, sháa-, zháa-
book
bookstore; bookshop
from áabe (book) + wehe (store)
smile
from ada (laugh)
to thank for something meant to be harmful but turns out to be beneficial
from áala (thank) + dash (tooth)
to thank for beneficial but painful act
from áala (thank) + dol (root)
minute
from sháal (day)
Phrase: "Thank You"
from áala (thanks)
to spray (as water)
butterfly
rhythmic water flow noise
from aáláan (wave) + ili (water) + lom (song)
rhythmic wave noise
sleep; to sleep
see ina
sleep aid
from áana (sleep) + den (help) + -á (doer)
lullaby
from áana (sleep) + lom (song)
poppy
from áana (sleep) + mahina (flower)
bedroom
from áana (sleep) + shod (room)
to be whole; not fragmented
door
church
from áath (door) + tham (circle)
door guest: a guest who just shows up at your door
see thóo, nithedimethóo, shineshidethóo, widadithethóo
from áath (door) + thóo (guest)
mysterious love, not yet known to be welcome or unwelcome
skirt
love for one sexually desired at one time, but not now
hatchling; infant bird
from á- (infant) + babí (bird)
farm
farmer
from ábed (farm) + -á (doer)
shepherd's or farmer's field
from ábed (farm) + dun (field)
all things; all-that-is
to be responsible
chick
from á- (infant) + lub (fowl)
to menstruate, joyfully
from osháana (menstruate)
diaper
from áwith (baby) + od (cloth)
to be beautiful
he/she/it, beloved; to specify gender, add "-izh" (female; bahizh = beloved-she) or "-id" (male; bahid = beloved-he). "B...
Type-of-Sentence Word: interrogatory ("I ask you...") Note: interrogative sentences take no Evidence word; the speaker i...
Infix (Pronoun "be" or plural): "Wh" question morpheme
from báa (interrogative ToS)
How do you say [X] in Láadan?
patchwork quilt
see balish
to give and take
from ban (give) + i (and) + bel (take)
ball
bird
mineral
spoon
Repetition Morpheme: repeatedly, in a pattern over which humans have no control
metal
from bad (mineral) + ?dazh (pliant)?
smith-craft
from badazh (metal) + el (make)
smith; doer of smith-craft
from badazhel (smith-craft) + -á (doer)
ore
from badazh (metal) + ud (stone)
bread
anger: external cause, with blame, with remedy
see bara, bana, bama, bina, bima
bread maker
from bal (bread) + -á (doer)
wheat
from bal (bread) + ede (grain)
breadbox
from bal (bread) + dim (container)
to be old
turtle, tortoise
from balin (be old) + mid (creature)
non-patchwork quilt
see báalish
anger: external cause, no blame, no remedy
see bala, bara, bana, bina, bima
they (many: more than 5), beloved. Gender-neutral; to specify gender, add "-izh" (female; banizh = beloved they many wom...
anger: external cause, no blame, with remedy
see bala, bara, bama, bina, bima
to forgive
from ban (give)
adoptive parent
from ban (give) + -the (possess: unknown reason) + thul (parent)
birth parent
from ban (give) + thul (parent)
anger: external cause, with blame, no remedy
see bala, bana, bama, bina, bima
Repetition Morpheme: repeatedly, in a pattern arbitrarily fixed by humans
Repetition Morpheme: repeatedly, in what appears to be a pattern but cannot be proved or demonstrated to be one
Repetition Morpheme: repeatedly, in a pattern fixed by humans by analogy to some phenomenon (such as the seasons)
common sense
nail (body part); claw (body part)
fork
someone, somebody, something. Demonstrative pronoun, singular, beloved
someones, somebodies, somethings. Demonstrative pronoun, many (more than 5), beloved
someones, somebodies, somethings. Demonstrative pronoun, few/several (2-5), beloved
they (few: 2 to 5), beloved. Gender-neutral; to specify gender, add "-izh" (female; bazhizh = beloved they few women) or...
she/he/it. Gender-neutral third person singular; to specify gender, add "-izh" (female; behizh = she) or "-id" (male; be...
