ABCDE Language

promo_video.mp4

Pronunciation (IPA): [a.be.ke.de]

The World's Simplest Language.

ABCDE is an ultra-minimal constructed language designed so that anyone in the world can learn it in just a few minutes.

Japanese version（日本語バージョン）: README_JP.md

Concept

• Minimal vocabulary: Communication is built from combinations of only eight "prime syllables" (atoms). They are all built from just five letters.
• Intuitive grammar: No complex conjugation or inflection.
• Non-commercial, survival-first language: Concepts like commerce are intentionally out of scope; the language prioritizes fundamental human communication and mutual aid.

The 8 Prime Syllables (Atoms)

Everything in ABCDE is built from combinations of the following eight sounds and concepts.

Atom	Core Meaning	English Hint
BA	Self / Origin	self, I, from here
BE	Other / Target	other, you, there
CA	Matter / Fact	thing, matter, fact
DA	Action / Power	move, do, force
CE	Positive / Order	good, like, right
DE	Negative / Chaos	bad, dislike, wrong
A	Motion / Future	toward, future, to
E	Relation / Past	past, connect, and

Grammar Rules

• Allowed characters: In standard ABCDE writing, use only uppercase A B C D E, Arabic numerals 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, spaces, hyphen -, !, ?, and [ ]. Proper nouns and loanwords may be written as-is inside [ ], but keep this to the minimum necessary.
• Word formation: Join atoms directly (example: CECA = food).
• Plural / intensity: Repeat a word (examples: BACA BACA = people, CECE = very good).
• Tense: Put A- (future) or E- (past) at the beginning of the sentence. Pronounce these with a longer vowel.
• Negation: For grammatical negation, use DE- and attach it directly to the word being negated (examples: DE-DA = not do, DE-CE = not good). Words that use DE lexically (DEDE, DECA, etc.) remain unchanged. DE- is also pronounced with a long vowel.
• Question / emphasis: The default form places E? (question) or A! (emphasis) at the beginning of the sentence. Pronounce these short and sharp. In conversation, short forms like CE! / DE! are also allowed.
• Marker scope: A- / E- / E? / A! apply to the whole sentence, so they go at the start. DE- applies to the next word only, so it goes at the start of that word.
• Sentence-initial marker order (recommended): If used together, placing E? / A! before A- / E- is easier to understand (example: E? A- BA ADA ACA).
• Word order (recommended): Word order is basically free. For learning and listening clarity, the recommended default pattern is (sentence markers) -> (subject/topic) -> (predicate) -> (object) -> (place) -> (time). You may move elements forward for emphasis.
• Omission: If the context is clear, you may omit not only the subject (BA, BE) but also object, place, time, etc. If meaning becomes ambiguous, return to the default pattern.
• Proper nouns: Proper nouns and concepts not available in ABCDE should be enclosed in square brackets [ ] (example: [Tokyo]).

Natural Units

Instead of abstract units (meters, etc.), ABCDE uses natural cycles and references.

• 3ACA: 3 days (3 day-night cycles)
• 1000BADA: 1000 steps (walking distance)
• 5DEDECECA: the size of 5 eggs (size reference)

Basic Concept Combinations

• Big / Small: DADA / DEDE (examples: DADA CA = boulder, DEDE CA = grain / pebble)
• Food / Drink: CECA (good-thing) / ADA (water / liquid)
• Colors (natural references):
  • Red: ACA (sun- / fire-like thing)
  • Yellow: ECA (harvest-like thing)
  • Blue: ADA (water / sky-like thing)
  • White: A (light / bright)
  • Black: DEA (darkness / dark)

Number Pronunciation

Arabic numerals (0-9) are pronounced using the following sounds so they are not confused with the eight atoms.

Digit	Pronunciation	English Cue
0	ZERO	Zero
1	WAN	One
2	TSU	Two
3	SURI	Three
4	HOO	Four
5	HAI	Five
6	SIKU	Six
7	SEFU	Seven
8	ETO	Eight
9	NAI	Nine

How to Use (Examples)

• CE -> yes / good / tasty / like
• DE -> no / bad / tastes bad / dislike
• DE! -> no! / stop! / I don't want that! / that's wrong! / danger!
• CE! -> great! / yay! / I'm happy!
• E? -> what? / what's wrong? / really?
• CE BE -> thank you / please (lit. "[I] think well of you")
• BABE CE -> hello / goodbye (friend good)
• E? CECA CE -> Is the food good / tasty?
• A- BA ADA ACA -> I will come here
• A! DE-DA CA -> Absolutely don't do that!

See the following documents for details:

• Specification: grammar and rules
• Dictionary: lexicon
• Examples: example sentences
• Adaptations: adaptation ideas (fantasy script, etc.)

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Created by Yoshie Yamada

License: MIT (see LICENSE)