Conlanging
Invent a language nobody speaks — yet.
intellectualcreativeFree1 hourdifficulty 3/5
Conlanging is the art of constructing entirely new languages from scratch. Think Tolkien's Elvish or Klingon, but yours. You get to decide how verbs work, what sounds exist, and whether your language has a word for 'the feeling of stepping on a warm sidewalk barefoot.' It's linguistics meets worldbuilding meets pure creative chaos.
How to start
- 1Pick 10-15 sounds you like. Write them down as your phoneme inventory.
- 2Decide on basic word order: does the verb come first, last, or in the middle?
- 3Invent 20 words for everyday things — water, tree, hello, goodbye, cat.
- 4Write a simple sentence like 'the cat sees the tree' in your new language.
- 5Try translating a song lyric. Watch your language come alive.
What you'll need
- Notebook or digital docEssentialFree
- IPA chart (free online)EssentialFree
- ConWorkShop account (free)Nice to haveFree
Where to learn more
Plot twists
Ways to spice this up when the basics get boring.
- Make a language with no word for 'no.' Negotiate in it.
- Create a language that can only be whistled.
- Design one specifically for texting — maximum efficiency, minimum vowels.
- Invent insults in your conlang and teach them to friends without explaining.
ADHD notes
You make every rule, so there's no 'wrong.' Start with five words and grow from there. Perfectionism has no power here.
Fun fact
Tolkien didn't write Lord of the Rings to tell a story — he wrote it to give his invented Elvish languages a home. The books were the excuse.
Similar vibes
If this one didn't land, try one of these.