Type-of-Sentence Word: Promise ("I promise you...")
to learn
student
from bedi (learn) + -á (doer)
school field trip; travel for learning
from bedi (learn) + im (travel)
class
from bedi (learn) + olowod (group)
useless knowledge lesson
from bedi (learn) + loth (information) + -lh (pejorative)
knowledge lesson
from bedi (learn) + loth (information)
contract; to contract
from bé (ToS: promise) + dim (container)
lesson
from bedi (learn)
classroom
from bedi (learn) + shod (room)
wisdom lesson
from bedi (learn) + woth (wisdom)
Type-of-Sentence Word: Warning
work surface; work counter
from hal (work)
barter; trade
from eb (buy/sell) + mirrored eb
be thick (of fluid); be viscous
thick fluid; viscous fluid
from behi (viscous) + ili (water)
to take; to bring
house
carpenter
from belid (house) + -á (doer)
to choose; to accept one or more of a number of options presented to you. as a noun: choosing; choice; the acceptance of...
option; choice (item from the list of options presented of which you are to choose one or more)
from bem (choose) + dal (thing)
menu (the list of options presented of which you are to choose one or more; also "menu" in the restaurant sense)
from bem (choose) + dalel (object)
they (many: more than 5). Gender-neutral; to specify gender, add "-izh" (female; benizh = they many, female) or "-id" (m...
to stay
if� then
gender-neutral term for the sibling of a parent. To specify gender, add "-izh" (female; berídanizh = aunt) or "-id" (ma...
because
home
mirror
life-borrow; life-suck, eg when a homebound person closely questions their partners about a workday; when a person who h...
from betheb (mirror) + bel (bring/take)
cave
from beth (home) + ud (stone)
someone, somebody, something. Demonstrative pronoun, singular, neutral.
someones, somebodies, somethings. Demonstrative pronoun, many (more than 5), neutral
someones, somebodies, somethings. Demonstrative pronoun, few/several (2-5), neutral
they (few: 2 to 5). Gender-neutral; to specify gender, add "-izh" (female; bezhizh = they few, female) or "-id" (male; b...
he/she/it, honored. To specify gender, add "-izh" (female; bihizh = beloved-she) or "-id" (male; bihid = beloved-he). "B...
sink
Type-of-Sentence Word: Declarative ("I say to you...")
to be fun; fun
four (number: 4)
anger: internal cause, blame impossible, no remedy
see bala, bara, bana, bama, bina
bowl
anger: internal cause, blame impossible, with remedy
see bala, bara, bana, bama, bima
gift
obsolete · see Anib
from dalatham (berry)
obsolete · see Ashinethab
from dol (root)
obsolete · see Abud
from ede (grain)
obsolete · see Aboó
from hesh (grass)
obsolete · see Anede
from lel (seaweed)
obsolete · see Ashan
from mahina (flower)
obsolete · see Ahum
from meda (vegetable)
obsolete · see Abath
from thesh (herb)
obsolete · see Abim
from thil (vine)
obsolete · see Anedeshin
from thon (seed)
obsolete · see Ashin
from yáanin (tree)
obsolete · see Athab
from yu (fruit)
obsolete · see dibé
to promise; promise
from bé (promise ToS) + di (speak)+
obsolete · see barada
obsolete · see baradá
obsolete · see baradan
obsolete · see bire
layer
obsolete · see bere� ébere
if... then...
obsolete · see biremeda
onion
from bre (layer) + meda (vegetable)
obsolete · see biretham
spiral
from bre (layer) + tham (circle)
obsolete · see beróo
obsolete · see dedala
frustration: external cause, with blame, with remedy
see dara, dana, dama, dina
obsolete · see dalel
object
from dal (thing)
obsolete · see dalelebediwan
desk
from dale (object) + bedi (learn) + -wan (purpose)
obsolete · see dalehalel
musical instrument
from dale (object) + alehale (music)
obsolete · see dalelanawan
bed
from dale (object) + áana (sleep) + -wan (purpose)
obsolete · see dalelebewan
sales table
from dale (object) + eb (buy/sell) + -wan (Purpose)
obsolete · see dalelolhobewan
weapon; literally: object for the purpose of causing grievous harm
from dale (object) + olob (trauma) + -lh- (pejorative) + -wan (purpose)
obsolete · see dalelemath
warehouse; storehouse
from dale (object) + math (building)
obsolete · see dalelemeholhobewan
WMD (weapon of mass destruction); literally: object for the purpose of causing grievous harm to a multitude
from dale (object) + me (greater, larger, important) + olob (trauma) + -lh- (pejorative) + -wan (purpose)
obsolete · see daleleshun
ceremonial object; ritual object
from dale (object) + shun (ceremony)
obsolete · see dalelethodewan
writing implement
from dale (object) + thod (write) + -wan (Purpose)
obsolete · see dalelewodewan
chair
from dale (object) + wod (sit) + -wan (purpose)
obsolete · see daleleyodewan
table
from dale (object) + yod (eat) + -wan (Purpose)
obsolete · see dedama
frustration: external cause, no blame, no remedy
see dala, dara, dana, dina
obsolete · see dedana
frustration: external cause, no blame, with remedy
see dala, dara, dama, dina
obsolete · see dedara
frustration: external cause, with blame, no remedy
see dala, dana, dama, dina
obsolete · see -dim
Suffix (CP): Goal case ("to X", "toward X"). Alternate form for use by speakers whose native language renders the distin...
see -di
obsolete · see dedina
frustration: internal cause, blame impossible, with remedy
see dala, dara, dana, dama
obsolete · see éthedalel
soap
from éthe (be clean) + dale (object)
obsolete · see -sha
Suffix (CP): Place case ("at X" or "in X")
see OBS -sha
obsolete · see -shéle
Negative Degree Marker: to a troublesome degree
see -hile, -hule, -shule
obsolete · see -shíle
Negative Degree Marker: to a severe degree
see -hele, -hule, -shule
obsolete · see hoshem
grandchild; granddaughter
from ho- (1 gen removed) + háawith (child)
obsolete · see -shúul
Negative Degree Marker: to an intolerable degree
see -hele, -hile, -shule
obsolete · see lolehena
confidence despite negative circumstance(s)
see lenayóo, lonayóo, lunayóo, linayóo
obsolete · see lolena
confidence for good reason(s)
see lonayóo, lunayóo, linayóo, lehenayóo
obsolete · see líina
trust for no reason
see lena, lona, luna, lehena
obsolete · see lolíina
confidence for no reason
see lenayóo, lonayóo, lunayóo, lehenayóo
obsolete · see lolona
confidence for foolish reason(s)
see lenayóo, lunayóo, linayóo, lehenayóo
obsolete · see il óoyonan
to taste (attentive)
from óoyo (mouth)
obsolete · see loluna
confidence for bad reason(s)
see lenayóo, lonayóo, linayóo, lehenayóo
obsolete · see il oyunan
to listen; to listen to
obsolete · see mehena
compassion despite negative circumstances
see ména, móna, múna, mína
obsolete · see mena
compassion for good reason(s)
see móna, múna, mína, méhéna
obsolete · see dibáa/dibóo
to ask. Problematic because the English "ask" is ambiguous between "asking" for information (dibáa) or "asking" that so...
obsolete · see míina
compassion for no reason
from ména, móna, múna, méhéna
obsolete · see mona
compassion for foolish reason(s)
see ména, múna, mína, méhéna
Suffix (CP): Path Case. Instead, use the Place case with a postposition indicating the relationship between the Subject ...
obsolete · see muna
compassion for bad reason(s)
see ména, móna, mína, méhéna
obsolete · see níina
contentment for no reason
see nena, nona, nuna, nehena
obsolete · see ohíina
respect for no reason
see ohena, ohona, ohuna, ohehena
obsolete · see radala, et al.
unfriendliness for good reason(s)
see radona, raduna, radina
unfriendliness for foolish reason(s)
see radena, raduna, radina
unfriendliness for bad reason(s)
see radena, radona, radina
obsolete · see ralala, et al.
distrust despite contravening reason(s)
see ralena, ralona, raluna, ralina
distrust for good reason(s)
see ralona, raluna, ralina, ralehena
distrust for no reason
see ralena, ralona, raluna, ralehena
distrust for foolish reason(s)
see ralena, raluna, ralina, ralehena
distrust for bad reason(s)
see ralena, ralona, ralina, ralehena
obsolete · see ramala, et al.
callousness for good reason(s)
from ra- (non-) + ména (compassion for good reasons)
obsolete · see radibáa
to refrain from asking, out of courtesy or kindness
from ra- (non-) + mime (ask)
obsolete · see radibáalh
to refrain from asking, with evil intent—especially when it is clear that someone badly wants the other to ask
from ra- (non-) + mime (ask) + lh (pejorative)
callousness for no reason
from ra- (non-) + mína (compassion for no reason)
callousness for foolish reason(s)
from ra- (non-) + móna (compassion for foolish reasons)
callousness for bad reason(s)
from ra- (non-) + múna (compassion for bad reasons)
obsolete · see rathala, et al.
despair for good reason(s)
see rathona, rathuna, rathina
from ra- (non-) + thena (joy for good reason(s))
despair for no reason
see rathena, rathona, rathuna
from ra- (non-) + thina (joy for no reason)
despair for foolish reason(s)
see rathena, rathuna, rathina
from ra- (non-) + thona (joy for foolish reason(s))
despair for bad reason(s)
see rathena, rathona, rathina
from ra- (non-) + thuna (joy for bad reason(s))
obsolete · see rawala, et al.
ingratitude: despite negative circumstances
see rawéná, rawóná, rawúná, rawíná
from ra- (non-) + wéhená (gratitude: despite negative circumstances)
ingratitude: good reason(s)
see rawóná, rawúná, rawíná, rawéhená
from ra- (non-) + wéná (gratitude: good reason(s))
ingratitude: no reason
see rawéná, rawóná, rawúná, rawéhená
from ra- (non-) + wíná (gratitude: no reason)
ingratitude: foolish reason(s)
see rawéná, rawúná, rawíná, rawéhená
from ra- (non-) + wóná (gratitude: foolish reason(s))
ingratitude: bad reason(s)
see rawéná, rawóná, rawíná, rawéhená
from ra- (non-) + wúná (gratitude: bad reason(s))
Suffix (CP): Place case ("at X;" "in X"). Offered as an alternative to the standard "-ha" in situations where the Place ...
see OBS -ha
obsolete · see shinehoshem
great-granddaughter; great-grandchild. To specify great-grandson, add "-id" (male)
from shin (number: 2) + hóowith (grandchild)
obsolete · see il oyonan
to smell (attentive); to sniff; to pay attention using the nose
obsolete · see -shúle
Negative Degree Marker: special emergency form: unbearable to a degree that would cause catastrophic events such as suic...
see -hele, -hile, -hule
obsolete · see thíina
joy for no reason
see thena, thona, thuna, thehena
obsolete · see thurushi
mead
from thu (honey) + webe (beer)
obsolete · see wehena
gratitude despite negative circumstances
see wéná, wóná, wíná, wúná
obsolete · see wena
gratitude for good reason(s)
see wóná, wúná, wíná, wéhená
obsolete · see úyahú
when—as a subordinating conjunction indicating the subsequent clause fills the Time case role, as in: "I don't know when...
from wida (carry) + hath (time)
obsolete · see úshahú
where—as a subordinating conjunction indicating the subsequent clause fills the Place case role, as in: "I don't know wh...
from wida (carry) + hoth (place)
obsolete · see úwanú/úwáanú
why—as a subordinating conjunction, as in: "I don't know why that happened."
from wida (carry)
obsolete · see únalú
how—as a subordinating conjunction, as in: "I don't know how that happened."
from wida (carry) + weth (path)
obsolete · see wíina
gratitude for no reason
see wéná, wóná, wúná, wéhená
obsolete · see wona
gratitude for foolish reason(s)
see wéná, wúná, wíná, wéhená
obsolete · see wuna
gratitude for bad reasons(s)
see wéná, wóná, wíná, wéhená